Customize button in WordPress not working

When I click the Customize button in WordPress (from the Appearance menu or the top admin bar), instead of opening the normal Customizer panel, it redirects me to a “Recent Posts” widget settings page.

I already deleted the Classic Widgets plugin, but the problem still happens.

Going directly to /wp-admin/customize.php also takes me to the same “Recent Posts” widget screen instead of the Customizer.

My goal is to access the Customizer to adjust my site (site identity, homepage settings, menus, etc.), but it’s not working.

Possible causes I’ve considered:

My current theme might be a block theme (which replaces the Customizer with the Site Editor).

Another plugin conflict could be hijacking the Customize link.

If I switch to a classic theme like Twenty Twenty-One, the Customizer may come back, but with my current theme it doesn’t.

What I need fixed:

Identify why the Customize button is redirecting to the “Recent Posts” widget page.

Restore access to the normal WordPress Customizer, even if my theme is block-based (via plugin or theme adjustments).

Ensure the “Customize” link works correctly.


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