Customize Your WordPress Dashboard

What is the dashboard?

The dashboard is the first screen you see after you log in to WordPress. It is your control room. It has a left menu and a middle area with small boxes. The boxes are called widgets. Each one shows a bit of information, such as site news or quick drafts.

The default dashboard can feel crowded. You can hide parts, move them and change the colours.

Hide or show boxes

1. Log in to WordPress.
2. Click Dashboard in the left menu.
3. Click Screen Options at the top right of the page.
4. A list of boxes opens. Untick the ones you do not want.
5. Click Screen Options again to close the list.

This only hides the boxes. You can turn them back on any time.

Move the boxes

1. Point at the title bar of a box.
2. Press and hold the mouse button.
3. Drag the box to a new spot.
4. Let go of the button.

WordPress remembers the new layout for your user.

Change the colour scheme

1. Click Users, then Profile.
2. Look for Admin Color Scheme.
3. Click a colour set to try it.
4. Click Update Profile at the bottom.

Change the menu with a plugin

A plugin is an add-on program for WordPress. Some plugins let you hide menu items, rename them or change the login page. Search the plugin library for words like "admin menu editor".

1. Click Plugins, then Add New.
2. Search for "admin menu editor".
3. Click Install Now, then Activate.
4. Open the plugin's settings and follow its screen.

Remove a box with code

Advanced users can remove a box by adding code to the functions.php file of a child theme. A child theme is a safe layer on top of your main theme. This code removes the "WordPress Events and News" box.

function hv_remove_dashboard_boxes() {
    remove_meta_box('dashboard_primary', 'dashboard', 'side');
}
add_action('wp_dashboard_setup', 'hv_remove_dashboard_boxes');

The code tells WordPress to leave that box out when the dashboard loads.

Quick recap

• The dashboard is your WordPress control room.
• Use Screen Options to hide boxes.
• Drag boxes to move them.
• Pick a colour scheme in your Profile.
• Use a plugin or small code for bigger changes, and back up first.