Top 5 WordPress Dashboard Customizations for Better Admin UX

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Top 5 WordPress Dashboard Customizations to Elevate Your Admin Experience

TL;DR:

This blog explores the top 5 WordPress dashboard customizations to improve usability, branding, and productivity for a more professional admin experience. It covers how to:

Remove clutter using Screen Options or plugins like Adminimize.
Add custom widgets for quick links or info.
Brand the login page and dashboard with your logo and favicon.
Customize the admin color scheme to match your brand.
Edit the admin footer text for personalization.

These tips help declutter your WordPress admin or dashboard, streamline workflows, and create a custom WordPress dashboard tailored to your needs. Perfect for users wondering how to get to the dashboard on WordPress and make it work better for them.

Introduction

The WordPress dashboard is your website’s command center, but it can feel overwhelming with default widgets, branding, and styles. Customizing the dashboard enhances usability and aligns it with your brand. If you’re working with a WordPress web development firm or looking to hire WordPress developers, they can help you remove unnecessary widgets, add custom dashboard elements, brand the login page, update the admin color scheme, and personalize the footer text—ensuring a streamlined and professional admin experience tailored to your business needs.

Top 5 WordPress Dashboard Customizations to Elevate Your Admin Experience

1. Remove Excess Dashboard Widgets

Widgets like “At a Glance” and “WordPress News” can clutter your WordPress workspace, especially on multi-author sites.

Using Screen Options

The WordPress/dashboard comes with a hidden gem: Screen Options. Here’s how to use it to customize dashboard elements:

Navigate to the top right of your wp admin dashboard.
Click on “Screen Options”.
Uncheck boxes to remove widgets.

Fortunately, WordPress allows you to remove unwanted widgets and even add custom ones to suit your needs.

Using Plugin

To remove customize from WordPress admin menu or hide widgets by user role, use a plugin like Adminimize. This is ideal for those looking to simplify the admin area or dashboard for different contributors.

Read More: Building the Perfect Web Dashboard for Massive Datasets

2. Add a Custom Dashboard Widget

If you ever asked “How to go to dashboard on WordPress and see quick links?” — this tip is for you. You can add widgets that include important links or announcements for your team, improving navigation inside the custom WordPress admin dashboard.

function my_custom_dashboard_widget() {
  echo "<p>Welcome back! Here are your quick links:</p>";
  echo "<ul>
          <li><a href='post-new.php'>Add New Post</a></li>
          <li><a href='edit-comments.php'>Manage Comments</a></li>
        </ul>";
}
function add_custom_dashboard_widget() {
  wp_add_dashboard_widget('custom_dashboard_widget', 'My Custom Widget', 'my_custom_dashboard_widget');
}
add_action('wp_dashboard_setup', 'add_custom_dashboard_widget' );

Once added, this widget will appear on the dashboard, providing easy access to important actions.

3. Brand the Login Page and Dashboard with Your Logo

Replace the Login Page Logo

One of the first steps in WordPress customization is replacing the default logo. This instantly creates a more professional feel for your WordPress admin or dashboard.

function my_custom_login_logo() {
  echo '
  <style type="text/css">
      #login h1 a {
          background-image: url(' . get_stylesheet_directory_uri() . '/images/custom-logo.png) !important;
          background-size: contain !important;
          width: 100% !important;
      }
     
  </style>
  ';
}
add_action('login_head', 'my_custom_login_logo');

Upload your logo to your theme’s images folder and update the file path in the code snippet.

Add a Custom Favicon to the Dashboard and Login Page

A branded favicon contributes to a beautiful WordPress admin theme. Add favicons to both login and dashboard WordPress pages using simple code snippets.

