` / `
` tags that create awkward spacing.
**What it does**
* Removes empty paragraph tags (including whitespace-only and ` ` paragraphs)
* Optionally disables WordPress `wpautop` on content, excerpts, and text widgets
* Gives you a Settings screen so you can choose exactly where cleanup runs
* Stays lightweight: front-end cleaning runs only where you enable it
**Useful when**
* Page builders or custom HTML layouts pick up extra vertical space
* Classic editor / mixed content leaves empty paragraphs behind
* You want `wpautop` off in some places, but normal paragraphs elsewhere
Default settings match older versions of this plugin, so existing sites keep the
same behavior after upgrading.
### Release Notes
#### Version 5.0.0 – Major update
This release rebuilds Empty P Tag around a proper settings experience while keeping
the previous default behavior for existing sites.
**Highlights**
* New admin page at **Settings Empty P Tag**
* Turn WordPress automatic paragraphs (`wpautop`) on or off for content, excerpts,
and text widgets
* Choose where empty paragraph cleanup should run
* Improved matching for empty paragraphs that contain only spaces, ` `, line
breaks, or invisible characters
* Option to also remove empty paragraphs that include HTML attributes (for example
a class)
* Optional setting to collapse consecutive / stray line break tags
* Quick **Settings** link on the Plugins screen
* Translation-ready (text domain: `empty-p-tag`)
* Settings are removed cleanly on uninstall
* Compatibility updates: requires PHP 7.2+, tested up to WordPress 6.8
**Upgrade notes**
* After updating, review **Settings Empty P Tag**
* Defaults match the older always-on behavior, so most sites will look the same
after upgrade
* If your theme needs normal WordPress paragraphs, disable the `wpautop` options
and leave empty-tag cleanup enabled
## Installation
#### From the WordPress admin
1. Go to **Plugins Add New**.
2. Search for **Empty P Tag**.
3. Click **Install Now**, then **Activate**.
4. Open **Settings Empty P Tag** to review options.
#### Manual install
1. Upload the `empty-p-tag` folder to `/wp-content/plugins/`.
2. Activate **Empty P Tag** from the Plugins screen.
3. Configure options under **Settings Empty P Tag**.
## FAQ
### Will this change my posts immediately?
Yes on the front end. The plugin filters rendered content; it does not rewrite post
content in the database.
### Does this disable all paragraph formatting?
Only if those options stay enabled. You can turn off `wpautop` removal per area (
content, excerpt, widgets) and still strip empty tags.
### I upgraded and my layout looks different
Open **Settings Empty P Tag** and restore the defaults, or disable only the option
that conflicts with your theme.
### Can developers customize cleanup?
Yes. Filters include `haq_empty_p_tag_should_clean` and `haq_empty_p_tag_cleaned_content`.
## Reviews
### [Does the trick](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/does-the-trick-87/)
[garrongray](https://profiles.wordpress.org/garrongray/) Сентябрь 3, 2020
Works perfectly on 5.5.1. Thanks!
### [Saved my commenting system!](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/saved-my-commenting-system/)
[alexcz](https://profiles.wordpress.org/alexcz/) Июнь 19, 2020
I tried this as a last resort to try to improve the formatting of my commenting
system, wpDiscuz (https://wordpress.org/plugins/wpdiscuz/), which by the way is
great! Unfortunately in my case (because I need to select only one or two words
sometimes) it kept adding
tags to the text, which added line breaks and unwanted
spacing. This plugin solved that problem!
### [It is simple and amazing plugin](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/it-is-simple-and-amazing-plugin/)
[meenakshi1995](https://profiles.wordpress.org/meenakshi1995/) Февраль 9, 2019
I use the plugin its help me for removing empty tag
### [Awesome…](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/grate-plugin-21/)
[kundanfortest](https://profiles.wordpress.org/kundanfortest/) Май 4, 2018
Good plugin for remove empty space in editor.
### [Great Plugin](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/great-plugin-15647/)
[alexmartelli97](https://profiles.wordpress.org/alexmartelli97/) Октябрь 28, 2017
1 reply
Best for remove blank tags
### [Great](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/great-7137/)
[nidhibarve](https://profiles.wordpress.org/nidhibarve/) Октябрь 11, 2017 1 reply
I love this plugin. It really work fine.
[ Read all 7 reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/empty-p-tag/reviews/)
## Contributors & Developers
“Empty P Tag” is open source software. The following people have contributed to
this plugin.
Contributors
* [ Husain Ahmed ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/husainahmedqureshi/)
[Translate “Empty P Tag” into your language.](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/empty-p-tag)
### Interested in development?
[Browse the code](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/empty-p-tag/), check
out the [SVN repository](https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/empty-p-tag/), or subscribe
to the [development log](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/empty-p-tag/) by
[RSS](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/empty-p-tag/?limit=100&mode=stop_on_copy&format=rss).
## Changelog
#### 5.0.0
* Major rewrite with a Settings screen (Settings Empty P Tag)
* Choose where to disable wpautop (content, excerpt, widgets)
* Choose where empty paragraph cleanup runs
* Stronger empty-tag matching (` `, zero-width spaces, attribute-bearing empty
paragraphs)
* Optional collapse of extra `
` tags
* Plugin action link to Settings
* Translation-ready text domain
* Clean uninstall that removes stored settings
* Requires PHP 7.2+, tested with modern WordPress
#### 4.1
* Internal maintenance release
#### 3.0
* WordPress.org compatibility updates
#### 2.0.1
* Third release
* Added feature to remove whitespace-only paragraph tags
#### 1.0.1
* Second release
* Added `preg_replace` cleanup for empty tags
#### 1.0.0
* First release
* Basic plugin
## Meta
* Version **5.0.0**
* Last updated **2 боны ago**
* Active installations **700+**
* WordPress version ** 5.0 or higher **
* Tested up to **6.8.8**
* PHP version ** 7.2 or higher **
* Language
* [English (US)](https://wordpress.org/plugins/empty-p-tag/)
* Tags
* [editor](https://os.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/editor/)[excerpt](https://os.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/excerpt/)
[filter](https://os.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/filter/)[formatting](https://os.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/formatting/)
[wpautop](https://os.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/wpautop/)
* [Advanced View](https://os.wordpress.org/plugins/empty-p-tag/advanced/)
## Ratings
5 out of 5 stars.
* [ 7 5-star reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/empty-p-tag/reviews/?filter=5)
* [ 0 4-star reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/empty-p-tag/reviews/?filter=4)
* [ 0 3-star reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/empty-p-tag/reviews/?filter=3)
* [ 0 2-star reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/empty-p-tag/reviews/?filter=2)
* [ 0 1-star reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/empty-p-tag/reviews/?filter=1)
[Your review](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/empty-p-tag/reviews/#new-post)
[See all reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/empty-p-tag/reviews/)
## Contributors
* [ Husain Ahmed ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/husainahmedqureshi/)
## Support
Got something to say? Need help?
[View support forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/empty-p-tag/)