What It Does
Dashboard Widget Manager lets you disable any widget on the WordPress admin dashboard. It separates widgets into core (WordPress built-in like Site Health, Activity, Quick Draft) and plugin-added widgets, and provides a toggle for each. Disabled widgets are removed globally for all admin users — this is a site-wide setting, not per-user.
Features
- Lists all dashboard widgets separated into "Core" and "Plugin" categories
- Toggle each widget on or off with a single click via AJAX
- Identifies core widgets: Site Health, Right Now, Activity, Quick Draft, WordPress Events and News, PHP Nag, Browser Nag
- Plugin widgets are automatically categorized — anything not in the core list is treated as a plugin widget
- Settings persist across sessions — stored in the unified WP Multitool options
- Widgets are removed from all dashboard positions (normal, side, advanced) and all priorities
How to Use
-
Open Dashboard Widget Manager
Go to WP Multitool > Dashboard Widgets in the admin menu.
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Review widgets
The page lists all dashboard widgets in two groups: Core WordPress widgets and Plugin widgets. Each shows its title and current enabled/disabled status.
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Toggle widgets
Click the toggle next to any widget to enable or disable it. Changes are saved immediately via AJAX — no save button needed.
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Check the dashboard
Go to the main Dashboard page to verify that disabled widgets are no longer shown.
Settings
| Setting | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Disabled Widgets | None (all widgets visible) |
List of widget IDs that are hidden from the dashboard. Stored in wpmultitool_disabled_dashboard_widgets within the unified options. |
FAQ
Does this affect all users or just me?
This is a site-wide setting. When you disable a widget, it is removed for all admin users, not just your account. Individual users cannot override this.
Can I hide the WP Multitool dashboard widget?
Yes, if WP Multitool adds its own dashboard widget, it will appear in the list and can be disabled like any other.
Will hidden widgets still run their code?
The widgets are removed via remove_meta_box() after they are registered. The registration callback may still run, but the widget will not render or appear on the dashboard.
What is the difference between this and the Screen Options checkbox?
The Screen Options checkbox in WordPress is per-user and can be re-enabled by each user. Dashboard Widget Manager removes widgets site-wide so no user sees them.
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