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Change Order of WordPress Submenus in Admin Menu

Posted on by William Zheng

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by a cluttered WordPress admin menu? If you’ve struggled to find your essential tools or wished for a more personalized layout, you’re not alone. Customizing the order of your submenu items can streamline your workflow and enhance your productivity.

In this article, we’ll explore how to easily rearrange the submenu items in your WordPress admin menu. You’ll find step-by-step instructions, practical tips, and insights that will help you create a more organized and efficient dashboard. Say goodbye to the chaos and hello to a tailored admin experience!

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How to Change the Order of Submenus in the WordPress Admin Menu

If you’re managing a WordPress site, you know that a well-organized admin menu can significantly enhance your workflow. Changing the order of submenus in the WordPress admin menu can make navigation more intuitive and tailored to your needs. In this guide, we’ll explore how to do just that, along with the benefits and challenges of customizing your menu structure.

Understanding the WordPress Admin Menu Structure

The WordPress admin menu is structured hierarchically. At the top level, you have main menu items like “Dashboard,” “Posts,” “Media,” and “Pages.” Each of these can have submenus that contain related functions or settings. By default, WordPress orders these menus based on predefined criteria, which may not suit every user’s preferences.

Why Change the Order of Submenus?

Changing the order of submenus can provide several advantages:

  • Enhanced Efficiency: Quickly access the tools you use most often.
  • Customization: Tailor the admin experience to fit your workflow or the needs of your team.
  • Clarity: Group related functions together for easier navigation.

How to Change the Order of Submenus

You can change the order of submenus in WordPress using a simple code snippet in your theme’s functions.php file. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Access Your Theme Files:
  2. Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard.
  3. Navigate to “Appearance” > “Theme Editor.”

  4. Open the functions.php file of your active theme.

  5. Add the Custom Code:

  6. Insert the following code snippet at the end of the functions.php file:

    “`php
    function custom_menu_order($menu_ord) {
    if (!$menu_ord) return true;

     // Define your custom order
 $custom_order = array(
     'index.php', // Dashboard
     'edit.php',  // Posts
     'upload.php', // Media
     'edit.php?post_type=page', // Pages
     'plugins.php', // Plugins
     // Add other menu items as needed
 );

 return $custom_order;

    }
    add_filter(‘custom_menu_order’, ‘custom_menu_order’);
    add_filter(‘menu_order’, ‘custom_menu_order’);
    “`

  7. Save Changes:

  8. After adding the code, click the “Update File” button to save your changes.

  9. Verify the Changes:

  10. Refresh your WordPress admin menu to see the new order in action.

Key Points to Consider

  • Backup Your Site: Always back up your website before making changes to the theme files. This ensures you can restore it if something goes wrong.
  • Child Themes: If you’re using a parent theme, consider creating a child theme for customizations. This prevents your changes from being overwritten during theme updates.
  • Testing: After making changes, test the functionality of the affected menus to ensure everything works as expected.

Benefits of Customizing Your Admin Menu

  • Improved Workflow: By prioritizing frequently used items, you can save time and reduce frustration.
  • User-Friendly Experience: A customized menu can help new users navigate the admin area more easily.
  • Better Organization: Grouping similar functionalities can lead to a clearer understanding of the available tools.

Challenges You Might Encounter

  • Complexity: If you have many plugins or custom post types, managing the order can become complex.
  • Updates: Future updates to WordPress or plugins may affect your custom order, requiring adjustments.
  • Limited Visibility: If you hide certain menu items, ensure that all users understand where to find important functions.

Practical Tips for Customizing Your Menu

  • Use Descriptive Names: If renaming menus, use clear and descriptive labels that make functions easily identifiable.
  • Regularly Review: Periodically assess your menu structure to ensure it still meets your needs as your site evolves.
  • Utilize User Roles: If your site has multiple users, consider customizing the menu based on user roles for better access control.

Cost Tips for Customization

Customizing your WordPress admin menu is generally free, provided you’re comfortable editing code. However, if you prefer not to handle this yourself, consider these cost-effective options:

  1. Freelancers: Hire a freelancer for a one-time task. Platforms like Upwork and Fiverr offer affordable options.
  2. Plugins: Look for plugins that facilitate menu customization. Some are free, while others may charge a small fee.
  3. Learning Resources: Invest time in learning resources or courses that enhance your coding skills, allowing you to make such changes independently.

Conclusion

Changing the order of submenus in the WordPress admin menu can streamline your workflow and enhance your overall experience. By following the steps outlined above, you can easily customize your menu to suit your preferences and improve efficiency. Remember to back up your site and test thoroughly after making changes to ensure everything functions correctly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I customize the admin menu without coding?
Yes, there are plugins available that allow you to customize the admin menu without writing any code. Search for “admin menu customizer” in the plugins repository.

2. Will my custom menu order be affected by updates?
While your custom order should remain intact, major updates to WordPress or plugins may occasionally cause conflicts, requiring you to reapply your customizations.

3. Can I hide certain menu items for specific users?
Yes, you can use user role management plugins to hide menu items based on the user roles, providing a tailored experience for different users.

4. Is it possible to reset the menu order to default?
Yes, simply remove the custom code from your functions.php file, and your menu will revert to the default order.

5. What if I make a mistake in the code?
If you encounter issues after editing the functions.php file, you can restore your site from a backup or access the file through FTP to remove the incorrect code.

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