Title: WST Block Timer
Author: webtatsu
Published: <strong>11 September 2026</strong>
Last modified: 11 September 2026

---

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![](https://s.w.org/plugins/geopattern-icon/wst-block-timer.svg)

# WST Block Timer

 De [webtatsu](https://profiles.wordpress.org/webtatsu/)

[Download](https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/wst-block-timer.1.0.0.zip)

 * [Details](https://lij.wordpress.org/plugins/wst-block-timer/#description)
 * [Reviews](https://lij.wordpress.org/plugins/wst-block-timer/#reviews)
 *  [Installation](https://lij.wordpress.org/plugins/wst-block-timer/#installation)
 * [Development](https://lij.wordpress.org/plugins/wst-block-timer/#developers)

 [Supòrto](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/wst-block-timer/)

## Description

WST Block Timer adds a single container block. Put any blocks inside it and set 
a start and/or end date and time; the contents appear on the front end only during
that period. Before the start and after the end, the block outputs nothing.

Use it for time-limited announcements, seasonal banners, campaign notices, or any
content that should appear and disappear on a schedule without you editing the page
again.

#### Key features

 * One container block (“Block Timer”) that holds any inner blocks
 * Set a start, an end, or both — leave a side empty to leave it open-ended
 * For regular visitors, out-of-range content is left off the page
 * Optional preview: signed-in staff can see out-of-range content in a dashed box,
   to check it before it goes live
 * Choose who sees that preview: Administrators only, Editors and above, or Authors
   and above
 * Times are evaluated in your site’s timezone
 * While a preview is active, that page’s full-page cache is disabled so out-of-
   range content is not served to regular visitors
 * If WST Date Simulator (by the same author) is also active, both plugins use the
   same simulated time as “now”, so a scheduled display period can be previewed 
   together with scheduled posts

#### About permissions

 * Viewing the preview and changing the plugin’s settings use separate permission
   checks
 * Changing the settings always requires an Administrator (manage_options)
 * Who can view the preview is configurable on the settings screen (Editors and 
   above, by default)

#### Good to know

 * This is a presentational schedule, not access control. Hidden content still exists
   in the post and may be reachable through revisions, feeds, or the REST API. Do
   not use it to protect secret information.
 * Crossing the start or end time does not change a cached page until it is regenerated.
   Shorten your cache lifetime or exclude the affected pages if exact switch timing
   matters.
 * Deactivating the plugin stops the schedule. Content saved by this plugin is stored
   in a form that is usually not shown by the browser, but this is not a security
   measure.

## Screenshots

[⌊The Block Timer block in the editor, with start and end fields in the sidebar⌉⌊
The Block Timer block in the editor, with start and end fields in the sidebar⌉[

The Block Timer block in the editor, with start and end fields in the sidebar

[⌊Settings screen (preview toggle and preview permission)⌉⌊Settings screen (preview
toggle and preview permission)⌉[

Settings screen (preview toggle and preview permission)

[⌊The front-end marker shown to permitted signed-in users for out-of-range content⌉⌊
The front-end marker shown to permitted signed-in users for out-of-range content⌉[

The front-end marker shown to permitted signed-in users for out-of-range content

## Blocks

This plugin provides 1 block.

 *   Block Timer A container block shown only between a start and end date/time,
   hidden automatically outside that window.

## Installation

 1. Upload the plugin files to `/wp-content/plugins/wst-block-timer`, or install the
    plugin through the “Plugins > Add New” screen in WordPress.
 2. Activate the plugin through the “Plugins” screen.
 3. In the editor, add the “Block Timer” block, place your content inside it, and set
    the start/end in the block sidebar.
 4. (Optional) Go to the “Block Timer” menu in wp-admin to turn on the preview of out-
    of-range content and choose who can see it.

## FAQ-e

### What happens outside the window?

For regular visitors the block outputs nothing. When the preview option is enabled,
only signed-in users with the preview permission see the content, in a dashed box
labeled with the display period.

### Can I set only an end date?

Yes. Leave the start empty and the content is visible until the end. Leave the end
empty and it is visible from the start onward. Leave both empty and it is always
visible.

### What if the start is after the end?

The editor shows an error on the block. On the front end, regular visitors see nothing;
users with the preview permission see it flagged as an invalid setting.

### Which timezone is used?

Your site’s timezone, from Settings > General.

### Does it change the actual content or post status?

No. Nothing in the database is changed. While out of range, the inner blocks are
simply left off the front end.

### Does it work with full-page caching?

Yes. But a cached page stays frozen at whatever it showed when it was cached, until
the cache is refreshed: a block can fail to appear after its start time, or fail
to disappear after its end time. For pages where the switch time matters, shorten
the cache lifetime or exclude them from caching. Pages being previewed by a permitted
signed-in user are excluded automatically.

## Reviews

There are no reviews for this plugin.

## Contributors & Developers

“WST Block Timer” is open source software. The following people have contributed
to this plugin.

Contributors

 *   [ webtatsu ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/webtatsu/)

“WST Block Timer” has been translated into 1 locale. Thank you to [the translators](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/wst-block-timer/contributors)
for their contributions.

[Translate “WST Block Timer” into your language.](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/wst-block-timer)

### Interested in development?

[Browse the code](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/wst-block-timer/), 
check out the [SVN repository](https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/wst-block-timer/),
or subscribe to the [development log](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/wst-block-timer/)
by [RSS](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/wst-block-timer/?limit=100&mode=stop_on_copy&format=rss).

## Changelog

#### 1.0.0

 * Initial release

## Mêta

 *  Version **1.0.0**
 *  Last updated **12 hours ago**
 *  Active installations **Fewer than 10**
 *  WordPress version ** 7.0 or higher **
 *  Tested up to **7.1**
 *  PHP version ** 8.2 or higher **
 *  Languages
 * [English (US)](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wst-block-timer/) e [Japanese](https://ja.wordpress.org/plugins/wst-block-timer/).
 *  [Translate into your language](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/wst-block-timer)
 * Tags
 * [block](https://lij.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/block/)[content](https://lij.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/content/)
   [editorial workflow](https://lij.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/editorial-workflow/)
   [schedule](https://lij.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/schedule/)[visibility](https://lij.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/visibility/)
 *  [Advanced View](https://lij.wordpress.org/plugins/wst-block-timer/advanced/)

## Ratings

No reviews have been submitted yet.

[Your review](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/wst-block-timer/reviews/#new-post)

[See all reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/wst-block-timer/reviews/)

## Contributors

 *   [ webtatsu ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/webtatsu/)

## Supòrto

Got something to say? Need help?

 [View support forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/wst-block-timer/)