diff --git a/lib/experimental/posts/load.php b/lib/experimental/posts/load.php
index 3a9feba2750c1c..9be8d6945f19ff 100644
--- a/lib/experimental/posts/load.php
+++ b/lib/experimental/posts/load.php
@@ -11,14 +11,67 @@
  * Renders the new posts dashboard page.
  */
 function gutenberg_posts_dashboard() {
+	// Flag that we're loading the block editor.
+	// $current_screen = get_current_screen();
+	// $current_screen->is_block_editor( true );
+
+	// Default to is-fullscreen-mode to avoid jumps in the UI.
+	// add_filter(
+	// 	'admin_body_class',
+	// 	static function ( $classes ) {
+	// 		return "$classes is-fullscreen-mode";
+	// 	}
+	// );
+
+	$block_editor_context = new WP_Block_Editor_Context( array( 'name' => 'core/edit-site' ) );
+	$custom_settings      = array(
+		'siteUrl'                   => site_url(),
+		// 'postsPerPage'              => get_option( 'posts_per_page' ),
+		'styles'                    => get_block_editor_theme_styles(),
+		// 'defaultTemplateTypes'      => $indexed_template_types,
+		// 'defaultTemplatePartAreas'  => get_allowed_block_template_part_areas(),
+		'supportsLayout'            => wp_theme_has_theme_json(),
+		// 'supportsTemplatePartsMode' => ! wp_is_block_theme() && current_theme_supports( 'block-template-parts' ),
+	);
+	$editor_settings = get_block_editor_settings( $custom_settings, $block_editor_context );
+
+	$active_global_styles_id = WP_Theme_JSON_Resolver::get_user_global_styles_post_id();
+	$active_theme            = get_stylesheet();
+
+	// Preload server-registered block schemas.
+	wp_add_inline_script(
+		'wp-blocks',
+		'wp.blocks.unstable__bootstrapServerSideBlockDefinitions(' . wp_json_encode( get_block_editor_server_block_settings() ) . ');'
+	);
+
+	wp_add_inline_script(
+		'wp-blocks',
+		sprintf( 'wp.blocks.setCategories( %s );', wp_json_encode( isset( $editor_settings['blockCategories'] ) ? $editor_settings['blockCategories'] : array() ) ),
+		'after'
+	);
+
+	/** This action is documented in wp-admin/edit-form-blocks.php */
+	do_action( 'enqueue_block_editor_assets' );
 	wp_register_style(
 		'wp-gutenberg-posts-dashboard',
 		gutenberg_url( 'build/edit-site/posts.css', __FILE__ ),
-		array( 'wp-components', 'wp-commands' )
+		array( 'wp-components', 'wp-commands', 'wp-edit-site' )
 	);
 	wp_enqueue_style( 'wp-gutenberg-posts-dashboard' );
-	wp_add_inline_script( 'wp-edit-site', 'window.wp.editSite.initializePostsDashboard( "gutenberg-posts-dashboard" );', 'after' );
+	// wp_add_inline_script( 'wp-edit-site', 'window.wp.editSite.initializePostsDashboard( "gutenberg-posts-dashboard" );', 'after' );
+	wp_add_inline_script(
+		'wp-edit-site',
+		sprintf(
+			'wp.domReady( function() {
+				wp.editSite.initializePostsDashboard( "gutenberg-posts-dashboard", %s );
+			} );',
+			wp_json_encode( $editor_settings )
+		)
+	);
 	wp_enqueue_script( 'wp-edit-site' );
+	// wp_enqueue_style( 'wp-edit-site' );
+
+	wp_enqueue_media();
 
