The Tool Desk
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Choose the right way to clean up the WordPress admin
| What you want to change | Use this approach | What it affects |
|---|---|---|
| Dashboard modules or fields you personally do not use | Screen Options | The current user’s display on the relevant administration screen |
| Menu links users should not see | A role-aware plugin or custom code on admin_menu |
Menu visibility; not permission to access the destination |
| Whether someone is allowed to use a feature | Role and capability settings, enforced at the destination | Authorization |
| The black toolbar shown across the site | The user profile preference or a toolbar-specific rule | Toolbar visibility, separately from dashboard menus |
Hide dashboard modules for your own account
On the relevant WordPress administration screen, open Screen Options and uncheck the modules or fields you do not want displayed. This is a per-user display preference, not a site-wide change. Other administrators and editors can choose their own options.
For the toolbar that appears while viewing the site, edit your user profile and turn off Show Toolbar when viewing site. This setting is separate from Screen Options and does not remove dashboard menu items.
Hide menu items with a plugin
If you do not want to maintain PHP, a menu-management plugin can provide a visual way to hide, reorder, or rename admin items. The Admin Menu Editor listing describes controls for menu titles, URLs, icons, organization, required capabilities or roles, and visibility. Its Pro listing adds per-role visibility controls. Check the plugin’s current compatibility, maintenance, licensing, and terms before installing it; plugin settings are a convenience layer, not a substitute for authorization checks.
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For a small, documented change, use WordPress’s menu functions on the admin_menu action. remove_menu_page() removes a top-level menu; remove_submenu_page() removes a child item using both its parent and child slugs. The WordPress function reference says remove_menu_page() should be called on admin_menu.
function mysite_cleanup_admin_menu() {
if ( ! current_user_can( 'edit_posts' ) ) {
remove_menu_page( 'edit-comments.php' );
remove_submenu_page( 'themes.php', 'customize.php' );
}
}
add_action( 'admin_menu', 'mysite_cleanup_admin_menu', 99 );This example removes the Comments top-level menu and the Customize submenu for users who lack edit_posts. Adapt the slugs and capability to the actual site. The condition is an example of tailoring visibility; it does not make the hidden destinations inaccessible.
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Find the right slug and handle late-added submenus
Menu slugs are not necessarily the label displayed in the dashboard. Use the exact registered slug for the item you intend to remove, and keep a short record of each removal so future maintainers can identify why it is there. For a submenu that remains visible, verify the parent and child slugs, then adjust the callback priority if another plugin registers that submenu later. The WordPress reference for remove_submenu_page() documents its parent-and-child parameters.
Use capabilities—not hidden links—to control access
WordPress roles grant different capabilities. Its documentation describes the built-in roles as Super Admin, Administrator, Editor, Author, Contributor, and Subscriber; plugins can add their own capabilities. Choose the least-privilege role or custom capability that matches each person’s work, rather than granting broad access and relying on a tidier menu. See WordPress roles and capabilities.
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Then make sure the destination itself checks the required capability. This matters especially for settings, plugin, theme, user, and update screens. The WordPress Plugin Handbook warns: “Removing menus won’t prevent users accessing them directly. This should never be used as a way to restrict user capabilities.” Read Top-Level Menus in the Plugin Handbook before using menu removal as part of a plugin interface.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Hide the toolbar separately
If the issue is the black toolbar across the front end, change the profile’s Show Toolbar when viewing site preference for your own account. For rules based on roles, capabilities, devices, pages, or time, the Hide Admin Bar Based on User Roles plugin targets toolbar visibility. It does not replace menu cleanup or capability enforcement.
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