From 813574291506cfd5a90a3cc031f09d3e2d7b2a47 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: =?UTF-8?q?Mat=C3=ADas=20Ventura?= <mv@matiasventura.com>
Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2025 16:05:28 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 1/8] Adds h1-h6 as block variations for the heading block:

- Heading level shown in sidebar inspector variation picker
- Level-specific icons in the sidebar picker
- Proper variation detection via isActive callbacks

The variations use scope ['block', 'transform'] to appear in the
sidebar picker and transforms, while keeping the inserter clean
with just the base "Heading" block.
---
 .../block-variation-transforms/index.js       | 34 ++++++++++++++-----
 .../block-variation-transforms/style.scss     |  4 +--
 .../block-library/src/heading/variations.js   | 31 +++++++++++------
 3 files changed, 48 insertions(+), 21 deletions(-)

diff --git a/packages/block-editor/src/components/block-variation-transforms/index.js b/packages/block-editor/src/components/block-variation-transforms/index.js
index 327b94286bfcbf..43d2e5069288d3 100644
--- a/packages/block-editor/src/components/block-variation-transforms/index.js
+++ b/packages/block-editor/src/components/block-variation-transforms/index.js
@@ -12,6 +12,14 @@ import {
 } from '@wordpress/components';
 import { useSelect, useDispatch } from '@wordpress/data';
 import { useMemo } from '@wordpress/element';
+import {
+	headingLevel1,
+	headingLevel2,
+	headingLevel3,
+	headingLevel4,
+	headingLevel5,
+	headingLevel6,
+} from '@wordpress/icons';
 
 /**
  * Internal dependencies
@@ -229,17 +237,25 @@ function __experimentalBlockVariationTransforms( { blockClientId } ) {
 				( v ) => v.name !== 'stretchy-paragraph'
 			);
 		} else if ( blockName === 'core/heading' ) {
-			if (
-				activeBlockVariation?.name === 'stretchy-heading' ||
-				unfilteredVariations.every( ( v ) =>
-					[ 'heading', 'stretchy-heading' ].includes( v.name )
-				)
-			) {
+			// Hide variations picker when stretchy-heading is active.
+			if ( activeBlockVariation?.name === 'stretchy-heading' ) {
 				return [];
 			}
-			return unfilteredVariations.filter(
-				( v ) => v.name !== 'stretchy-heading'
-			);
+			// Filter out stretchy-heading, showing only h1-h6 with level-specific icons.
+			const HEADING_LEVEL_ICONS = {
+				h1: headingLevel1,
+				h2: headingLevel2,
+				h3: headingLevel3,
+				h4: headingLevel4,
+				h5: headingLevel5,
+				h6: headingLevel6,
+			};
+			return unfilteredVariations
+				.filter( ( v ) => v.name !== 'stretchy-heading' )
+				.map( ( v ) => ( {
+					...v,
+					icon: HEADING_LEVEL_ICONS[ v.name ] || v.icon,
+				} ) );
 		}
 		return unfilteredVariations;
 	}, [ activeBlockVariation?.name, blockName, unfilteredVariations ] );
diff --git a/packages/block-editor/src/components/block-variation-transforms/style.scss b/packages/block-editor/src/components/block-variation-transforms/style.scss
index faddedc52858fa..e8ab1811e2f6ce 100644
--- a/packages/block-editor/src/components/block-variation-transforms/style.scss
+++ b/packages/block-editor/src/components/block-variation-transforms/style.scss
@@ -6,10 +6,10 @@
 	padding: 0 $grid-unit-20 $grid-unit-20 52px;
 
 	&:where(fieldset) {
-		// Reset `fieldset` browser defaults.
+		// Reset `fieldset` browser defaults, keeping intentional padding.
 		border: 0;
-		padding: 0;
 		margin: 0;
+		min-inline-size: 0;
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/heading/variations.js b/packages/block-library/src/heading/variations.js
index 158adaa41e6692..2915ce4138802b 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/heading/variations.js
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/heading/variations.js
@@ -1,22 +1,33 @@
 /**
  * WordPress dependencies
  */
-import { __ } from '@wordpress/i18n';
+import { __, sprintf } from '@wordpress/i18n';
 import { Path, SVG } from '@wordpress/primitives';
 import { heading } from '@wordpress/icons';
 
