The WordPress dashboard is where you manage your entire website. From tracking performance to updating content, it’s packed with various widgets that provide helpful information.
But let’s face it—sometimes, the dashboard can get a bit cluttered with unnecessary stuff such as widgets.
Too many widgets can slow down your workflow and make it harder to focus on the important things.
Fortunately, dashboard customization can sort this out quite easily. In this article, we’ll explore how to remove dashboard widgets in WordPress and how to edit them to suit your needs. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to create a cleaner, more efficient dashboard that works for you.
When you first log into your WordPress site, the dashboard is the first thing you see. It’s your control center, providing key information at a glance.
WordPress dashboard widgets are the small boxes you’ll find here, each serving a specific function. They give you quick updates on various aspects of your site, such as your posts, comments, and site health. Some common default widgets include:
While these widgets can be helpful, not everyone needs all of them. For some, they can even become a distraction, especially if you’re managing multiple sites or building client dashboards.
In such cases, removing dashboard widgets can help declutter your workspace. Similarly, editing widgets in WordPress allows you to display only the information you truly need, making the dashboard more personalized and efficient.
If you’re looking for a deeper analysis of what dashboard widgets are and what you can do with them check out our comprehensive guide blog on the WordPress Admin Panel.
Customizing your WordPress dashboard isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about creating a space that works for you. There are several practical reasons why you might want to remove or edit dashboard widgets.
Having too many widgets on your dashboard can slow down its loading time. Some widgets pull in external data (like news feeds or analytics), which can increase the time it takes for your dashboard to fully load. By removing unnecessary widgets from the dashboard, you can speed up your overall WordPress experience, making it quicker to access the tools you actually need.
Not all widgets are relevant to every user. For example, if you’re managing a personal blog, you might not need widgets that display advanced statistics or site health. By deleting widgets in WordPress that don’t serve your workflow, you minimize distractions and focus on the tasks that matter most. A clean dashboard means fewer interruptions and a more organized workspace.
If you’re a developer or agency building WordPress sites for clients, you likely want the dashboard to be as simple and user-friendly as possible. Clients often don’t need access to technical widgets, such as error logs or site health checks.
By editing widgets in WordPress, you can tailor the dashboard to their needs, making it easier for them to navigate and manage their content. You can also remove branding from third-party plugins and replace it with your own, giving the dashboard a more professional and polished look.
The fewer widgets you have, the easier it is to find the information that’s truly important to you. Maybe you only need to see the “At a Glance” widget and would rather get rid of everything else. Or perhaps you’d like to modify the “Quick Draft” widget to display additional features.
Either way, removing widgets in WordPress helps you focus on essential data, while editing them allows you to enhance their functionality according to your needs.
By understanding the reasons for making these changes, you can create a more productive and clutter-free dashboard that enhances your workflow. Next, we’ll explore exactly how to remove widgets in WordPress, both manually and with plugins.
Removing dashboard widgets is a great way to clean up your workspace and make your WordPress dashboard more efficient. There are two primary methods for doing this: manually using code or with the help of a plugin. Below, we’ll guide you through both methods so you can choose the one that suits your needs best.
If you’re comfortable with coding, you can manually remove widgets by adding a few lines of code to your theme’s functions.php file. This method gives you full control over which widgets to remove without needing additional plugins.
Here’s a step-by-step guide:
1. Access the Theme’s Functions File
2. Add Code to Remove Widgets To remove a specific dashboard widget, you’ll need to add a code snippet like this:
function remove_dashboard_widgets() { // Remove the "At a Glance" widget remove_meta_box('dashboard_right_now', 'dashboard', 'normal'); // Remove the "Activity" widget remove_meta_box('dashboard_activity', 'dashboard', 'normal'); // Remove the "Quick Draft" widget remove_meta_box('dashboard_quick_press', 'dashboard', 'side'); } add_action('wp_dashboard_setup', 'remove_dashboard_widgets');
3. This snippet will remove the “At a Glance,” “Activity,” and “Quick Draft” widgets from your WordPress dashboard. You can modify or add to this list by referencing the widget ID (the part in quotes) of the widget you want to remove.
