What is ExtenderX?
ExtenderX is a free WordPress plugin that combines an accessibility toolbar, Gutenberg block animations, dark mode, navigation tools (sticky header, back to top, scroll progress), maintenance and coming soon modes, marketing widgets, content protection, and a header/footer code snippet manager in a single dashboard. Each feature is off until you enable it, and disabled features load no assets.
Is ExtenderX free?
Yes. The plugin on WordPress.org is free and fully usable on its own: all six block editor extensions, the accessibility toolbar with 11 tools, dark mode, sticky header, maintenance mode, the announcement bar, HTML/CSS/JS snippets and more. ExtenderX Pro is an optional paid add-on that unlocks additional features.
What does ExtenderX Pro add?
Pro adds seven more accessibility tools, toolbar branding, an Accessibility Statement generator and Alt Text Audit; Scroll-Linked Effects (parallax and scrub); Smooth Scrolling, Scrollbar Styler and a Scroll to Bottom button; Preloader and Skeleton Loading Screen; 16 more seasonal effects with scheduling and page targeting; Sticky WhatsApp Button and Global Countdown Banner; Age Verification, Cookie Consent, GDPR Notice and Exit-Intent Popup; PHP snippets with conditional logic and scheduling; and extra Save & Go actions with Bulk Add. Compare plans .
Will I lose my settings if I upgrade to Pro?
No. Your settings live in the free plugin. Pro installs alongside it and unlocks the features marked PRO in the same dashboard, so everything you configured stays as it is.
Do I need to keep the free plugin installed when I use Pro?
Yes. ExtenderX Pro is an add-on that extends the free plugin, so both need to be active.
What happens if my Pro licence expires or I deactivate Pro?
Premium features switch off and the free features keep working exactly as before. Your settings are kept, so premium features pick up where they left off when Pro is active again.
Which plugins can ExtenderX replace?
Depending on what you use, ExtenderX can stand in for separate plugins for an accessibility toolbar, block animations, dark mode, sticky header, back to top button, maintenance or coming soon mode, announcement bar, insert headers and footers, code snippets, disable right click, and falling snow effects.
What makes ExtenderX different from other animation plugins?
Most animation plugins only animate their own blocks, or require you to switch to a different page builder. ExtenderX adds animations to every block you already use (any Gutenberg block, any plugin), and it bundles a full suite of site-wide tools — dark mode, sticky header, maintenance mode, seasonal effects, code snippets, marketing widgets — so you don’t need a separate plugin for each.
What accessibility tools does ExtenderX include, and are they free?
The core tools are free: an Accessibility Toolbar with 11 visitor display controls (text size, readable font, left-aligned text, high contrast, inverted colors, grayscale, light background, underlined links, highlighted headings, hidden images, paused motion), four quick profiles (Low vision, Dyslexia, Focus, Seizure safe), an Alt+A keyboard shortcut, remembered preferences, a Skip to Content link, and Enhanced Focus Outlines . Pro adds seven more visitor tools, toolbar branding, an Accessibility Statement generator, and an Alt Text Audit.
Does this plugin make my site WCAG, ADA, or EAA compliant?
No — and be careful with any plugin that claims otherwise. ExtenderX gives visitors control over how your site is displayed and gives you two tools for finding problems in your own content. Compliance depends on your content, your markup, your theme, and your own testing with real assistive technology. Treat these tools as one part of the work, not a substitute for it.
How do I add an accessibility widget to my WordPress site?
Go to ExtenderX → Site Enhancements → Accessibility and enable Accessibility Toolbar . Use the gear icon to pick which side the button sits on, how far up from the bottom, which tools appear, and whether the quick profiles row and the Alt+A shortcut are offered. Nothing loads on your site until you enable it.
Does the accessibility toolbar set cookies or send visitor data anywhere?
No. A visitor’s choices are stored in their own browser so they carry from page to page. No cookies are set, nothing identifying is recorded, nothing is sent to your server, and nothing is fetched from an external service. You can switch remembering off in the toolbar settings, though visitors then have to set their preferences again on every page.
How do I add a skip to content link?
Enable Skip to Content Link under ExtenderX → Site Enhancements → Accessibility and set Target to a CSS selector for your main content area — #main suits most themes. The link stays invisible until a keyboard visitor tabs to it, then moves focus into the content rather than only scrolling. If the selector matches nothing, common landmarks are tried automatically, so it keeps working if you change themes.
