The WordPress dashboard is the central management interface of your website. Here you create and edit content, manage media, plugins, and users, install updates, and configure important settings of your WordPress installation.
After logging into the WordPress admin area, you will see the administration menu on the left side and the so-called admin bar at the top. Which menu items and functions are actually displayed depends on your user role, the theme used, and the installed plugins.
In this guide, we explain the most important areas of the WordPress dashboard and show you which tasks you can accomplish there.
Briefly explained: The WordPress dashboard is the control center of your website. Through the left-hand administration menu, you can access posts, pages, media, comments, appearance, plugins, users, tools, and settings. Additional plugins can add further menu items.
What is the WordPress dashboard? #
Simply put, WordPress consists of two areas:
- the publicly visible area of your website, the so-called Frontend
- the administrative sector, the so-called Backend or rather WordPress admin area
The dashboard is part of this admin area and is normally displayed as the first management page after logging in.
Here, depending on your configuration, you will get an overview of activities, content, the status of your website, or available WordPress information, for example.
Frontend and Backend: What is the difference? #
The Frontend is the area that visitors to your website see.
This includes, for example:
- Home
- Subpages
- Blog posts
- Navigation
- Contact forms
- publicly visible images and other content
The Backend whereas the administration area is for authorized WordPress users.
There you can create and edit content as well as make technical and administrative settings.
Important: Changes in the WordPress backend can affect the publicly visible website. Especially with plugins, themes, updates, and basic settings, you should therefore know which function you are currently changing.
How do I open the WordPress dashboard? #
On a standard WordPress installation, you can usually reach the admin area via:
If you are not logged in yet, WordPress will usually redirect you to the login page.
After successful login you will reach the admin area.
You can find a detailed registration guide at Access the WordPress admin area and log in.
The basic structure of the WordPress admin area #
The management interface can be roughly divided into three areas:
- Admin bar: horizontal bar at the top of the screen
- Administration menu: vertical navigation on the left side
- Workspace: the large area where the currently selected function is displayed
For example, if you click on the left menu Pages you click, the workspace shows the management of your WordPress sites.
The admin bar at the top of the screen #
The admin bar provides quick access to frequently used functions.
Depending on user rights and installed extensions, you will find there, for example:
- WordPress menu
- Name or title of your website
- Quick access to the frontend
- Update Notes
- Comments
- Function for creating new content
- User account
Plugins can display additional elements in this bar.
Switch from the dashboard to the public website #
You can usually quickly switch between the backend and frontend using your website's name in the top admin bar.
This is particularly practical if you have made changes and then want to check how the website looks to visitors.
When you are logged in to the frontend, the admin bar often remains visible at the top of the screen depending on your user settings.
The administration menu on the left side #
The left administration menu is the most important navigation within the WordPress backend.
A typical WordPress installation includes, among other things, the following areas:
- Dashboard
- Posts
- Media
- Pages
- Comments
- Design
- Plugins
- User
- Tools
- Settings
Depending on installed plugins, additional main menu items may be added.
Dashboard #
The menu item Dashboard leads to the WordPress admin area overview page.
Various information fields or dashboard widgets can be displayed here.
Depending on the WordPress version and configuration, these may contain information about, for example:
- Website Status
- Activities
- Drafts
- WordPress news or events
- additional information of installed plugins
Which elements you actually see can therefore vary from website to website.
Dashboard → Updates #
Under Dashboard → Updates notifies WordPress about available updates.
This may include:
- WordPress Core
- Plugins
- Themes
- Translations
Updates are an important part of WordPress maintenance and should not be permanently ignored.
Attention: Do not carry out major updates completely unprepared. Especially with live websites, a working backup should be available so that a restoration is possible if problems occur.
Posts #
Under Posts you manage the editorial posts of your website.
This area is typically used for content such as:
- Blog post
- News
- Guide
- Specialist article
- Current News
used.
In the posts section, you will usually also find the management of categories and tags.
Posts → All Posts #
Here you will find an overview of the existing blog posts and you can edit, search, or manage them.
Posts → Add New #
You use this menu item to create a new post.
Posts → Categories #
Categories help group posts by topic and build a logical content structure.
