Popups can be useful, but they also create two common problems. First, they often require a separate builder with its own UI and styling rules. Second, they can easily drift out of sync, so popups look different even when they should match.
That’s why we like the idea behind Synced Pattern Popups. It’s a free WordPress plugin that lets us build popups using synced patterns, right inside the block editor we already use. We get consistent design, faster updates, and a visitor experience that feels intentional.
Key Takeaways
- Synced Pattern Popups is a free WordPress plugin that lets you build modal popups using the native block editor (no separate popup builder required).
- Popups are created as WordPress synced patterns, so one edit can update the same popup design across multiple pages.
- Popups are user-triggered using a link (href) or CSS class, so visitors control when a popup appears.
- The plugin supports common block content in popups, including layouts, images, galleries, buttons, and many third-party blocks.
- It includes performance and developer-focused features like on-demand loading (Ajax), smart caching, and accessibility-first modal behavior.
Synced Pattern Popups—First Look Video
What Synced Patterns Are, and Why They Matter
Let’s define synced patterns in plain terms. In WordPress, patterns are reusable layouts made of blocks. A synced pattern extends this concept. When we utilize a synced pattern in multiple locations, it automatically updates across all its usage.
A simple example makes this click. Say we add a button to the homepage and set it to a black background. Then we add a similar button to an About page, also black. Later, we decide the black button should be blue. If those are normal blocks, we have to update each button by hand. If those buttons are part of a synced pattern, we edit the pattern once, and the change carries across every place the pattern appears.
That matters for a few reasons:
- Consistency for visitors: When elements match across pages, the site feels more coherent.
- Trust and polish: A consistent look tends to feel more “finished,” which can help users trust what they’re seeing.
- Time savings for admins: Updating one synced pattern beats chasing the same design change across ten pages.
Synced Pattern Popups builds on that idea. Instead of treating a popup as a one-off element, it treats it as a synced pattern. That means our popup content can stay consistent across the site without extra tools.
Where Synced Pattern Popups Fit, and Where We Found It
This plugin is available for free in the WordPress repository, and you can also track the Synced Pattern Popups changelog on ChangelogWP.
The plugin’s description says it well: “Synced pattern pop-ups help you create popups using the WordPress editor you already know, not yet another builder.” That framing matters. We’re not learning a new interface; we’re building with the block editor.
The plugin is built by Matt Cromwell (Connect). If we want the deeper background and product thinking behind the approach, Matt shared a launch write-up in Product Thinking Behind Synced Pattern Popups.
One more detail stood out right away: the plugin’s approach focuses on visitor choice. Popups are triggered by the user (through a link or class trigger), instead of being forced on them with an automatic display. That’s a clear stance, and for many sites, it’s a better fit for trust and usability.
Key Features Worth Knowing Before Installing
Synced Pattern Popups is simple in concept, but it still packs in a lot. Before we even touch settings, it helps to understand what we’re getting.
At a high level, the plugin supports modal popups powered by synced patterns. We create our popup content with the native block editor, so our layouts, images, galleries, buttons, and even third-party blocks can all be part of the popup. If it’s a block, it can live inside the popup.
Triggers are also straightforward. We can trigger a popup using either:
- A CSS class, or
- An
hrefstyle link trigger (the plugin provides the trigger code we paste in)
From there, we get control where it counts. The plugin supports per-popup overrides, like adjusting popup width on a popup-by-popup basis. It also includes support for core gallery blocks, which points toward a more media-first popup experience, not just static text.
There’s also an optional AI feature called TLDR. It can generate AI summaries of the current page content on demand, triggered when we want it. This feature requires the AI Experiments plugin, and the feature was described as being tied to WordPress version 6.9 at the time of recording.
For developers and performance-minded site owners, there’s a strong set of supporting features mentioned, including on-demand loading via Ajax, smart caching with automatic validation, full block styling support, accessibility-first modal behavior, and API integration.
If we want to install it ourselves, we can start with the Synced Pattern Popups plugin listing on WordPress.org.
Installing the Plugin, and Finding the Settings
After installation, activation is quick. There’s no onboarding wizard in the flow shown; it simply activates and gives us a Settings link.
From the WordPress admin, the plugin’s options show up under Patterns, and we can also access them under Appearance, in a section labeled for synced patterns. The main settings screen is practical, and it’s built around how we’ll actually use the plugin day to day.
The first helpful thing we see is that the plugin includes pre-built popup patterns. That matters because we can open one, inspect it, and understand the structure right away, even before building our own.
Each popup in the list shows a status area and action options. We can copy the trigger code, jump in to edit the pattern, delete it, or clear cached data tied to that popup (the UI references deleting a transient for the popup). There’s also an option at the top to clear the entire transient cache, which is useful when we’re testing changes and want to remove any confusion about what’s cached.
Popup Defaults, Caching, and Built-In Examples
The defaults area is where we define the baseline feel of our popups.
In the video walkthrough, the settings include default controls like width, max height, blur settings, close button behavior, and more. There are also separate settings sections for:
- TLDR or TLDR popup appearance (including overlay and loading text)
- Gallery popup behavior, including overlay, image navigation, gallery options, and transition duration
The documentation examples inside the plugin are also clear about how to trigger popups. We can call a popup using a class-based trigger or an href-based trigger, and the plugin provides examples we can copy.
