The default color scheme of the WordPress admin interface is functional but can lack creativity. Therefore, you might consider customizing the admin color scheme in WordPress.
Altering the color scheme of the WordPress admin allows you to design a personalized dashboard for yourself and your team. You can align the colors with your brand’s aesthetic or simply choose your favorite hues.
Through our experiments with changing the admin color scheme on both our own sites and those of our clients, we discovered that it can greatly enhance workflow and improve the overall user experience.
In this article, we will guide you through the simple process of changing the admin color scheme in WordPress.
Reasons to Change the Admin Color Scheme in WordPress
If the default admin color scheme in WordPress doesn’t appeal to you, it’s easy to switch it to a color palette that you prefer.
You can also modify the color scheme to complement the design of your WordPress theme or even incorporate a dark mode feature.
This is particularly beneficial if you operate a membership site or an online store where users log in, ensuring that your website and admin dashboard provide a cohesive experience.
Additionally, you might want to use a distinct admin color scheme for your staging site to easily differentiate it from your live site.
Let’s explore several methods to change the admin color scheme in WordPress. Use the quick links below to jump directly to your preferred method.
- Changing the Admin Color Scheme Using WordPress Default Settings
- Creating Custom Admin Color Schemes in WordPress
- Managing the Default Admin Color Scheme for New Users
Changing the Admin Color Scheme Using WordPress Default Settings
WordPress features a built-in option that allows you to select from several pre-defined color palettes for your admin dashboard.
To change the admin color scheme, log in to your WordPress admin dashboard and navigate toUsers » Profile.
Next, choose your preferred color scheme in the ‘Admin Color Scheme’ section by selecting the corresponding radio button.
You can choose from 9 different color schemes, including Default, Light, Modern, and more.
As you select different options, the color scheme will instantly update.
After selecting a color scheme you like, scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the ‘Update Profile’ button.
You can also manage the admin color scheme settings for other registered users on your WordPress site.
To get started, navigate to Users » All Users, then hover over the user and click the ‘Edit’ button.
After that, follow the same steps as before to update the admin color scheme for that user.
When you’re done, don’t forget to click the ‘Update Profile’ button at the bottom of the page.
How to Create Custom Admin Color Schemes in WordPress
If you’re looking for more color options for your admin dashboard, you can create custom color schemes and upload them to your WordPress site.
To begin, visit the free WordPress Admin Colors website and click the ‘Start Creating’ button.
Next, enter a name in the ‘Color Scheme Name’ field.
This name will appear in your WordPress admin panel as a new color option.
Then, you can fully customize your color scheme by selecting colors in the ‘Choose your colors’ section.
To modify one of the existing colors, click on the color and select your new choice from the popup. You can either click anywhere on the color picker or input a Hex code for a specific color.
Once you have finished customizing your color scheme, click the ‘Generate Color Scheme’ button at the bottom of the page.
This will create the color scheme code that you need to add to your WordPress site.
The next page will present you with two different code files.
Download the CSS file, then copy the code snippet and paste it into your preferred text editor. We will integrate these into your WordPress files.
If you are new to this process, please refer to our guide on copying and pasting code in WordPress.
You can insert the code snippet into your functions.php file or utilize a code snippet plugin.
For this tutorial, we will be using the WPCode plugin, which is the simplest and most user-friendly way to add code snippets to your WordPress site.
First, install the free WPCode plugin. For detailed instructions, check out our beginner’s guide on installing a WordPress plugin.
Once activated, you will see a new menu item called ‘Code Snippets’ in your WordPress admin bar. Clicking it will display a list of the code snippets you have saved. As this is your first time using the plugin, your list will be empty.
Click the ‘Add New’ button to insert your code snippet in WordPress.
You will then be directed to the ‘Add Snippet’ page. Find the ‘Add Your Custom Code (New Snippet)’ option and click the ‘+ Add Custom Snippet’ button.
Next, choose ‘PHP Snippet’ from the list of code type options.
You can now assign a name to your code snippet, which should help you recall its purpose.
Next, paste the copied snippet into the ‘Code Preview’ box.
Now, choose the method for inserting your code snippet.
You can keep the ‘Auto Insert’ method selected, allowing the code snippet to be automatically inserted and executed in the correct location.
Then, switch the status from ‘Inactive’ to ‘Active’ and click the ‘Save Snippet’ button located in the top-right corner of the screen.
This action will save your code and activate the new admin color scheme.
Now, upload the CSS stylesheet you downloaded earlier to your theme directory in your WordPress hosting account.
You can accomplish this using an FTP client or the file manager option available in your WordPress hosting control panel.
If you’re unfamiliar with using FTP, consider checking our guide on how to upload files to WordPress using FTP.
First, connect to your website using an FTP client or the file manager in cPanel. Once connected, navigate to the/wp-contentfolder.
Within thewp-contentInside the folder, you will find a directory named ‘themes‘. This is where WordPress keeps all the themes that your website currently uses or has previously used.
Click on the ‘themes‘ folder, and then open the folder for the theme you are currently using.
Next, upload the display.css file that you have downloaded.
Your CSS file will be named according to your previous selection.
Important: If you switch WordPress themes, you will need to upload the CSS file to the folder of your new theme.
After that, go to Users » Your Profile.
Then, you can choose the new color scheme you just created.
If you want to apply this color scheme, be sure to click the ‘Update Profile’ button at the bottom of the page.
How to Set the Default Admin Color Scheme for New Users
When a new user creates an account, they will have the option to customize their color scheme. However, you might want to set a default admin color scheme or restrict users from changing it entirely.
The simplest way to achieve this is by using the free plugin called Force Admin Color Scheme.
First, you need to install and activate the plugin. For more information, refer to our detailed guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.
After activating the plugin, go to Users » Profile and choose your preferred admin color. Make sure to check the ‘Force this admin color scheme on all users’ option.
Then, click the ‘Update Profile’ button located at the bottom of the page.
Now, the selected admin color scheme will be applied to all new and existing users on your site.
The plugin also removes the option for users to change the admin color scheme, allowing only admin users to make this adjustment.
We hope this guide has helped you change the admin color scheme in WordPress. You might also be interested in our recommendations for the best WordPress admin dashboard plugins and our tutorial on hiding unnecessary menu items in the WordPress admin area.
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