I vividly recall the first time I assisted a client in logging into their WordPress site after several months of usage. Their dashboard was overwhelmed with plugin notifications and additional widgets, making it difficult for them to find where to click to create a new post.
This is a frequent issue. While the default admin area is functional, it can quickly become cluttered, particularly for users who are not tech-savvy.
In this guide, I will demonstrate how to customize your WordPress admin area safely, without the need for coding. These are the straightforward, beginner-friendly steps I follow to create a more organized admin area on my own sites.
Summary: 6 Simple Ways to Personalize Your WordPress Admin Dashboard:
- Utilize Screen Options:Quickly hide unnecessary dashboard widgets and page columns.
- Personalize the Block Editor:Modify settings to establish a distraction-free writing space.
- Conceal Admin Menu Items:Employ a plugin to manage which menu items are displayed for various user roles.
- Streamline the Admin Toolbar:Eliminate irrelevant links from the top bar for a more polished appearance.
- Alter the Color Scheme:Select a new color palette or design your own to align with your brand identity.
- Design a Custom Login Page:Utilize a page builder to create a professional and branded login page.
Here’s a quick summary of the topics I will discuss in this article:
- The Importance of Customizing the WordPress Admin Area
- Concealing WordPress Admin Elements Using Screen Options
- 2. Personalize the Block Editor Interface
- Show or Conceal WordPress Admin Menu Options
- Tailor the WordPress Admin Toolbar Display
- Modify the WordPress Admin Color Palette
- Method 1: Utilizing WordPress’s Default Color Schemes
- Design a Custom Login Page for the WordPress Admin Area
- Common Questions About Customizing the WordPress Admin Area
The Importance of Customizing the WordPress Admin Area
If you’ve been managing a WordPress site for some time, you may have noticed the admin area becoming cluttered with widgets, menu items, and plugin notifications. A site with just 10-15 standard plugins can introduce over a dozen new menu items and several dashboard widgets, often overwhelming users who are not technically inclined.
Some notifications will disappear after you dismiss them, but many others remain visible across various admin screens.
What many beginners may not know is that you can actually tidy this up. You can hide unnecessary items, rearrange widgets, and customize the dashboard to suit your workflow.
I have implemented this for clients to help them concentrate on essential tasks while minimizing distractions. This approach effectively streamlines the admin interface, particularly for users who may not be technically inclined.
1. Customize WordPress Admin Elements Using Screen Options
Numerous pages in the WordPress admin area, including the main Dashboard, feature a Screen Options button located in the top right corner.
To access the options, click the ‘Screen Options’ button, which reveals a dropdown menu. Simply uncheck the box next to any item you want to hide, and it will be removed from that page.
For example, on the ‘Dashboard’ page, you can conceal widgets that you rarely use while retaining those that offer important insights.
While on the ‘Dashboard’ page, you can also rearrange widgets by dragging and dropping them. For instance, you might want to position your ‘At a Glance’ widget and ‘Site Health’ widget at the top.
The options available through the ‘Screen Options’ button will vary based on the specific page you are currently viewing within the WordPress admin area.
For instance, on the Posts » All Posts page, the Screen Options button enables you to show or hide columns, adjust the number of posts displayed, or switch to a detailed view.
Utilize the ‘Screen Options’ feature available on various pages within your WordPress admin dashboard to tailor them to your preferences.
Important Note:The settings in Screen Options are unique to each user. Changes you make will not affect other users or authors on your WordPress site.
2. Personalize the Block Editor Interface
Most WordPress users spend a significant amount of time in the Block Editor, which is the primary content editor for writing blog posts and creating pages.
While the block editor offers a clean and user-friendly interface, it also provides options to customize specific settings for an enhanced writing experience.
Here’s how to access your customization options:
- Click the three-dot menu icon located in the top-right corner and select ‘Preferences.’ A popup will appear, allowing you to modify various settings.
- In the ‘General’ tab, check the box for ‘Reduce the user interface.’ This feature minimizes the size of toolbars and menus, helping you concentrate more on your content. You can also enable ‘Spotlight mode’ to emphasize only the block you are currently editing.
- Navigate to the ‘Blocks’ tab. Here, you can choose to show or hide any blocks that you don’t frequently use.
- First, navigate to the ‘Panels’ tab. This allows you to choose which panels are visible or hidden in the block editor’s sidebar on the right.
After hiding the features you don’t use, click the ‘X’ in the top-right corner to return to the post editor.
You can also click the ‘Gear’ icon at the top to show or hide the settings panel. This is useful when working with full-width content layouts.
For additional tips, check out our comprehensive guide on mastering the WordPress content editor.
3. Customize WordPress Admin Menu Items
As you add more plugins to your WordPress site, you’ll notice that many of them create their own menu items in the left-hand sidebar.
You might need to access some of these frequently. For example, you may want quick access to contact form submissions from WPForms or adjust SEO settings with All in One SEO.
However, you may not need constant access to all menu items, or you might prefer that other users on your site do not see certain options.
Using a plugin, you can manage which menu items are displayed. You can also specify which user roles can view certain menu items in the admin area.
Begin by installing and activating the Admin Menu Editor plugin. This free tool allows you to manage which menu items appear in the admin sidebar and who has access to them. For detailed instructions, refer to our comprehensive guide on installing a WordPress plugin.
After activation, navigate to the Settings » Menu Editor page to set up your admin menus.
In the first column, you’ll find all the main menu items. Clicking on a menu item will reveal its sub-items in the second column.
To remove a menu item, simply select it and click the delete button located in the top toolbar.