At this point, the plugin feels designed for people who want to stay inside WordPress core tools, not bolt on a separate system.
Editing a Popup Pattern in the Block Editor
Editing a popup is editing a synced pattern, because that’s what the popup is.
When we click Edit on one of the included popups, we land in the WordPress block editor. From there, we can use List View (the icon in the top-left area of the editor) to understand the structure. In the example shown, the popup layout uses columns, and within those columns are common blocks like headings, groups, paragraphs, and lists.
What we liked about this is that there’s no mystery UI. We’re not hunting for a special popup panel or a custom builder tab. It’s just blocks.
That also means styling works the way we expect. We can change background colors, text colors, borders, spacing, and typography using standard block editor controls. In the video, a bright background and a matching border color were added to make the change obvious. The point was not design taste; it was showing how quickly a popup can be styled and saved.
If we’re still getting comfortable with the block editor, there is a learning curve. Once we’ve spent time with it, the editor becomes a quick way to build layouts without switching contexts.
Adding a Trigger Button, and Testing on the Front End
Once we have a popup pattern ready, we need a trigger.
In the demo, a button is added to a page (the homepage). WordPress gives a couple ways to add that button block. We can use the block inserter, or we can type / and start typing the block name to insert it quickly.
Next, we copy the trigger code from the plugin’s popup list. The trigger can be pasted into the button’s link field, using the href style approach shown in the plugin’s “How It’s Used” instructions. In the video, it includes the # symbol in front of the identifier so the button points to the right popup.
After saving the page, the front-end test is simple. We load the page, click the button, and the popup opens as a modal. At that stage, it’s clear how this plugin expects popups to behave. The user clicks, and the popup opens. It’s not trying to surprise anyone.
We’ll still want to style the popup to match our brand, but the core flow is already there, and it works.
Proving the Sync Across Pages
This is where synced patterns stop being an abstract concept and start saving real time.
In the demo, the same popup trigger is placed on a second page (a test page called “home two”). Both pages have a button that opens the same popup pattern.
Then the popup pattern is edited again, changing the background color to black, and saved. After that single edit:
- The popup opens with the updated background on the first page.
- The same popup opens with the updated background on the second page.
That’s the payoff. We edit one synced pattern, and the change syncs everywhere the pattern is used.
If we plan to run multiple user-triggered popups across a site, and we care about keeping them visually consistent, synced patterns are a strong base for that.
Power User Touches: Command Palette, Galleries, and Optional AI
A few extras are worth calling out, especially for teams that spend a lot of time inside WordPress admin.
First, the plugin mentions command palette integration. In WordPress, we can open the command palette Ctrl+K and type what we’re looking for. In the walkthrough, typing “popup” surfaces quick navigation to the Synced Pattern Popups area, along with actions like clearing the popup cache and quick access to patterns. Even small shortcuts like that help when we’re managing many site aspects.
Second, the plugin is positioned as “100% native architecture,” with “zero integration friction.” The claim is simple: if it’s a block, it works. That includes forms, videos, and third-party embeds, as long as they exist as blocks we can place in the editor.
Third, accessibility is treated as a first-class feature. The plugin emphasizes accessibility-first modal behavior, with a strong focus on a solid modal experience.
Finally, there’s the optional AI TLDR feature, which can generate summaries of the current page content on demand. It’s optional, and it requires the AI Experiments plugin, with the version note mentioned in the walkthrough (WordPress 6.9 at the time). We like that it’s not forced into the core popup flow.
Final Thoughts on Synced Pattern Popups
Synced Pattern Popups is a clean idea executed in a practical way. We get popups built with the block editor, stored as synced patterns, and triggered by user choice instead of automatic interruptions. That’s a good mix of control and restraint.
Frequently Asked Questions About Synced Pattern Popups
What Is Synced Pattern Popups?
Synced Pattern Popups is a free WordPress plugin that creates modal popups from WordPress synced patterns. You build the popup content in the block editor, then open it with a user-triggered link or class on any page.
What Are WordPress Synced Patterns, and Why Do They Matter for Popups?
Synced patterns are reusable blocks of content that stay connected. If you edit the synced pattern once (like changing colors or text), WordPress can apply that change everywhere the synced pattern is used. For popups, that means consistent design across the site with less manual work.
How Do You Trigger a Popup With This Plugin?
You trigger a popup by placing the plugin’s trigger code on a link or using a CSS class trigger. In practice, you copy the trigger from the plugin’s Patterns area, add it to a button or link, and then the popup opens when the visitor clicks.
Can You Use Forms, Videos, or Gallery Blocks Inside These Popups?
Yes. The plugin is built around native blocks, so any content you can place in the block editor can be used in a popup. That includes core blocks like Gallery, plus many third-party blocks, embeds, forms, and media.
Does Synced Pattern Popups Auto-Show Popups on Page Load?
No. The approach shown in the video is user-triggered popups, which means the visitor chooses when to open the modal. This type of approach supports trust and avoids forced interruptions.