 	echo '<div id="gutenberg-posts-dashboard"></div>';
 }
@@ -29,7 +82,7 @@ function gutenberg_posts_dashboard() {
  */
 function gutenberg_add_post_type_arg() {
     global $pagenow;
-    if ( $pagenow == 'admin.php' && isset( $_GET['page'] ) && $_GET['page'] == 'gutenberg-posts-dashboard' && empty( $_GET['postType'] ) ) {
+    if ( 'admin.php' === $pagenow && isset( $_GET['page'] ) && 'gutenberg-posts-dashboard' === $_GET['page'] && empty( $_GET['postType'] ) ) {
         wp_redirect( admin_url( '/admin.php?page=gutenberg-posts-dashboard&postType=post' ) );
         exit;
     }
diff --git a/packages/edit-site/src/components/editor/index.js b/packages/edit-site/src/components/editor/index.js
index 85a9a428fe2f2f..dc51bd0d31df70 100644
--- a/packages/edit-site/src/components/editor/index.js
+++ b/packages/edit-site/src/components/editor/index.js
@@ -44,12 +44,14 @@ import SiteEditorMoreMenu from '../more-menu';
 import SiteIcon from '../site-icon';
 import useEditorIframeProps from '../block-editor/use-editor-iframe-props';
 import useEditorTitle from './use-editor-title';
+import { useIsSiteEditorLoading } from '../layout/hooks';
 
 const { Editor, BackButton } = unlock( editorPrivateApis );
 const { useHistory } = unlock( routerPrivateApis );
 const { BlockKeyboardShortcuts } = unlock( blockLibraryPrivateApis );
 
-export default function EditSiteEditor( { isLoading } ) {
+export default function EditSiteEditor() {
+	const isLoading = useIsSiteEditorLoading();
 	const {
 		editedPostType,
 		editedPostId,
diff --git a/packages/edit-site/src/components/layout/router.js b/packages/edit-site/src/components/layout/router.js
index 64406391c76f0e..36ca52088f6a8f 100644
--- a/packages/edit-site/src/components/layout/router.js
+++ b/packages/edit-site/src/components/layout/router.js
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ import { useEffect } from '@wordpress/element';
  * Internal dependencies
  */
 import { unlock } from '../../lock-unlock';
-import { useIsSiteEditorLoading } from './hooks';
 import Editor from '../editor';
 import PostsList from '../posts-app/posts-list';
 import PagePatterns from '../page-patterns';
@@ -74,7 +73,6 @@ function useRedirectOldPaths() {
 }
 
 export default function useLayoutAreas() {
-	const isSiteEditorLoading = useIsSiteEditorLoading();
 	const { params } = useLocation();
 	const { postType, postId, path, layout, isCustom, canvas } = params;
 	useRedirectOldPaths();
@@ -93,12 +91,10 @@ export default function useLayoutAreas() {
 					/>
 				),
 				content: <PostsList postType={ postType } />,
-				preview: ( isListLayout || canvas === 'edit' ) && (
-					<Editor isLoading={ isSiteEditorLoading } />
-				),
+				preview: ( isListLayout || canvas === 'edit' ) && <Editor />,
 				mobile:
 					canvas === 'edit' ? (
-						<Editor isLoading={ isSiteEditorLoading } />
+						<Editor />
 					) : (
 						<PostsList postType={ postType } />
 					),
@@ -119,9 +115,7 @@ export default function useLayoutAreas() {
 					<SidebarNavigationScreenTemplatesBrowse backPath={ {} } />
 				),
 				content: <PageTemplates />,
-				preview: ( isListLayout || canvas === 'edit' ) && (
-					<Editor isLoading={ isSiteEditorLoading } />
-				),
+				preview: ( isListLayout || canvas === 'edit' ) && <Editor />,
 				mobile: <PageTemplates />,
 			},
 			widths: {
@@ -140,9 +134,7 @@ export default function useLayoutAreas() {
 				sidebar: <SidebarNavigationScreenPatterns backPath={ {} } />,
 				content: <PagePatterns />,
 				mobile: <PagePatterns />,
-				preview: canvas === 'edit' && (
-					<Editor isLoading={ isSiteEditorLoading } />
-				),
+				preview: canvas === 'edit' && <Editor />,
 			},
 		};
 	}
@@ -155,10 +147,8 @@ export default function useLayoutAreas() {
 				sidebar: (
 					<SidebarNavigationScreenGlobalStyles backPath={ {} } />
 				),
-				preview: <Editor isLoading={ isSiteEditorLoading } />,
-				mobile: canvas === 'edit' && (
-					<Editor isLoading={ isSiteEditorLoading } />
-				),
+				preview: <Editor />,
+				mobile: canvas === 'edit' && <Editor />,
 			},
 		};
 	}
@@ -174,10 +164,8 @@ export default function useLayoutAreas() {
 							backPath={ { postType: NAVIGATION_POST_TYPE } }
 						/>
 					),
-					preview: <Editor isLoading={ isSiteEditorLoading } />,
-					mobile: canvas === 'edit' && (
-						<Editor isLoading={ isSiteEditorLoading } />
-					),
+					preview: <Editor />,
+					mobile: canvas === 'edit' && <Editor />,
 				},
 			};
 		}
@@ -187,10 +175,8 @@ export default function useLayoutAreas() {
 				sidebar: (
 					<SidebarNavigationScreenNavigationMenus backPath={ {} } />
 				),
-				preview: <Editor isLoading={ isSiteEditorLoading } />,
-				mobile: canvas === 'edit' && (
-					<Editor isLoading={ isSiteEditorLoading } />
-				),
+				preview: <Editor />,
+				mobile: canvas === 'edit' && <Editor />,
 			},
 		};
 	}
@@ -200,10 +186,8 @@ export default function useLayoutAreas() {
 		key: 'default',
 		areas: {
 			sidebar: <SidebarNavigationScreenMain />,
-			preview: <Editor isLoading={ isSiteEditorLoading } />,
-			mobile: canvas === 'edit' && (
-				<Editor isLoading={ isSiteEditorLoading } />
-			),
+			preview: <Editor />,
+			mobile: canvas === 'edit' && <Editor />,
 		},
 	};
 }
diff --git a/packages/edit-site/src/components/posts-app/router.js b/packages/edit-site/src/components/posts-app/router.js
index 76c4525e48f22e..3a5f47c17f603e 100644
--- a/packages/edit-site/src/components/posts-app/router.js
+++ b/packages/edit-site/src/components/posts-app/router.js
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ import { store as coreStore } from '@wordpress/core-data';
  * Internal dependencies
  */
 import { unlock } from '../../lock-unlock';
-import { useIsSiteEditorLoading } from '../layout/hooks';
 import Editor from '../editor';
 import SidebarNavigationScreen from '../sidebar-navigation-screen';
 import SidebarNavigationScreenMain from '../sidebar-navigation-screen-main';
@@ -19,7 +18,6 @@ import PostsList from '../posts-app/posts-list';
 const { useLocation } = unlock( routerPrivateApis );
 