4. Save Your Changes After adding the code, save the file by clicking Update File. When you refresh your dashboard, the selected widgets should no longer appear.
While this manual method offers flexibility, it requires ongoing management. Any theme update could potentially overwrite your changes, so it’s essential to reapply this code if needed.
Knowing where and how to add code custom code can often be a headache if you’re just starting out on WordPress. Check out this blog on different ways to add CSS to the dashboard to make it easier to understand.
If coding isn’t your thing, or you want a more user-friendly solution, using a plugin is the way to go. WP Adminify is one of the best plugins for managing and removing dashboard widgets in WordPress. It offers a simple interface and tons of customization options, making it a perfect choice for both beginners and experienced users.
Here’s how to use WP Adminify to remove dashboard widgets:
1. Install and Activate WP Adminify
2.Remove Widgets WP Adminify provides a user-friendly interface where you can disable or remove specific dashboard widgets with a few clicks. Simply go to the Productivity section inside the plugin and scroll down to find the Widget Removal option at the bottom.
The image above shows you how to access the Productivity section on the WP Adminify plugin.
Here you can see the Widget Removal setting at the bottom of the Productivity section. From there just click on the Dashboard Widgets tab and uncheck the boxes next to the widgets you want to remove, such as “At a Glance” or “Quick Draft.” You can even hide third-party plugin widgets that clutter the dashboard.
3. Save Changes After selecting which widgets to remove, save your changes, and those widgets will no longer appear on your dashboard.
WP Adminify offers more than just widget removal—it’s a comprehensive tool that allows you to customize your entire admin experience.
It’s perfect for developers managing client sites or anyone who wants a cleaner, more personalized dashboard. The plugin is regularly updated, ensuring it stays compatible with the latest WordPress versions, and it doesn’t require any coding knowledge.
Check out this comparison of WP Adminify to another popular customization plugin to get an idea of why it’s the best.
Now that you know how to remove dashboard widgets using both manual code and a plugin like WP Adminify, you can choose the method that best fits your workflow. Next, we’ll dive into how to edit widgets in WordPress for even more customization.
After removing unnecessary widgets, you may want to take customization a step further by editing the remaining ones. Whether it’s tweaking the content, changing widget positions, or adding new features, WordPress allows you to make these adjustments manually through code or with a plugin like WP Adminify. Let’s explore both options.
For those comfortable with code, manually editing dashboard widgets gives you full control over what appears in your admin area. Here’s a simple guide on how to modify existing widgets using code.
2. Edit Widget Content Using Code You can hook into the WordPress dashboard setup function to customize existing widgets. For example, if you want to modify the content of the “At a Glance” widget, you can use the following code:
function edit_dashboard_widget_content() { global $wp_meta_boxes; // Modify "At a Glance" widget wp_add_dashboard_widget('dashboard_right_now', 'Modified Widget Title', ' custom_widget_function'); } add_action('wp_dashboard_setup', 'edit_dashboard_widget_content'); function custom_widget_function() { echo "This is your new widget content!"; }
In this example, you’re replacing the title and content of the “At a Glance” widget with custom values.
3. Save Your Changes Once you’ve added your custom code, save the file. Refresh your WordPress dashboard, and your modifications should take effect.
Editing widgets manually allows you to tailor their content and layout, but it requires coding knowledge and careful maintenance. If you prefer a more user-friendly option, you can use WP Adminify to achieve similar results with less hassle.
If you’d rather avoid coding, WP Adminify is the perfect tool for customizing and editing dashboard widgets with a few simple steps. Here’s how you can use it to modify widgets:
1. Access WP Adminify’s Dashboard Widget Settings
2. Edit an Existing Widget
3. Add Role-Based Access
4. Save Your Changes
WP Adminify makes editing widgets accessible to everyone, regardless of technical skill level.
