TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Step-by-Step Video
• Step-by-Step Visual Guide
• Step-by-Step Written Instructions
  • Purpose
  • Applies to
  • Procedure
    • Phase 1 — Confirm you're editing a sermon
    • Phase 2 — Open the Meta Boxes area
    • Phase 3 — Find and expand "Sermon Media"
    • Phase 4 — (Optional) Move Sermon Media to the top
    • Phase 5 — Add the audio and finish
  • Outcome
  • Quick checklist

Step-by-Step Video

Step-by-Step Visual Guide

Click here to view the Step-by-Step Visual Guide

Step-by-Step Written Instructions

Purpose

Help someone locate the audio field (and the video/PDF fields alongside it) when it doesn't appear in the sermon editor at first.

Root cause: Starting with WordPress 7.0, the sermon meta boxes are collapsed behind a Meta Boxes toggle at the bottom of the editor instead of showing on the page. Nothing is broken and nothing is lost — the audio field is just tucked away. This SOP shows how to reveal it and, optionally, pin it so it's always in easy reach.

Applies to

WordPress 7.0 and above, where the sermon media fields aren't visible on the sermon edit screen.

Procedure

Phase 1 — Confirm you're editing a sermon

1. In the WordPress dashboard, go to Sermons and open the sermon you're working on (or Add Sermon). Make sure you're actually in the sermon editor.

Phase 2 — Open the Meta Boxes area

1. Scroll to the bottom of the screen and find where it says Meta Boxes. Click it to reveal the meta boxes. (This is the WordPress 7.0+ change that makes the audio field seem to disappear.)

Phase 3 — Find and expand "Sermon Media"

1. Look for the Sermon Media box. If it's collapsed, click to expand it. Inside you'll see the fields to add a Video, Audio, and PDF.
2. If you don't see Sermon Media right away, other meta boxes may be listed first and already expanded — for example, Yoast SEO, and sometimes Content Permissions above that. Just scroll down past them until you reach Sermon Media; the audio section is right there.

Phase 4 — (Optional) Move Sermon Media to the top

1. To save time on future uploads, drag the Sermon Media box to the top of the meta boxes, then expand it. From then on, whenever you open Meta Boxes, the audio field is right there waiting.

Phase 5 — Add the audio and finish

1. Choose your audio (from the Media Library, upload a file, or paste a link) and complete the sermon the usual way — follow the step-by-step process in the main sermon SOP: How to Upload Sermons to Your Website.

Outcome

The Sermon Media box is visible and expanded, with the Video, Audio, and PDF fields accessible. The audio can be attached and the sermon finished normally. Optionally, Sermon Media is pinned to the top of the meta boxes so the field is easy to find on every future sermon.

Quick checklist

• [ ] In the dashboard → Sermons → editing a sermon
• [ ] Scrolled to the bottom and clicked Meta Boxes to reveal them
• [ ] Located Sermon Media (scrolled past Yoast SEO / Content Permissions if they appeared first)
• [ ] Expanded Sermon Media — Video, Audio, and PDF fields now visible
• [ ] (Optional) Dragged Sermon Media to the top for next time
• [ ] Attached the audio and finished the sermon per the main upload SOP