Posts → Tags #
Keywords or tags can be used to assign specific topics or terms across multiple posts.
Media #
Under Media manages WordPress uploaded files.
These include in particular:
- Pictures
- PDF files
- Documents
- Audio files
- Videos, provided they were uploaded directly
- additional supported file types
The central overview is presented as Media library referred to as.
Media → Media Library #
Here you can view, search, and edit the information of existing media files.
Media → Add file #
New files can be uploaded to the WordPress media library here.
Note: Do not delete a media file simply because you no longer need it on a specific page. The same file may still be used elsewhere on your website.
Pages #
Under Pages you manage the static or structural content of your website.
Typical WordPress sites are, for example:
- Home
- About us
- Contact
- Services
- Imprint
- Privacy Policy
Pages → All Pages #
Here you can find the existing pages of your website.
Pages → Create #
You create a new WordPress page via this menu item.
Unlike posts, pages in WordPress do not have categories and tags by default. Instead, pages can be organized hierarchically and subordinated to other pages.
Comments #
When the comment feature on your website is used, you can find incoming comments under Comments.
There, comments can, depending on the status:
- checked
- approved
- answered
- edited
- marked as spam
- deleted
become.
If your website does not use a comment function, you will need this area correspondingly less often.
Design #
The area Design controls various aspects of the appearance of your WordPress website.
Which subitems are available here depends heavily on the theme used.
In a classic theme, for example, the following functions may appear:
- Themes
- Customizer
- Widgets
- Menus
With a modern block theme, the Editor or website editor play a central role.
Important: The area Design does not look the same on every WordPress website. Classic themes and block themes in particular differ significantly here.
Design → Themes #
Under Design → Themes Do you see the themes present on your WordPress installation.
A theme determines essential parts of the visual presentation and can provide additional design and layout features.
Here you can, depending on your permissions, for example:
- show installed themes
- activate another theme
- install new themes
- Show theme information
A theme change can significantly alter the appearance of your entire website.
Design → Customizer #
With classic themes, under Design → Customizer or rather Customize the WordPress Customizer be available.
What options are offered there is mainly determined by the active theme.
With modern block themes, the classic customizer might not be available or may only be available to a limited extent.
Design → Editor #
With a block theme, under Design → Editor the website editor be available.
Depending on the theme, this can be used to edit areas such as the following:
- Navigation
- Styles
- Pages
- Templates
- Template parts
- Header
- Footer
The website editor should not be confused with the normal editor for the content of an individual post or page.
Plugins #
Plugins extend WordPress with additional features.
Examples are:
- Contact forms
- SEO features
- Safety features
- Backups
- Online stores
- SMTP transmission
- Cache and performance features
Plugins → Installed Plugins #
Here are the plugins installed on your WordPress website.
Depending on the plugin and user permissions, you can, for example:
- activate
- disable
- update
- delete
- configure
Plugins → Add New Plugin #
Here you can search for additional WordPress plugins or install plugins.
Attention: Do not install plugins indiscriminately. Every additional extension should serve a specific purpose, be actively maintained, and be compatible with your WordPress environment.
User #
Under User you manage the user accounts of your WordPress website.
WordPress has a roles and capabilities system. This allows different users to be granted various rights.
Depending on the installation, the standard roles include, for example:
- Administrator
- Editor
- Author
- Employees
- Subscriber
Plugins like WooCommerce can add additional user roles.
Users → All Users #
Here you can find the existing user accounts.
User → Add new #
Here you can create a new user account and assign it an appropriate role.
User → Profile #
Personal settings of the logged-in user can be managed in their own user profile.
This may include, for example, name, contact information, password, and various settings of the administration interface.
Tools #
The menu item Tools contains various administrative helper functions.
In a normal WordPress installation, depending on the version, you will find functions for, among other things:
- Import of content
- Content export
- Website Status
- Export of personal data
- Deletion of personal data
Plugins can expand the area with additional tools.
Tools → Website Status #
The website status, often also referred to as Site Health provides technical information about your WordPress installation.
WordPress can provide information there, for example, on:
- Configuration
- PHP
- HTTPS
- Updates
- REST API
- planned tasks
- technical recommendations
display.
Additionally, this section contains extensive technical information about the WordPress environment.