The plugin provides a clean, easy-to-navigate interface that allows you to change titles, reposition widgets, and modify content types without writing any code. This is ideal for users who want the flexibility of custom widgets but prefer a user-friendly solution.
Whether you’re tweaking existing widgets or creating new ones, WP Adminify gives you full control over how your WordPress dashboard looks and functions, making it a valuable tool for both personal use and client projects.
Now that you know how to remove, edit, and create custom dashboard widgets, it’s important to follow some best practices to ensure your WordPress dashboard remains efficient and easy to manage. Here are a few tips to keep your dashboard clean, fast, and tailored to your needs.
1. Keep It Simple
The dashboard is meant to provide quick insights and access to key features. Adding too many widgets, even custom ones, can clutter the space and slow down your workflow.
After you’ve removed unnecessary widgets and added or edited the ones you need, make sure to periodically review them to see if they’re still useful. A streamlined dashboard leads to better productivity.
Here’s a real-world case study on how you can use a plugin like WP Adminify to achieve this principle.
2. Use Role-Based Access
If you manage a WordPress site with multiple users or clients, not everyone needs to see every widget. Use WP Adminify’s Allowed User Roles feature to control who can view certain widgets. This will prevent users from feeling overwhelmed with information they don’t need and keeps the dashboard experience relevant to their roles.
For example, administrators may need access to security or analytics widgets, while editors might only need content-related ones. Tailoring widgets to user roles can make your dashboard cleaner and more user-friendly.
3. Regularly Update Your Widgets
As your website grows, your needs will likely change. Maybe a widget you installed months ago is no longer relevant, or you need to add new functionality.
Make sure to regularly update or remove old widgets and add new ones that better reflect your current needs. Using WP Adminify makes this easy, but keep an eye on performance—more widgets can slow down your dashboard’s loading speed.
4. Test New Widgets Before Implementing
Before adding a new widget or editing an existing one, always test it in a staging environment if possible. This ensures the widget will function properly and won’t conflict with any existing plugins or themes. Testing new widgets is especially important for custom widgets that pull external data or use shortcodes.
5. Optimize for Performance
Certain widgets, especially those that pull in live data (e.g., analytics, feeds, or external content), can slow down your dashboard. Be mindful of how many of these types of widgets you add, and monitor your dashboard’s performance regularly. If you notice slowdowns, consider disabling or removing resource-heavy widgets.
6. Back Up Before Making Changes
Always back up your WordPress site before making significant changes to the dashboard, especially if you’re modifying the functions.php file or other critical areas of your theme. While WP Adminify makes it easy to manage widgets without coding, it’s still a good practice to have a backup in place, just in case something goes wrong.
7. Educate Users and Clients
If you’re managing a WordPress site for clients, it’s a good idea to educate them on how to use the dashboard. Keep their dashboard clean and simple by removing unnecessary widgets and ensure they understand how to use any custom widgets you’ve added. WP Adminify’s role-based features make it easy to tailor the dashboard for clients, but providing a quick tutorial or user guide will help them make the most of their custom dashboard.
If you’re running a big website there are many things to monitor and cater to. You need as little distraction as possible.
Customizing your WordPress dashboard by removing and editing widgets can save you precious time and boost efficiency to greater levels.
Whether using code or plugins, you can create a cleaner workspace focused on essential information.
Rakib Hasan Chowdhury is a creative content writer with 1.5 years of experience crafting engaging, SEO-optimized content across various formats for the SaaS and WordPress industries. With a background in computer science, he excels at translating complex technical concepts into compelling narratives. Rakib's data-driven approach and marketing expertise have led to significant improvements in blog output and sales conversions. An award-winning employee and team builder, he's passionate about collaborative content creation that drives results and makes a difference.