+const defined = ( x ) => x !== undefined && x !== null;
+
+const HEADING_DESCRIPTION = __(
+	'Introduce new sections and organize content to help visitors (and search engines) understand the structure of your content.'
+);
+
 const variations = [
-	{
-		name: 'heading',
-		title: __( 'Heading' ),
-		description: __(
-			'Introduce new sections and organize content to help visitors (and search engines) understand the structure of your content.'
+	...[ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 ].map( ( level ) => ( {
+		name: `h${ level }`,
+		title: sprintf(
+			/* translators: %d: heading level e.g: "1", "2", "3" */
+			__( 'Heading %d' ),
+			level
 		),
-		isDefault: true,
-		scope: [ 'inserter', 'transform' ],
-		attributes: { fitText: undefined },
+		description: HEADING_DESCRIPTION,
 		icon: heading,
-	},
+		attributes: { level },
+		scope: [ 'block', 'transform' ],
+		keywords: [ `h${ level }` ],
+		isActive: ( blockAttributes ) =>
+			! defined( blockAttributes.fitText ) &&
+			blockAttributes.level === level,
+	} ) ),
 	// There is a hardcoded workaround in packages/block-editor/src/store/selectors.js
 	// to make Stretchy variations appear as the last of their sections in the inserter.
 	{

From 25d5818121f23bd1967eae557545d30c1bb3b622 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: =?UTF-8?q?Mat=C3=ADas=20Ventura?= <mv@matiasventura.com>
Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2025 16:08:08 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 2/8] Editor: Make block-scope variations searchable via slash
 commands

Extends the inserter to include block-scope variations in search results,
enabling slash commands like `/h3` to find variations that appear in the
sidebar variation picker.

Variations with only 'block' scope (not 'inserter') are marked as
`isSearchOnly` and filtered from the inserter browse view, but remain
searchable.
---
 .../components/inserter/block-types-tab.js    |  5 +++++
 packages/block-editor/src/store/selectors.js  | 22 ++++++++++++++++++-
 .../block-library/src/heading/variations.js   | 13 ++++-------
 3 files changed, 30 insertions(+), 10 deletions(-)

diff --git a/packages/block-editor/src/components/inserter/block-types-tab.js b/packages/block-editor/src/components/inserter/block-types-tab.js
index d37a6ca5694b09..c20eca95bb49f8 100644
--- a/packages/block-editor/src/components/inserter/block-types-tab.js
+++ b/packages/block-editor/src/components/inserter/block-types-tab.js
@@ -186,6 +186,11 @@ export function BlockTypesTab(
 			continue;
 		}
 
+		// Skip search-only items from browse view (they're still searchable).
+		if ( item.isSearchOnly ) {
+			continue;
+		}
+
 		if ( item.isAllowedInCurrentRoot ) {
 			itemsForCurrentRoot.push( item );
 		} else {
diff --git a/packages/block-editor/src/store/selectors.js b/packages/block-editor/src/store/selectors.js
index 733f3418f98d42..e89618b9c4921f 100644
--- a/packages/block-editor/src/store/selectors.js
+++ b/packages/block-editor/src/store/selectors.js
@@ -2078,6 +2078,8 @@ const getItemFromVariation = ( state, item ) => ( variation ) => {
 		innerBlocks: variation.innerBlocks,
 		keywords: variation.keywords || item.keywords,
 		frecency: calculateFrecency( time, count ),
+		// Pass through search-only flag for block-scope variations.
+		isSearchOnly: variation.isSearchOnly,
 	};
 };
 