Note: Not every website health recommendation automatically means that your website is acutely broken. The suggestions should be evaluated in their technical context.
Settings #
Under Settings you will find basic configuration options for your WordPress website.
The standard installation typically includes areas such as:
- General
- Write
- Read
- Discussion
- Media
- Permalinks
- Privacy Policy
Here, too, plugins can add additional settings pages.
Settings → General #
Here is basic information about your WordPress installation.
This may include, among other things:
- Website Title
- Subtitles
- WordPress Address
- Website address
- administrative email address
- Time zone
- Date format
- Time format
- Website language
Attention: Do not change the WordPress address or site address as a test. Incorrect values can make your website or admin area inaccessible at the expected address.
Settings → Writing #
The writing settings contain various options related to creating and assigning content.
What options are available there may depend on the WordPress version and the installed extensions.
Settings → Reading #
In the reading settings, you can determine, among other things, what should be displayed on the homepage of your website.
Here, for example, between:
- the latest posts
- and a static homepage
be elected.
Furthermore, there are additional settings here regarding the display and findability of content.
Settings → Discussion #
Discussion settings control the WordPress comment feature.
For example, there you can specify:
- whether new posts should allow comments
- how comments are moderated
- when email notifications are sent
- how nested comments are handled
- how avatars are used
Settings → Media #
The media settings contain default values for certain image sizes that WordPress can use for uploaded images.
Changes to these settings do not necessarily apply retroactively to image files that have already been created.
Settings → Permalinks #
The permalink settings affect the URL structure of your WordPress content.
A URL could look like this, for example:
For an existing website, the permalink structure should not be changed rashly, as this can alter numerous URLs.
Settings → Privacy #
The data protection department supports you in selecting or creating a page for the privacy policy.
This WordPress function is a technical tool. It does not automatically create a legally complete privacy policy for your specific website.
Why am I seeing additional menu items? #
Many WordPress plugins add their own sections to the admin menu.
Therefore, additional menu items may appear after installing an online shop, SEO, backup, or form plugin.
For example, a plugin can:
- create a custom main menu item
- a subitem under Settings add
- a subitem under Tools complete
- Insert elements into the admin bar
Therefore, a longer administration menu does not mean that you are using a different WordPress version.
Why does my WordPress dashboard look different than in a tutorial? #
That is completely normal.
Two WordPress installations can have different administration interfaces despite having the same WordPress version.
Causes include, for example:
- different user roles
- other themes
- different plugins
- WooCommerce or other extensive extensions
- individual adjustments
- other WordPress versions
- hidden screen areas
If a guide shows a menu item that you cannot find, you should therefore first consider these differences.
User role affects visible menu items #
Not every WordPress user is allowed to see or modify all areas of the dashboard.
An administrator usually has very extensive rights. Users with other roles, on the other hand, can only perform certain tasks.
For example, an author does not necessarily need access to:
- Plugins
- Themes
- global settings
- other user accounts
This reduces the administration menu for this user accordingly.
We explain user roles and permissions in more detail at Manage users in WordPress.
Collapse and expand administration menu #
The left WordPress menu can be collapsed to save space.
There is usually a corresponding function for this at the bottom of the administration menu.
When collapsed, primarily the icons of the individual sections are displayed.
If you supposedly can no longer find a menu item, also check whether the administration menu has simply been collapsed.
What are the display options? #
WordPress provides so-called on various administrative pages Display options available.
With this, you can influence which elements are displayed on the respective administration page.
Depending on the area, for example:
- Show or hide columns
- display specific information fields
- Configure overview elements
- change the number of displayed entries
The available options depend on the currently open administration page.
Why is a setting suddenly missing? #
If a previously existing function is no longer visible, there are various possible causes.
Check, for example:
- Are you logged in with the correct user account?
- Has your user role changed?
- Has a plugin been deactivated or deleted?
- Has the theme been changed?
- Was there a switch from a classic theme to a block theme?
- Is the function hidden in the display options?
- Did an update change the user interface?
Therefore, a missing menu item does not automatically mean that WordPress is corrupted.
What does a number next to a menu item mean? #
WordPress and plugins can display small counters or notices next to individual menu items.