// Favicon for Admin Dashboard
function my_custom_admin_favicon() {
echo '
<link rel="icon" href="' . get_stylesheet_directory_uri() . '/images/custom-logo.png" type="image/x-icon" />
';
}
add_action('admin_head', 'my_custom_admin_favicon');
// Favicon for Login Page
function my_custom_login_favicon() {
echo '
<link rel="icon" href="' . get_stylesheet_directory_uri() . '/images/custom-logo.png" type="image/x-icon" />
';
}
add_action('login_head', 'my_custom_login_favicon');

Outcome is as below:

Make sure to replace custom-logo.png with your favicon file located in the images folder of your theme.

These customizations create a cohesive and branded experience for administrators and users alike.

4. Change the Admin Dashboard Color Scheme

Personalize your WordPress custom dashboard with color schemes that match your brand. Whether you’re using the built-in User Profile options or defining new palettes via code, it brings visual consistency to the WordPress dashboards across user accounts.

Below is the code snippet demonstrating the adding of a new color scheme.

function my_custom_admin_colors() {
wp_admin_css_color(
'my_custom_scheme', // Unique scheme ID
__('My Custom Scheme'), // Name of the scheme
get_stylesheet_directory_uri() . '/admin-color-scheme.css', // Path to the CSS file
array('#526E48', '#62825D', '#9EDF9C', '#C2FFC7') // Custom color palette
);
}
add_action('admin_init', 'my_custom_admin_colors');

Manage admin-color-scheme.css as per need.

Currently for example you can use below one:

/* General Admin Styles */
body.wp-admin {
background-color: #FFFFFF; /* White background */
color: #526E48; /* Darker green text */
}
/* Top Admin Bar */
#wpadminbar {
background-color: #62825D; /* Slightly lighter green */
}
#wpadminbar .ab-item, #wpadminbar .ab-item:hover {
color: #FFFFFF; /* White text for visibility */
}
/* Admin Menu */
#adminmenu, #adminmenu .wp-submenu {
background-color: #62825D; /* Slightly lighter green */
}
#adminmenu a {
color: #FFFFFF; /* White text */
}
#adminmenu .wp-has-current-submenu a.wp-has-current-submenu {
background-color: #9EDF9C; /* Pastel green for active menu */
color: #526E48; /* Darker green text */
}
/* Active menu items */
#adminmenu .wp-has-current-submenu > a {
background-color: #9EDF9C; /* Pastel green for active menu */
}
/* Submenu hover effect */
#adminmenu li.menu-top:hover, #adminmenu li.menu-top:focus {
background-color: #C2FFC7; /* Very light pastel green on hover */
}
/* Buttons */
.wp-core-ui .button-primary {
background-color: #9EDF9C; /* Pastel green */
border-color: #9EDF9C;
color: #526E48; /* Dark green text */
}
.wp-core-ui .button-primary:hover {
background-color: #62825D; /* Slightly lighter green on hover */
border-color: #62825D;
}
/* Links */
a {
color: #9EDF9C; /* Pastel green */
}
a:hover, a:focus {
color: #62825D; /* Slightly lighter green on hover */
}
/* Footer */
#footer-thankyou {
color: #62825D; /* Slightly lighter green */
}
/* Admin Widgets */
#dashboard_right_now {
background-color: #C2FFC7; /* Very light pastel green for widget */
border: 1px solid #C2FFC7;
}
#dashboard_right_now .postbox-header {
background-color: #9EDF9C; /* Pastel green */
color: #526E48;
}
#dashboard_recent_comments {
background-color: #9EDF9C; /* Pastel green for widget */
border: 1px solid #9EDF9C;
}
/* Dashboard Widget Title */
#dashboard_quick_press .postbox-header {
background-color: #9EDF9C; /* Pastel green */
}
/* Admin Bar Customization */
#wpadminbar .ab-item {
color: #FFFFFF; /* White text */
}
#wpadminbar .ab-item:hover {
background-color: #62825D; /* Slightly lighter green */
color: #FFFFFF;
}
/* Customize Login Page */
#login {
background-color: #FFFFFF; /* White background */
}
#login h1 a {
background-image: url('YOUR_LOGO_URL'); /* Replace with your logo */
background-size: contain;
width: 100%;
}
#login .button-primary {
background-color: #9EDF9C; /* Pastel green */
border-color: #9EDF9C;
}
#login .button-primary:hover {
background-color: #62825D; /* Slightly lighter green on hover */
}

After doing this code, under the Users menu in the left sidebar, go to Profile > Personal Options > Admin Color Scheme -> My Custom Scheme.