@@ -2151,6 +2153,24 @@ const buildBlockTypeItem =
 			blockType.name,
 			'inserter'
 		);
+		const blockVariations = getBlockVariations( blockType.name, 'block' );
+		// Combine inserter and block variations. Block-scope variations without
+		// inserter scope are searchable via slash commands but hidden from browse.
+		const inserterVariationNames = new Set(
+			inserterVariations.map( ( variation ) => variation.name )
+		);
+		const allVariations = [
+			...inserterVariations,
+			...blockVariations
+				.filter(
+					( variation ) =>
+						! inserterVariationNames.has( variation.name )
+				)
+				.map( ( variation ) => ( {
+					...variation,
+					isSearchOnly: true,
+				} ) ),
+		];
 		return {
 			...blockItemBase,
 			initialAttributes: {},
@@ -2159,7 +2179,7 @@ const buildBlockTypeItem =
 			keywords: blockType.keywords,
 			parent: blockType.parent,
 			ancestor: blockType.ancestor,
-			variations: inserterVariations,
+			variations: allVariations,
 			example: blockType.example,
 			utility: 1, // Deprecated.
 		};
diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/heading/variations.js b/packages/block-library/src/heading/variations.js
index 2915ce4138802b..300dcc3d458c34 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/heading/variations.js
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/heading/variations.js
@@ -5,12 +5,6 @@ import { __, sprintf } from '@wordpress/i18n';
 import { Path, SVG } from '@wordpress/primitives';
 import { heading } from '@wordpress/icons';
 
-const defined = ( x ) => x !== undefined && x !== null;
-
-const HEADING_DESCRIPTION = __(
-	'Introduce new sections and organize content to help visitors (and search engines) understand the structure of your content.'
-);
-
 const variations = [
 	...[ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 ].map( ( level ) => ( {
 		name: `h${ level }`,
@@ -19,14 +13,15 @@ const variations = [
 			__( 'Heading %d' ),
 			level
 		),
-		description: HEADING_DESCRIPTION,
+		description: __(
+			'Introduce new sections and organize content to help visitors (and search engines) understand the structure of your content.'
+		),
 		icon: heading,
 		attributes: { level },
 		scope: [ 'block', 'transform' ],
 		keywords: [ `h${ level }` ],
 		isActive: ( blockAttributes ) =>
-			! defined( blockAttributes.fitText ) &&
-			blockAttributes.level === level,
+			! blockAttributes.fitText && blockAttributes.level === level,
 	} ) ),
 	// There is a hardcoded workaround in packages/block-editor/src/store/selectors.js
 	// to make Stretchy variations appear as the last of their sections in the inserter.

From 1cd67562b60800a6d5a31034409e332265966b4c Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: =?UTF-8?q?Mat=C3=ADas=20Ventura?= <mv@matiasventura.com>
Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2025 17:11:17 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 3/8] Consolidate handling of levels through varations

Remove level dropdown UI
---
 .../block-variation-transforms/index.js       | 27 +++----------------
 packages/block-library/src/heading/edit.js    | 11 +-------
 .../block-library/src/heading/variations.js   | 20 ++++++++++++--
 3 files changed, 23 insertions(+), 35 deletions(-)

diff --git a/packages/block-editor/src/components/block-variation-transforms/index.js b/packages/block-editor/src/components/block-variation-transforms/index.js
index 43d2e5069288d3..0519a9b1f98c26 100644
--- a/packages/block-editor/src/components/block-variation-transforms/index.js
+++ b/packages/block-editor/src/components/block-variation-transforms/index.js
@@ -12,14 +12,6 @@ import {
 } from '@wordpress/components';
 import { useSelect, useDispatch } from '@wordpress/data';
 import { useMemo } from '@wordpress/element';
-import {
-	headingLevel1,
-	headingLevel2,
-	headingLevel3,
-	headingLevel4,
-	headingLevel5,
-	headingLevel6,
-} from '@wordpress/icons';
 