These can, for example, be found on:
- available updates
- pending comments
- pending tasks of a plugin
point out.
The exact meaning depends on the respective menu item or plugin.
Which areas should a beginner treat with particular caution? #
Creating or editing normal text is usually less risky than making changes to the basic technical configuration.
Special care is advisable, among other things, with:
- WordPress and plugin updates
- Enable or disable important plugins
- Change themes
- Permalink changes
- WordPress Address and Site Address
- Deleting users
- Deleting media files
- Changes to templates
Basic rule: If you do not know the effects of a technical setting, do not change it just for testing on a production website. Learn about its function first and, in the case of critical changes, ensure that recovery is possible.
Dashboard after installing a plugin #
After installing a plugin, the WordPress dashboard can change visibly.
For example, the plugin can:
- add a new menu item
- Show dashboard widgets
- create new columns in overviews
- Show notes
- extend the admin bar
- provide additional settings
This is fundamentally normal and part of the extensibility of WordPress.
Too many notices in the WordPress dashboard #
Plugins and themes can display administrative notices in the dashboard.
Some of them inform about important technical issues or necessary configuration steps. Others merely contain references to additional functions or offers.
Therefore, do not automatically dismiss every hint without at least briefly checking it.
Particularly reports on:
- security problems
- failed updates
- PHP compatibility
- Backups
- Website Status
can be technically relevant.
Dashboard is slow #
If the WordPress backend responds unusually slowly, this can have various causes.
This includes, for example:
- resource-intensive plugins
- external API requests from plugins
- Issues with scheduled tasks
- Database issues
- PHP error
- insufficient available resources
- Problems with external services
If only the backend is slow while the frontend responds quickly, the cause should therefore be investigated in a targeted manner.
Dashboard shows a critical error #
If a message about a critical error appears instead of the WordPress admin area, there is usually a technical problem.
Common causes can be, for example, a faulty plugin, a theme issue, or a PHP error.
Note the exact error message and check if the problem occurred immediately after a specific change or update.
Check the dashboard after an update #
After major WordPress, plugin, or theme updates, you should not only check the public website.
Also check in the backend whether important functions are still accessible.
Brief patrol after an update #
- Open the WordPress dashboard.
- Check if error messages are displayed.
- Open some important pages of the admin area.
- Check plugins and available updates.
- Then open the frontend.
- Check important pages and functions of the website.
Typical mistakes when using the WordPress dashboard #
- change technical settings without knowing their effects
- Permanently ignore updates
- install any plugin
- Disable plugins without knowing their function
- Change WordPress and website address for testing purposes
- Changing the permalink structure of an existing website without careful consideration
- Changing the theme and expecting the website to look unchanged
- Equipping user accounts with administrator privileges unnecessarily
- Delete media without checking if they are used
- immediately interpret missing menu items as WordPress errors
The most important areas at a glance #
WordPress admin menu #
- Dashboard: Overview and Updates
- Posts: Blog posts and editorial content
- Media: Images and files
- Pages: static and structural website content
- Comments: Discussions and Moderation
- Design Themes and Display
- Plugins: additional WordPress features
- User: Accounts, roles, and permissions
- Tools: administrative support functions
- Settings: basic WordPress configuration
When should you contact CURIAWEB support? #
If you as a CURIAWEB customer can no longer access an important area of the WordPress dashboard or receive a technical error message, you can contact our support.
Particularly helpful in this regard are:
- the affected domain
- the menu item or area where the problem occurs
- the exact error message
- a screenshot of the problem
- whether WordPress, a plugin, or a theme was updated shortly before
- whether a plugin has been installed, activated, or deactivated
Note that a missing menu item can also be caused by the user role. Therefore, if possible, check first which user account you are logged in with.
Summary #
The WordPress dashboard is the central management interface of your website. Via the left administration menu, you can access content, media, comments, themes, plugins, users, tools, and the basic settings of your WordPress installation.
Which areas are actually visible depends on your user role, the active theme, and the installed plugins. Therefore, the dashboard of two WordPress websites can look significantly different.
For your daily work, you will mainly need the posts, media, and pages sections. When making changes to plugins, themes, updates, permalinks, and basic settings, on the other hand, you should proceed with more caution, as these can affect the entire website.