My theme hides the keyboard focus ring. Can ExtenderX fix that?
Yes. Enable Enhanced Focus Outlines under ExtenderX → Site Enhancements → Accessibility and set the ring’s color, thickness, and offset. It appears for keyboard and similar input but not for mouse clicks.
How do I find images that are missing alt text?
With ExtenderX Pro, open ExtenderX → Site Enhancements → Accessibility and use Alt Text Audit . It lists media library images with no alternative text and links to each one for editing; results are paginated so it stays fast on large libraries. When writing alt text, describe what the image conveys in context. If an image is purely decorative, leaving it empty is the correct choice.
Does the accessibility toolbar respect the “reduce motion” system setting?
Yes. If a visitor’s system asks for reduced motion, the toolbar starts with motion already paused, and switching that off will not force animations back on for them. The toolbar itself is keyboard operable and announces changes to screen readers.
Does ExtenderX work with any WordPress theme?
Yes. The Site Enhancements module (dark mode, sticky header, maintenance mode, seasonal effects, content protection, marketing tools, and more) works with any WordPress theme — classic or block themes. The Block Editor Extensions work within the Gutenberg editor and are compatible with any theme that supports the block editor.
Does ExtenderX work with page builders like Elementor or Divi?
The Site Enhancements tools (dark mode, sticky header, announcement bar, code snippets, seasonal effects, maintenance mode, and so on) work site-wide regardless of which builder or editor you use. The Block Editor Extensions are specific to the WordPress Gutenberg / block editor and do not add animation controls inside Elementor or Divi’s own editors.
How do I add scroll animations to Gutenberg blocks?
Go to ExtenderX → Block Editor and make sure Entrance Animation is enabled. Then edit any page or post, select a block, and open the ExtenderX panel in the right sidebar. Choose a preset (fade in, slide up, zoom, flip, bounce, and more), set a duration and delay if you like, and publish. The animation fires once when the block scrolls into the visitor’s viewport.
What is the difference between entrance animations, floating animation, and tilt?
Entrance animations fire once when a block scrolls into view. Floating animation is a continuous looping motion — useful for hero images or feature callouts. Tilt responds to the visitor’s cursor position in real time. Only one motion type runs per block at a time.
Does ExtenderX work with Kadence Blocks, Spectra, Stackable, and other third-party blocks?
Yes. ExtenderX extends the Gutenberg editor globally, so every registered block — Kadence, Spectra, Stackable, Essential Blocks, Ultimate Blocks, Ghostkit, Greenshift, Otter Blocks, and all core WordPress blocks — automatically gets the ExtenderX sidebar panel with all six extensions.
Will ExtenderX slow down my website?
No. Every module uses conditional asset loading. Animation scripts only load on pages where at least one block uses an effect. Site enhancement scripts only load when their feature is enabled. Disabled features add zero CSS or JavaScript to any page.
What is Site-Wide Animations and how is it different from block entrance animations?
Site-Wide Animations (free, beta) lets you set a single reveal style — such as Flip Y — once from the dashboard, and it applies automatically to your content across every page without manually configuring each block. You can still override it per page or per block inside the editor. Block entrance animations, by contrast, are configured individually per block and give you precise control over each effect.
How do I enable dark mode on my WordPress site?
Go to ExtenderX → Site Enhancements → Appearance and toggle Dark Mode on. Visitors get a floating button to switch between light and dark. The engine is DarkReader and works with any theme.
How do I put my WordPress site in maintenance mode?
Go to ExtenderX → Site Enhancements → Site Access Modes and enable Maintenance Mode . Visitors see a maintenance screen; admins keep full access to the backend.
How do I create a coming soon page?
Enable Coming Soon Mode under ExtenderX → Site Enhancements → Site Access Modes . Visitors see a full-page coming-soon screen before launch; administrators keep full site access.
How do I add Google Analytics or Google Tag Manager without editing theme files?
Go to ExtenderX → Custom Code , click Add Snippet , paste your tracking code, choose Header ( <head> ), Body Open (after <body> ), or Footer (before </body> ) as the injection point, and save. Works for Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager, Meta Pixel, AdSense, and verification tags — no theme file edits needed.
How do I add an announcement bar or notification bar?
Enable Announcement Bar under ExtenderX → Site Enhancements → Marketing . Set your message, colors, position, and whether visitors can dismiss it.
How do I add a sticky head