 /**
  * Internal dependencies
@@ -241,21 +233,10 @@ function __experimentalBlockVariationTransforms( { blockClientId } ) {
 			if ( activeBlockVariation?.name === 'stretchy-heading' ) {
 				return [];
 			}
-			// Filter out stretchy-heading, showing only h1-h6 with level-specific icons.
-			const HEADING_LEVEL_ICONS = {
-				h1: headingLevel1,
-				h2: headingLevel2,
-				h3: headingLevel3,
-				h4: headingLevel4,
-				h5: headingLevel5,
-				h6: headingLevel6,
-			};
-			return unfilteredVariations
-				.filter( ( v ) => v.name !== 'stretchy-heading' )
-				.map( ( v ) => ( {
-					...v,
-					icon: HEADING_LEVEL_ICONS[ v.name ] || v.icon,
-				} ) );
+			// Filter out stretchy-heading.
+			return unfilteredVariations.filter(
+				( variation ) => variation.name !== 'stretchy-heading'
+			);
 		}
 		return unfilteredVariations;
 	}, [ activeBlockVariation?.name, blockName, unfilteredVariations ] );
diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/heading/edit.js b/packages/block-library/src/heading/edit.js
index ea58a75d51cda5..636e200c425b92 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/heading/edit.js
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/heading/edit.js
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ import {
 	RichText,
 	useBlockProps,
 	store as blockEditorStore,
-	HeadingLevelDropdown,
 	useBlockEditingMode,
 } from '@wordpress/block-editor';
 
@@ -32,8 +31,7 @@ function HeadingEdit( {
 	style,
 	clientId,
 } ) {
-	const { textAlign, content, level, levelOptions, placeholder, anchor } =
-		attributes;
+	const { textAlign, content, level, placeholder, anchor } = attributes;
 	const tagName = 'h' + level;
 	const blockProps = useBlockProps( {
 		className: clsx( {
@@ -94,13 +92,6 @@ function HeadingEdit( {
 		<>
 			{ blockEditingMode === 'default' && (
 				<BlockControls group="block">
-					<HeadingLevelDropdown
-						value={ level }
-						options={ levelOptions }
-						onChange={ ( newLevel ) =>
-							setAttributes( { level: newLevel } )
-						}
-					/>
 					<AlignmentControl
 						value={ textAlign }
 						onChange={ ( nextAlign ) => {
diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/heading/variations.js b/packages/block-library/src/heading/variations.js
index 300dcc3d458c34..2a842f9cad2c62 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/heading/variations.js
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/heading/variations.js
@@ -3,7 +3,23 @@
  */
 import { __, sprintf } from '@wordpress/i18n';
 import { Path, SVG } from '@wordpress/primitives';
-import { heading } from '@wordpress/icons';
+import {
+	headingLevel1,
+	headingLevel2,
+	headingLevel3,
+	headingLevel4,
+	headingLevel5,
+	headingLevel6,
+} from '@wordpress/icons';
+
+const LEVEL_ICONS = [
+	headingLevel1,
+	headingLevel2,
+	headingLevel3,
+	headingLevel4,
+	headingLevel5,
+	headingLevel6,
+];
 
 const variations = [
 	...[ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 ].map( ( level ) => ( {
@@ -16,7 +32,7 @@ const variations = [
 		description: __(
 			'Introduce new sections and organize content to help visitors (and search engines) understand the structure of your content.'
 		),
-		icon: heading,
+		icon: LEVEL_ICONS[ level - 1 ],
 		attributes: { level },
 		scope: [ 'block', 'transform' ],
 		keywords: [ `h${ level }` ],

From fb935724f921f63a20bdfbf0d94ce5b58e473b7f Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: =?UTF-8?q?Mat=C3=ADas=20Ventura?= <mv@matiasventura.com>
Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2025 18:38:09 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 4/8] Fix test

---
 test/e2e/specs/editor/blocks/heading.spec.js | 4 ++--
 1 file changed, 2 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)

diff --git a/test/e2e/specs/editor/blocks/heading.spec.js b/test/e2e/specs/editor/blocks/heading.spec.js
index b27c0fa52e4e6b..7ffbf6490f0809 100644
--- a/test/e2e/specs/editor/blocks/heading.spec.js
+++ b/test/e2e/specs/editor/blocks/heading.spec.js
@@ -365,8 +365,8 @@ test.describe( 'Heading', () => {
 
 		await expect(
 			headingListViewItem,
-			'should show default block name if the content is empty'
-		).toHaveText( 'Heading' );
+			'should show variation name if the content is empty'
+		).toHaveText( 'Heading 2' );
 
 		await editor.canvas
 			.getByRole( 'document', {

From e6a60747ffee378f41bb5635f6ea70e3159de804 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: =?UTF-8?q?Mat=C3=ADas=20Ventura?= <mv@matiasventura.com>
Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2025 20:29:53 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 5/8] Support filtering of levelOptions for back compat

