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How to Customize Your WordPress Dashboard

WordPress is quite versatile and offers tons of customization options. The CMS also offers customization for your Admin Panel – the place from where you control and modify all aspects of your WordPress website.

In this article, you will find out about different customization options and how you can fully change the styling of your admin panel, so it fits your needs and preferences.

 

How to Customize Your WordPress Dashboard

In the following paragraphs, you will read how to apply some visual and functional features within your dashboard, so you feel more comfortable when using it.

 

Change the Color Scheme of Your WordPress Dashboard

If you are not sure where to start your Dashboard customization process, we suggest you change the color scheme for a starter.

There are two main ways to do so:

  1. Use the default and pre-defined admin color schemes
  2. Use dedicated WordPress Plugins to delve even deeper into the process

 

Change the Color Scheme of Your WordPress Dashboard with Default Admin Color Schemes

To access the pre-defined options, simply enter your WordPress dashboard and from there go to User->Profile:

WordPress Admin Panel Menu

 

When you do so, a new page with options will appear. At the top of the page, notice the Admin Color Scheme area with many suggested options:

WordPress Admin Panel Color Options

 

To apply the one that you find suitable, simply fill in the small circle at the top left of each palette. When you do so, WordPress will automatically apply the changes and you can browse your Admin Panel to see whether the changes fit your preferences:

WordPress Admin Panel New Color Scheme

 

WordPress Admin Panel Color Scheme

 

When you have found the color scheme you wish to use, or simply reverted back to the default setup, click on the Update Profile button at the bottom of the Profile page, from where you browse the color schemes:

WordPress Admin Panel Users Menu Options

 

This will apply and save your preferences.

 

Change the Color Scheme of Your WordPress Dashboard With a Plugin

Using plugins is a pretty convenient way of adding a touch of style to your Dashboard. There are numerous different plugins that offer all kinds of customization options, so it is highly likely that you will find what you search for when relying on this particular method.

If you want to find out more about the topic, then definitely check out what a plugin is and how to install one.

For this demonstration, we will use the Aquila Admin Theme. Remember that you can use whichever plugin and theme suit your needs the most!

 

WordPress Admin Panel Customization Options

 

In our particular case, Aquila allows users to add a custom logo to their dashboard and specify a custom color scheme:

WordPress Admin Panel Custom Appearance

 

WordPress Admin Panel New Color Scheme

 

Filter the Screen Elements in Your Dashboard

The Dashboard Screen Elements are simply quick-access boxes that allow you to quickly make changes to your website.

To access these settings,  locate the Screen Options menu in the dashboard, located at the top right of the page:

WordPress Admin Panel Screen Options Menu

 

Open the menu settings and have a look at the showcased options. This is the place from which you can filter out what kind of information you wish to see immediately when you enter your dashboard:

WordPress Admin Panel Screen Options Checkbox Menu

 

You can filter out the options until you reach the ideal layout for your particular needs. In our case, we decided to adopt the minimalistic approach and leave only the Quick Draft and At Glance boxes:

WordPress Admin Panel WIdgets

 

Add Custom WordPress Widgets to Your Dashboard

You can also customize the widgets that you use while in the WordPress admin panel. To benefit from such functionality, simply search for dedicated custom WordPress dashboard plugins and install the one that suits your needs the best.

Want to know more about widgets? Then start with reading what the widgets are.

For this example, we will be using the Ultimate Dashboard – Custom WordPress Dashboard plugin:

WordPress Admin Panel Custom Widgets

 

To achieve a similar final result, simply go from Ultimate Dashboard->Add New:

WordPress Admin Panel Add New Widget

 

From this page, you can fully customize the functions of the new widget that you will add to the dashboard. There are three main components that you need to modify:

  1. Widget Name
  2. Widget Icon
  3. Widget Link

Everything else, as functional and handy as it may well be, can be modified later.

To add the three components, simply locate the areas of each one and fill in the information needed:

WordPress Admin Panel New Widget Details

 

In our case, here’s how we filled in the fields:

WordPress Admin Panel WIdgets Customization

 

When you have filled in all the necessary information, click on the blue Publish button at the right of the page:

WordPress Admin Panel Publish New Widget

 

Then, go to your dashboard and locate the newly appeared widget:

WordPress Admin Panel WIdgets List

 

Customize the Dashboard Admin Menu

Should there be any options that you aren’t using at all, it is best to hide them, so you benefit from a cleaner and more functional interface.

To do so, simply install the Admin Menu Editor and benefit from the plugin’s extended list of menu customization options. By using the tool, you can add and remove certain menu items, as well as create completely new and fully customized menu sections:

WordPress Admin Panel Customize Dashboard

 

WordPress Admin Panel Side Menu

 

Customize the WordPress Login Screen

The WordPress Login screen is the first thing visitors see when trying to log in to your website. By default this screen looks like this:

WordPress Admin Panel Login Page

 

If you are creating a subscription-based service, regardless of kind, or simply want to genuinely impress your visitors, it is a good idea to customize the login screen, as this enhances brand recognition and manages to persuade visitors that you take care even for the smallest of details.

To create an individual pattern, simply download and activate a dedicated plugin. In our case, this is Custom Login Page Customizer. This is a handy tool that works just fine, however, you can choose a plugin to your specific preferences.

As showcased in the plugin’s overview page, you can create some thrilling end results:

WordPress Admin Panel Login Pages

WordPress Admin Panel Login Custom Page

WordPress Admin Panel Custom Login Page

 

Conclusion

The Dashboard is the place from where you control all aspects of your WordPress website. Along with the tons of settings, you can browse and use, WordPress also allows you to fully customize the dashboard layout, so it perfectly fits your work approach and preferences. Take your time and try out different variants and layouts to see what works and what doesn’t for you.

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