 export default function useLayoutAreas() {
-	const isSiteEditorLoading = useIsSiteEditorLoading();
 	const { params = {} } = useLocation();
 	const { postType, layout, canvas } = params;
 	const labels = useSelect(
@@ -30,25 +28,23 @@ export default function useLayoutAreas() {
 	);
 
 	// Posts list.
-	if ( [ 'page', 'post' ].includes( postType ) ) {
+	if ( [ 'post' ].includes( postType ) ) {
 		const isListLayout = layout === 'list' || ! layout;
 		return {
-			key: 'pages',
+			key: 'posts-list',
 			areas: {
 				sidebar: (
 					<SidebarNavigationScreen
 						title={ labels?.name }
-						backPath={ {} }
+						// backPath={ {} }
 						content={ <DataViewsSidebarContent /> }
 					/>
 				),
 				content: <PostsList postType={ postType } />,
-				preview: ( isListLayout || canvas === 'edit' ) && (
-					<Editor isLoading={ isSiteEditorLoading } />
-				),
+				preview: ( isListLayout || canvas === 'edit' ) && <Editor />,
 				mobile:
 					canvas === 'edit' ? (
-						<Editor isLoading={ isSiteEditorLoading } />
+						<Editor />
 					) : (
 						<PostsList postType={ postType } />
 					),
@@ -59,24 +55,13 @@ export default function useLayoutAreas() {
 		};
 	}
 