---
 packages/block-library/src/heading/index.js | 25 +++++++++++++++++++--
 1 file changed, 23 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)

diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/heading/index.js b/packages/block-library/src/heading/index.js
index 3e5c7bf23972e1..7dde61dd7e068c 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/heading/index.js
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/heading/index.js
@@ -3,7 +3,11 @@
  */
 import { heading as icon } from '@wordpress/icons';
 import { __, sprintf } from '@wordpress/i18n';
-import { privateApis as blocksPrivateApis } from '@wordpress/blocks';
+import {
+	privateApis as blocksPrivateApis,
+	getBlockType,
+	unregisterBlockVariation,
+} from '@wordpress/blocks';
 
 /**
  * Internal dependencies
@@ -86,4 +90,21 @@ if ( window.__experimentalContentOnlyInspectorFields ) {
 	};
 }
 
-export const init = () => initBlock( { name, metadata, settings } );
+export const init = () => {
+	const block = initBlock( { name, metadata, settings } );
+
+	// Unregister heading level variations based on `levelOptions` attribute.
+	// This is for backwards compatibility, as extenders can now unregister the
+	// variation directly: `wp.blocks.unregisterBlockVariation( 'core/heading', 'h1' )`.
+	const levelOptions =
+		getBlockType( name )?.attributes?.levelOptions?.default;
+	if ( levelOptions ) {
+		[ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 ].forEach( ( level ) => {
+			if ( ! levelOptions.includes( level ) ) {
+				unregisterBlockVariation( name, `h${ level }` );
+			}
+		} );
+	}
+
+	return block;
+};

From f079360cf25b7bf1a6822bd62dd7cbb9c7e5254e Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: =?UTF-8?q?Mat=C3=ADas=20Ventura?= <mv@matiasventura.com>
Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2025 15:00:17 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 6/8] Fix e2e tests

---
 packages/block-editor/src/store/selectors.js           | 10 +++++++++-
 .../editor/various/autocomplete-and-mentions.spec.js   |  4 +++-
 .../e2e/specs/editor/various/content-only-lock.spec.js |  2 +-
 .../various/keep-styles-on-block-transforms.spec.js    |  2 +-
 test/e2e/specs/editor/various/list-view.spec.js        |  6 +++---
 test/e2e/specs/editor/various/rich-text.spec.js        |  8 ++++++--
 .../editor/various/toolbar-roving-tabindex.spec.js     |  8 +++++---
 test/e2e/specs/widgets/customizing-widgets.spec.js     |  2 +-
 8 files changed, 29 insertions(+), 13 deletions(-)