You can also specify which user roles are allowed to see a menu item. Select a menu, then find the ‘Extra capability’ setting. Here, you can designate the minimum user role required to access that item, such as ‘Administrator’ only.
After making your adjustments, remember to click the ‘Save Changes’ button to apply your settings.
For further information, check out our detailed tutorial on how to hide unnecessary menu items in the WordPress admin area.
4. Personalize the Items Displayed in the WordPress Admin Toolbar
The admin toolbar is the menu located at the top of your WordPress admin screens. It is also visible when you browse the public sections of your website while logged in.
To personalize the WordPress admin toolbar, install and activate the Adminimize plugin. This robust tool enables you to selectively hide elements in the admin bar based on different user roles. For detailed instructions, refer to our guide on installing a WordPress plugin.
Important: The plugin may display a notification indicating it hasn’t been updated recently. We have tested it, and it is safe for installation.
After activation, navigate to the Settings » Adminimize section and locate the ‘Admin Bar Backend Options’ and ‘Admin Bar Front End Options’ tabs.
Clicking on either tab will direct you to an options screen where you can choose which items to show in the WordPress admin bar.
You can also specify which items will be visible to each user role.
Remember to click the ‘Update options’ button to save your modifications.
For further information, check out our beginner’s guide to the WordPress admin toolbar.
5. Update the WordPress Admin Color Scheme
I manage several WordPress sites, and I find it helpful to use different color schemes for the admin dashboards of each site. This helps me quickly identify which site I am currently working on.
Sometimes, a simple color change is all you need to refresh your WordPress admin dashboard.
You have two options for customizing your WordPress admin dashboard. The first method utilizes built-in features, while the second involves installing an additional plugin.
Method 1: Utilizing WordPress’s Built-In Color Schemes
WordPress offers several basic color options for the admin area. To access these, navigate to the Users » Profile section and locate the ‘Admin Color Scheme’ settings.
Click on a color scheme to see a preview in your WordPress admin area.
Remember to click the ‘Update Profile’ button at the bottom to save your selected changes.
Method 2: Creating a Custom Scheme Using a Plugin
If the existing color schemes don’t meet your preferences, you can create your own by installing and activating the Admin Color Schemer plugin. For detailed instructions, refer to our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.
Note: The plugin may display a warning indicating it hasn’t been updated recently. However, it was developed by a reputable WordPress core developer and is safe to use.
After activation, go to the Tools » Admin Colors section to design your custom color scheme.
Once you are satisfied with your customizations, click ‘Save and Use’ to implement them on your dashboard.
For further information, check out our beginner’s tutorial on how to change the WordPress admin color scheme.
6. Design a Personalized Login Page for Your WordPress Admin Area
Looking to customize the default WordPress login page with your own design without any coding? You’ll need SeedProd for that.
SeedProd is the top WordPress page builder that enables you to create stunning websites using an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, all without needing to code.
Pro Tip:At CanadaCreate, we utilize SeedProd’s theme builder to craft unique WordPress themes for our partner brands such as WPForms and Duplicator. It’s an exceptional tool for developing fully customized designs without any coding skills.
Here’s how to set up a custom login page using SeedProd:
- Start by installing and activating the SeedProd plugin. For detailed instructions, check out our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.
- Once activated, navigate to the SeedProd » Settings page to input your license key. You can find this information in your account on the SeedProd website.
- Next, go to the SeedProd » Landing Pages page. Locate the entry labeled ‘Login Page’ and click the ‘Set up a Login Page’ button.
- Next, select a template from the beautiful designs offered by SeedProd to kickstart your login page. Just click on your preferred template and give your page a name.
- Click ‘Save and Start Editing the Page’ to open the SeedProd page builder. You can easily edit any element on the screen by clicking on it, or add new elements from the sidebar.
- After completing your design, go to the ‘Page Settings’ tab. Find the ‘Redirect the Default Login Page’ option and enable it.
- Finally, click the ‘Save’ button in the top-right corner, then click ‘Publish’ to make your custom login page live for users.
You can now access the standard login page of your WordPress site, where your custom design will be displayed for you and your users.
For further information, check out our comprehensive guide on creating a custom login page for WordPress.
Frequently Asked Questions About Customizing the WordPress Admin Area
Here are some of the most common questions I’ve encountered from users regarding how to declutter and personalize the WordPress admin area.
Is it possible to customize the WordPress admin interface for different user roles?
Absolutely! You can use plugins like Admin Menu Editor and Adminimize to customize your dashboard. These tools allow you to hide specific menus or toolbar items for users with roles such as ‘Editor’ or ‘Author’, while keeping them accessible for ‘Administrators’.
Will customizing the admin area affect my site’s performance?
No, the customization techniques outlined in this guide will not affect the speed of your website’s frontend. These changes are lightweight and only influence the backend admin views, which are not seen by regular visitors.
Is it safe to hide admin menus and dashboard widgets?
Yes, it is completely safe to hide these items. Hiding an item does not delete it or remove its functionality; it simply streamlines the view to minimize clutter. The features remain installed and can be made visible again at any time by reversing the process.
Can I undo the changes I make?
Yes, all of these customizations can be easily undone. You can simply re-check boxes in the Screen Options, reset the plugin settings to their defaults, or deactivate the plugins to restore the original appearance of the WordPress admin dashboard.
This article provides you with simple steps to effectively customize your WordPress admin dashboard. Additionally, consider exploring our guide on integrating a notification center into your WordPress dashboard or discover these helpful plugins to enhance your admin experience.
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