You will observe the change in the dashboard colors.

5. Customize the Admin Footer Text

A subtle but powerful touch is editing the dashboard footer. This is especially useful in a custom dashboard plugin WordPress setup where you want to include your branding or contact info.

function my_custom_admin_footer() {
echo 'Thank you for creating with <a href="https://www.creolestudios.com/">Creole Studios</a>';
}
add_filter('admin_footer_text', 'my_custom_admin_footer');

Outcome is as below:

This customization helps reinforce your branding or adds a friendly touch to the admin interface.

Additional Customization Tips

Custom Admin Menus

Using the admin_menu hook or a plugin like Admin Menu Editor, you can customize WordPress dashboard menus. This is useful when trying to streamline the WordPress dashboard – is that all pages? No — but you can tailor what shows up and what stays hidden.

Use a Custom Dashboard Plugin

A custom WordPress dashboard plugin offers drag-and-drop interfaces to build dashboards from scratch. This makes it easier for clients or team members who often ask:
“How to get to the dashboard on WordPress and find only what I need?”

Hire WordPress Developers to Streamline Customizations and Optimize Your Dashboard

While many of the customizations mentioned in this post can be implemented by WordPress site owners themselves, partnering with a skilled WordPress developer can take your dashboard experience to the next level. A professional developer can not only help implement advanced customizations seamlessly but also ensure that your website’s backend is optimized for performance and security. Whether you’re looking to streamline workflows, integrate third-party tools, or create a completely personalized admin experience, a WordPress developer can bring your vision to life, saving you time and effort.

Why hire a WordPress developer?

Expert Customization: Developers can create custom plugins and widgets to further enhance the functionality of your dashboard.
Optimized Performance: They can ensure your customizations do not negatively affect your website’s speed or security.
Ongoing Support: A developer can offer long-term maintenance and troubleshooting to keep your site running smoothly.

Hiring a WordPress developers ensures that your website and admin dashboard are tailored to your exact needs while providing a professional touch.

Conclusion:

Customizing the WordPress dashboard is easier than you might think, even without advanced coding skills. From removing unnecessary widgets to adding personalized features and branding elements, these straightforward adjustments can greatly enhance the admin experience. By partnering with a WordPress development agency, you can streamline your dashboard to reflect your brand’s goals and improve overall efficiency. Start transforming your WordPress dashboard today with a focus on digital optimization and seamless user experience.

FAQs

How do I customize my WordPress dashboard?

Use plugins like Adminimize or Custom Dashboard Widgets to provide granular control over what users see on their dashboard. Alternatively, use Screen Options (top-right corner) to hide or show widgets.

How do I customize the appearance of my WordPress dashboard?

To customize the WordPress dashboard, use hooks like wp_dashboard_setup to add/remove widgets, admin_menu to modify menus, and login_enqueue_scripts for login page styling. You can also add a custom admin color scheme with wp_admin_css_color() to define a unique color palette.

How do I edit a WordPress admin page?

To edit a WordPress admin page, use hooks like admin_menu to modify menus, add_menu_page() to create custom pages, and admin_enqueue_scripts for custom styles or scripts. For easier, code-free customization, plugins like Admin Menu Editor are highly effective.

How do I organize the dashboard menu in WordPress?

To organize the WordPress dashboard menu, use the admin_menu hook to reorder, rename, or remove menu items. You can also use plugins like Admin Menu Editor to easily drag and drop menu items, hide unused menus, or create custom entries without coding.

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