diff --git a/packages/block-editor/src/store/selectors.js b/packages/block-editor/src/store/selectors.js
index e89618b9c4921f..223eeb748670bf 100644
--- a/packages/block-editor/src/store/selectors.js
+++ b/packages/block-editor/src/store/selectors.js
@@ -2302,7 +2302,15 @@ export const getInserterItems = createRegistrySelector( ( select ) =>
 				( accumulator, item ) => {
 					const { variations = [] } = item;
 					// Exclude any block type item that is to be replaced by a default variation.
-					if ( ! variations.some( ( { isDefault } ) => isDefault ) ) {
+					// Only consider non-search-only variations ("inserter" scope) for this check.
+					// "block" scope variations marked as `isSearchOnly` should not cause the base
+					// block to be excluded.
+					if (
+						! variations.some(
+							( variation ) =>
+								! variation.isSearchOnly && variation.isDefault
+						)
+					) {
 						accumulator.push( item );
 					}
 					if ( variations.length ) {
diff --git a/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/autocomplete-and-mentions.spec.js b/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/autocomplete-and-mentions.spec.js
index 7143f3dfc96b7b..1557c92c160deb 100644
--- a/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/autocomplete-and-mentions.spec.js
+++ b/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/autocomplete-and-mentions.spec.js
@@ -569,9 +569,11 @@ test.describe( 'Autocomplete (@firefox, @webkit)', () => {
 			page.locator( `role=option[name="Heading"i]` )
 		).toBeVisible();
 		// Get the assertive live region screen reader announcement.
+		// Heading variations (h1-h6) are now searchable, so searching for "heading"
+		// returns: Heading, Heading 1-6, and Stretchy Heading = 8 results.
 		await expect(
 			page.getByText(
-				'3 results found, use up and down arrow keys to navigate.'
+				'8 results found, use up and down arrow keys to navigate.'
 			)
 		).toBeVisible();
 	} );
diff --git a/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/content-only-lock.spec.js b/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/content-only-lock.spec.js
index 10852700ba5e6d..2138a4c0e402a0 100644
--- a/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/content-only-lock.spec.js
+++ b/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/content-only-lock.spec.js
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ test.describe( 'Content-only lock', () => {
 		await editor.clickBlockOptionsMenuItem( 'Delete' );
 		// Select an outside block
 		await editor.canvas
-			.locator( 'role=document[name="Block: Heading"i]' )
+			.locator( 'role=document[name="Block: Heading 2"i]' )
 			.click();
 		// Select a locked nested paragraph block again
 		await pageUtils.pressKeys( 'ArrowUp' );
diff --git a/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/keep-styles-on-block-transforms.spec.js b/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/keep-styles-on-block-transforms.spec.js
index 074db6e1bac685..60b68dfdbd834b 100644
--- a/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/keep-styles-on-block-transforms.spec.js
+++ b/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/keep-styles-on-block-transforms.spec.js
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ test.describe( 'Keep styles on block transforms', () => {
 		await page.click( 'role=button[name="Text"i]' );
 		await page.click( 'role=option[name="Luminous vivid orange"i]' );
 
-		await page.click( 'role=button[name="Heading"i]' );
+		await page.click( 'role=button[name="Heading 2"i]' );
 		await page.click( 'role=menuitem[name="Paragraph"i]' );
 
 		await expect.poll( editor.getBlocks ).toMatchObject( [
diff --git a/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/list-view.spec.js b/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/list-view.spec.js
index 4f83a3713ddd36..c9335edb46f0de 100644
--- a/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/list-view.spec.js
+++ b/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/list-view.spec.js
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ test.describe( 'List View', () => {
 			exact: true,
 		} );
 		const headingBlockItem = listView.getByRole( 'gridcell', {
-			name: 'Heading',
+			name: 'Heading 2',
 			exact: true,
 		} );
 
@@ -1090,7 +1090,7 @@ test.describe( 'List View', () => {
 		await page.keyboard.press( 'ArrowRight' );
 		// Move focus and select the Heading block.
 		await listView
-			.getByRole( 'gridcell', { name: 'Heading', exact: true } )
+			.getByRole( 'gridcell', { name: 'Heading 2', exact: true } )
 			.dblclick();
 		// Select both inner blocks in the column.
 		await page.keyboard.press( 'Shift+ArrowDown' );
@@ -1188,7 +1188,7 @@ test.describe( 'List View', () => {
 		} );
 		// Click on the Heading block to select it.
 		await listView
-			.getByRole( 'gridcell', { name: 'Heading', exact: true } )
+			.getByRole( 'gridcell', { name: 'Heading 2', exact: true } )
 			.click();
 		await listView
 			.getByRole( 'gridcell', { name: 'File' } )
diff --git a/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/rich-text.spec.js b/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/rich-text.spec.js
index b38fae9dafaf78..d9dc2d0475ab7d 100644
--- a/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/rich-text.spec.js
+++ b/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/rich-text.spec.js
@@ -19,8 +19,12 @@ test.describe( 'RichText (@firefox, @webkit)', () => {
 		//
 		// See: https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/issues/3091
 		await editor.insertBlock( { name: 'core/heading' } );
-		await editor.clickBlockToolbarButton( 'Change level' );
-		await page.locator( 'role=menuitemradio[name="Heading 3"]' ).click();
+
+		// Open the block inspector sidebar and use variations to change level.
+		await editor.openDocumentSettingsSidebar();
+		await page
+			.getByRole( 'button', { name: 'Heading 3', exact: true } )
+			.click();
 
