How to Reorder and Remove Admin Menu Items in WordPress?

Let’s face it—the WordPress admin menu can feel like a messy closet. Plugins, themes, and core features all compete for attention, leaving you scrolling and clicking like you’re on a scavenger hunt. If you’ve ever wished for a tidier, more efficient dashboard, you’re in luck!

There are basically two answers to the question "How to Reorder or Remove WordPress Admin Menu Items": The old-school coding method or the much easier (and fun) route—using WP Adminify’s Admin Menu Editor. Let’s break it down.

How to Reorder or Remove WordPress Admin Menu Items: The Coding Route (For the Brave Souls)

If you enjoy tinkering with code, you can clean up your menu with some PHP magic. Just pop this into your theme’s functions.php file to remove certain menu items from the dashboard menu:

function customize_admin_menu() {
    // Remove a menu item
    remove_menu_page('edit.php'); // Hides Posts
    
    // Reorder menu items - custom order example
    global $menu;
    $menu = array(
        $menu[2], // Dashboard
        $menu[4], // Separator
        $menu[5], // Posts  
    );
}
add_action('admin_menu', 'customize_admin_menu');

Now, removing items with code is pretty easy but reordering admin menu items is a completely different beast altogether!

Reordering menu items requires code on both the server and frontend. To put it simply, it's a nightmare.

Why put yourself through it?

Let's just look at the best option to remove and reorder menu items.

A method that won't give you lasting PTSD.

How to Reorder or Remove WordPress Admin Menu Items: The No-Code Method with WP Adminify (Highly Recommended)

For a simple, stress-free solution, WP Adminify’s Admin Menu Editor has you covered and then some.

Here’s how to whip your admin menu into shape without touching a single line of code:

Step 1: Install and Activate WP Adminify

Head to your WordPress dashboard >>> Go to Plugins > Add New >>> Search for “WP Adminify,” hit Install Now, and then activate it. Simple.

Follow this documentation for a detailed setup guide.

Step 2: Access the Admin Menu Editor

Navigate to WP Adminify > Admin Menu on your dashboard.

Step 3: Reorder Menu Items (As Easy as Drag-and-Drop)

Go to the Menu Editor tab.

Click, drag, and drop it into your preferred position. Boom, done.

Hit Save to lock in the changes.

As simple as that. No code witchcraft needed, no stress incurred. Barely takes a few second.

Step 4: Hide or Remove Menu Items (No Mess, No Fuss)

Select the menu item you want to hide.

Click on the Settings tab

Under "Hidden for Rules," choose which user roles (like Editors or Subscribers) shouldn’t see it.

Save your changes, and voila—it’s gone for the selected users.

Why WP Adminify Is the Better Choice?

Sure, coding works, but not everyone can do it. WP Adminify makes life so much easier and lowers the barrier to entry significantly for all user types on WordPress regardless of their expertise.

And just to make it clear, WP Adminify doesn’t stop at just reordering and hiding menu items—it’s packed with many other admin menu customization features. Think of it as your all-in-one toolkit for admin productivity:

No coding required: Perfect for beginners and busy pros who don’t want to mess with PHP.
Visual and fast: Reorganize your menu in seconds with an intuitive drag-and-drop interface.
Role-based control: Hide or show menu items based on user roles, keeping dashboards clean for your team.
Rename and customize: Change menu item names to suit your workflow or add separators for better organization.
Flexible Layout Options: Switch between Vertical and Horizontal menus. Choose from styles like Default, Folded, or Rounded to match your preference.
Submenu Styles: Tidy up submenus with options like Accordion or Toggle for a cleaner hierarchy.
Add Custom Menu Items: Add as many menu items and sub-menu items as you want.
Adjust Menu Style: Change menu layout options, menu width, menu fonts and item colors.
User Personalization: Show or hide user information, and customize avatars as Rounded or Square.

These are just features under the Admin Menu Editor. Check out our docs to get detailed instructions on how to use these features.

Adminify boasts hundreds of other very helpful features such as Dark Mode, Dashboard Widgets Editor, White labeling, Login Customizer, and many more productivity-improving features to create an optimized workspace that feels uniquely yours.

Final Thoughts

Whether you love code or prefer a no-fuss solution, cleaning up your WordPress admin menu is a game-changer. For most users, WP Adminify’s Admin Menu Editor is the clear winner—quick, intuitive, and no risk of breaking your site.

Give it a try and turn your cluttered dashboard into a productivity powerhouse.