-	// const defaultRoute = {
-	// 	key: 'index',
-	// 	areas: {
-	// 		sidebar: 'Empty Sidebar',
-	// 		content: <PostsList />,
-	// 		preview: undefined,
-	// 		mobile: <Page>Welcome to Posts</Page>,
-	// 	},
-	// };
 	// Fallback shows the home page preview
 	return {
 		key: 'default',
 		areas: {
 			sidebar: <SidebarNavigationScreenMain />,
-			preview: <Editor isLoading={ isSiteEditorLoading } />,
-			mobile: canvas === 'edit' && (
-				<Editor isLoading={ isSiteEditorLoading } />
-			),
+			preview: <Editor />,
+			mobile: canvas === 'edit' && <Editor />,
 		},
 	};
 }
diff --git a/packages/edit-site/src/posts.js b/packages/edit-site/src/posts.js
index 04ea525c031536..ede7018a671dfe 100644
--- a/packages/edit-site/src/posts.js
+++ b/packages/edit-site/src/posts.js
@@ -1,7 +1,26 @@
 /**
  * WordPress dependencies
  */
+import { store as blocksStore } from '@wordpress/blocks';
+import {
+	registerCoreBlocks,
+	__experimentalGetCoreBlocks,
+	__experimentalRegisterExperimentalCoreBlocks,
+} from '@wordpress/block-library';
+import { dispatch } from '@wordpress/data';
 import { createRoot, StrictMode } from '@wordpress/element';
+import { store as editorStore } from '@wordpress/editor';
+import { store as preferencesStore } from '@wordpress/preferences';
+import {
+	registerLegacyWidgetBlock,
+	registerWidgetGroupBlock,
+} from '@wordpress/widgets';
+
+/**
+ * Internal dependencies
+ */
+import './hooks';
+import { store as editSiteStore } from './store';
 
 /**
  * Internal dependencies
@@ -11,16 +30,67 @@ import PostsApp from './components/posts-app';
 
 /**
  * Initializes the "Posts Dashboard"
- * @param {string} id DOM element id.
+ * @param {string} id       ID of the root element to render the screen in.
+ * @param {Object} settings Editor settings.
  */
-export function initializePostsDashboard( id ) {
+export function initializePostsDashboard( id, settings ) {
 	if ( ! globalThis.IS_GUTENBERG_PLUGIN ) {
 		return;
 	}
-	// initializeEditor( 'site-editor', {} );
 	const target = document.getElementById( id );
 	const root = createRoot( target );
 
+	dispatch( blocksStore ).reapplyBlockTypeFilters();
+	const coreBlocks = __experimentalGetCoreBlocks().filter(
+		( { name } ) => name !== 'core/freeform'
+	);
+	registerCoreBlocks( coreBlocks );
+	dispatch( blocksStore ).setFreeformFallbackBlockName( 'core/html' );
+	registerLegacyWidgetBlock( { inserter: false } );
+	registerWidgetGroupBlock( { inserter: false } );
+	if ( globalThis.IS_GUTENBERG_PLUGIN ) {
+		__experimentalRegisterExperimentalCoreBlocks( {
+			enableFSEBlocks: true,
+		} );
+	}
+
+	// We dispatch actions and update the store synchronously before rendering
+	// so that we won't trigger unnecessary re-renders with useEffect.
+	dispatch( preferencesStore ).setDefaults( 'core/edit-site', {
+		welcomeGuide: true,
+		welcomeGuideStyles: true,
+		welcomeGuidePage: true,
+		welcomeGuideTemplate: true,
+	} );
+
+	dispatch( preferencesStore ).setDefaults( 'core', {
+		allowRightClickOverrides: true,
+		distractionFree: false,
+		editorMode: 'visual',
+		fixedToolbar: false,
+		focusMode: false,
+		inactivePanels: [],
+		keepCaretInsideBlock: false,
+		openPanels: [ 'post-status' ],
+		showBlockBreadcrumbs: true,
+		showListViewByDefault: false,
+	} );
+
+	dispatch( editSiteStore ).updateSettings( settings );
+
+	// Keep the defaultTemplateTypes in the core/editor settings too,
+	// so that they can be selected with core/editor selectors in any editor.
+	// This is needed because edit-site doesn't initialize with EditorProvider,
+	// which internally uses updateEditorSettings as well.
+	dispatch( editorStore ).updateEditorSettings( {
+		defaultTemplateTypes: settings.defaultTemplateTypes,
+		defaultTemplatePartAreas: settings.defaultTemplatePartAreas,
+	} );
+
+	// Prevent the default browser action for files dropped outside of dropzones.
+	window.addEventListener( 'dragover', ( e ) => e.preventDefault(), false );
+	window.addEventListener( 'drop', ( e ) => e.preventDefault(), false );
+
 	root.render(
 		<StrictMode>
 			<PostsApp />