 		expect( await editor.getBlocks() ).toMatchObject( [
 			{
diff --git a/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/toolbar-roving-tabindex.spec.js b/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/toolbar-roving-tabindex.spec.js
index 73680e841e7ea7..6274419443d2f0 100644
--- a/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/toolbar-roving-tabindex.spec.js
+++ b/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/toolbar-roving-tabindex.spec.js
@@ -46,12 +46,14 @@ test.describe( 'Toolbar roving tabindex', () => {
 		await page.keyboard.type( 'Heading' );
 		await ToolbarRovingTabindexUtils.testBlockToolbarKeyboardNavigation(
 			'Block: Heading',
-			'Heading'
+			'Heading 2'
+		);
+		await ToolbarRovingTabindexUtils.wrapCurrentBlockWithGroup(
+			'Heading 2'
 		);
-		await ToolbarRovingTabindexUtils.wrapCurrentBlockWithGroup( 'Heading' );
 		await ToolbarRovingTabindexUtils.testGroupKeyboardNavigation(
 			'Block: Heading',
-			'Heading'
+			'Heading 2'
 		);
 
 		// ensures list block toolbar uses roving tabindex
diff --git a/test/e2e/specs/widgets/customizing-widgets.spec.js b/test/e2e/specs/widgets/customizing-widgets.spec.js
index cc73ad73886b9c..ed0f4b4a95748b 100644
--- a/test/e2e/specs/widgets/customizing-widgets.spec.js
+++ b/test/e2e/specs/widgets/customizing-widgets.spec.js
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ test.describe( 'Widgets Customizer', () => {
 		await editHeadingWidget.click();
 
 		const headingBlock = page.locator(
-			'role=document[name="Block: Heading"i] >> text="First Heading"'
+			'role=document[name="Block: Heading 2"i] >> text="First Heading"'
 		);
 		await expect( headingBlock ).toBeFocused();
 	} );

From a6ab7af9b693acdb53f5a55fa17201d3bc2cf67c Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: =?UTF-8?q?Mat=C3=ADas=20Ventura?= <mv@matiasventura.com>
Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2025 17:26:02 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 7/8] Simplify logic, don't carry over isDefault for
 search-only variations

---
 packages/block-editor/src/store/selectors.js | 13 ++++---------
 1 file changed, 4 insertions(+), 9 deletions(-)

diff --git a/packages/block-editor/src/store/selectors.js b/packages/block-editor/src/store/selectors.js
index 223eeb748670bf..8fe3b0ce101b2d 100644
--- a/packages/block-editor/src/store/selectors.js
+++ b/packages/block-editor/src/store/selectors.js
@@ -2169,6 +2169,9 @@ const buildBlockTypeItem =
 				.map( ( variation ) => ( {
 					...variation,
 					isSearchOnly: true,
+					// Block-scope `isDefault` is for the placeholder picker,
+					// not for the inserter, so don't carry it over.
+					isDefault: false,
 				} ) ),
 		];
 		return {
@@ -2302,15 +2305,7 @@ export const getInserterItems = createRegistrySelector( ( select ) =>
 				( accumulator, item ) => {
 					const { variations = [] } = item;
 					// Exclude any block type item that is to be replaced by a default variation.
-					// Only consider non-search-only variations ("inserter" scope) for this check.
-					// "block" scope variations marked as `isSearchOnly` should not cause the base
-					// block to be excluded.
-					if (
-						! variations.some(
-							( variation ) =>
-								! variation.isSearchOnly && variation.isDefault
-						)
-					) {
+					if ( ! variations.some( ( { isDefault } ) => isDefault ) ) {
 						accumulator.push( item );
 					}
 					if ( variations.length ) {

From 82b367368cd42e663fb3c92bd2ba01b279c72ab1 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: =?UTF-8?q?Mat=C3=ADas=20Ventura?= <mv@matiasventura.com>
Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2025 17:33:12 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 8/8] More test fixes

---
 test/e2e/specs/editor/plugins/block-variations.spec.js    | 4 +++-
 .../editor/various/autocomplete-and-mentions.spec.js      | 8 ++------
 .../various/keep-styles-on-block-transforms.spec.js       | 5 ++++-
 .../specs/editor/various/toolbar-roving-tabindex.spec.js  | 4 ++--
 4 files changed, 11 insertions(+), 10 deletions(-)

diff --git a/test/e2e/specs/editor/plugins/block-variations.spec.js b/test/e2e/specs/editor/plugins/block-variations.spec.js
index ec7987f0c352d9..42ea508a6f9c8b 100644
--- a/test/e2e/specs/editor/plugins/block-variations.spec.js
+++ b/test/e2e/specs/editor/plugins/block-variations.spec.js
@@ -112,7 +112,9 @@ test.describe( 'Block variations', () => {
 			.locator( 'role=button[name="Add default block"i]' )
 			.click();
 		await page.keyboard.type( '/Columns' );
-		await page.getByRole( 'option', { name: 'Columns' } ).click();
+		await page
+			.getByRole( 'option', { name: 'Columns', exact: true } )
+			.click();
 
 		await editor.canvas
 			.getByRole( 'list', { name: 'Block variations' } )
diff --git a/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/autocomplete-and-mentions.spec.js b/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/autocomplete-and-mentions.spec.js
index 1557c92c160deb..fe5c644357a724 100644
--- a/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/autocomplete-and-mentions.spec.js
+++ b/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/autocomplete-and-mentions.spec.js
@@ -566,15 +566,11 @@ test.describe( 'Autocomplete (@firefox, @webkit)', () => {
 
 		await page.keyboard.type( 'heading' );
 		await expect(
-			page.locator( `role=option[name="Heading"i]` )
+			page.getByRole( 'option', { name: 'Heading', exact: true } )
 		).toBeVisible();
 		// Get the assertive live region screen reader announcement.
-		// Heading variations (h1-h6) are now searchable, so searching for "heading"
-		// returns: Heading, Heading 1-6, and Stretchy Heading = 8 results.
 		await expect(
-			page.getByText(
-				'8 results found, use up and down arrow keys to navigate.'
-			)
+			page.getByText( 'use up and down arrow keys to navigate.' )
 		).toBeVisible();
 	} );
 } );
diff --git a/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/keep-styles-on-block-transforms.spec.js b/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/keep-styles-on-block-transforms.spec.js
index 60b68dfdbd834b..76c131449d7235 100644
--- a/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/keep-styles-on-block-transforms.spec.js
+++ b/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/keep-styles-on-block-transforms.spec.js
@@ -20,7 +20,10 @@ test.describe( 'Keep styles on block transforms', () => {
 		await page.click( 'role=button[name="Text"i]' );
 		await page.click( 'role=option[name="Luminous vivid orange"i]' );
 
-		await page.click( 'role=button[name="Heading 2"i]' );
+		await page
+			.getByRole( 'toolbar', { name: 'Block tools' } )
+			.getByRole( 'button', { name: 'Heading 2' } )
+			.click();
 		await page.click( 'role=menuitem[name="Paragraph"i]' );
 
 		await expect.poll( editor.getBlocks ).toMatchObject( [
diff --git a/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/toolbar-roving-tabindex.spec.js b/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/toolbar-roving-tabindex.spec.js
index 6274419443d2f0..20ab3bcb024e6d 100644
--- a/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/toolbar-roving-tabindex.spec.js
+++ b/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/toolbar-roving-tabindex.spec.js
@@ -45,14 +45,14 @@ test.describe( 'Toolbar roving tabindex', () => {
 		await editor.insertBlock( { name: 'core/heading' } );
 		await page.keyboard.type( 'Heading' );
 		await ToolbarRovingTabindexUtils.testBlockToolbarKeyboardNavigation(
-			'Block: Heading',
+			'Block: Heading 2',
 			'Heading 2'
 		);
 		await ToolbarRovingTabindexUtils.wrapCurrentBlockWithGroup(
 			'Heading 2'
 		);
 		await ToolbarRovingTabindexUtils.testGroupKeyboardNavigation(
-			'Block: Heading',
+			'Block: Heading 2',
 			'Heading 2'
 		);