Want to change WordPress admin colors to match your brand? WordPress comes with a few built-in admin color schemes, but they’re limited and generic. If you want full control over every color in your admin dashboard — sidebar menu, admin bar, buttons, widgets, and more — this guide shows you how to do it without writing any code.
Why Change WordPress Admin Colors?
The default WordPress admin color schemes (Default, Light, Modern, Blue, etc.) are functional but don’t match most brands. Custom admin colors make sense when you want to:
- Match your brand identity — Use your exact brand colors across the entire admin area
- Create a unique experience — Stand out from the generic WordPress look
- White label for clients — Clients see a branded dashboard instead of default WordPress
- Reduce visual fatigue — Choose colors that are easier on the eyes for daily use
- Differentiate environments — Use different colors for staging vs production sites so you never make changes on the wrong one
What Colors Can You Customize?
With the right plugin, you can customize every color element in the WordPress admin:
Admin Sidebar Menu
- Menu Background — The main background color of the left sidebar
- Menu Text Color — Text and icon colors in the sidebar
- Menu Hover Background — Background color when hovering over a menu item
- Active Menu Item — Background color for the currently selected page
- Submenu Background — Background color for dropdown submenu panels
Admin Bar (Top Bar)
- Bar Background — Background color of the top admin bar
- Bar Text Color — Text and icon colors in the admin bar
- Hover/Dropdown Background — Background color for hover states and dropdown menus
Buttons & Widgets
- Primary Button Background — Color of “Save Changes”, “Publish”, and other primary buttons
- Primary Button Hover — Button color on hover
- Widget Border Color — Border color for dashboard widgets and meta boxes
How to Change WordPress Admin Colors (Step by Step)
We’ll use Incognito Admin Manager, a free WordPress admin customization plugin with a built-in Admin Theme Styler that includes a live preview.
Step 1: Install the Plugin
- Go to Plugins → Add New in your WordPress dashboard
- Search for “Incognito Admin Manager”
- Click Install Now, then Activate
Or download it from WordPress.org and upload manually.
Step 2: Open Admin Theme Styler
Go to Incognito Admin → Admin Theme Styler. Make sure the “Enable” toggle is turned on at the top.
Step 3: Set Sidebar Menu Colors
Use the color pickers to set your sidebar colors:
- Menu Background — Click the color picker and choose your brand’s primary dark color. This is the most visible color in the admin.
- Menu Text — Choose a light color that contrasts well with the background. White (#ffffff) works for most dark backgrounds.
- Menu Hover Background — Pick a slightly lighter or darker shade of the menu background for a subtle hover effect.
- Active Menu Item — Choose an accent color that stands out. This highlights the current page in the sidebar.
- Submenu Background — Usually a shade between the menu background and hover color works best.
Step 4: Set Admin Bar Colors
- Bar Background — Often the same as your menu background, or a complementary color
- Bar Text — Light text for dark backgrounds, or dark text for light backgrounds
- Hover/Dropdown Background — A subtle shift from the bar background for interactive feedback
Step 5: Set Button & Widget Colors
- Button Background — Your brand’s action color. This applies to “Save Changes”, “Publish”, “Update”, and all primary buttons.
- Button Hover — A darker or lighter variation for hover state
- Widget Border — A subtle color for dashboard widget and meta box borders
Step 6: Use the Live Preview
As you change colors, the live preview sidebar on the right updates in real time. It shows a miniature version of the admin interface including:
- Admin bar with dropdown
- Sidebar menu with active item and submenu
- Content area with buttons and widgets
- Interactive hover effects
This lets you see exactly how your color choices look together before saving. No need to refresh or navigate away.
Step 7: Save Changes
Click Save Changes at the bottom of the page. The new colors will apply immediately for all non-administrator users. To see the colors on your own admin account, you need the Pro version’s “Apply to Administrators” toggle.
Color Combination Tips
Choosing the right color combinations makes a big difference. Here are some practical tips:
- Start with your brand — Use your brand’s primary color for the menu background and accent color for active items
- Maintain contrast — Always ensure text is readable against backgrounds. Use the WebAIM Contrast Checker to verify accessibility
- Limit your palette — Stick to 2-3 colors plus white. Too many colors look chaotic.
- Use shades — For hover and submenu backgrounds, use lighter or darker variations of the same base color instead of entirely different colors
- Test in context — The live preview helps, but also check how colors look on actual admin pages with real content
Example Color Schemes
| Style | Menu BG | Text | Active | Admin Bar | Button |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Professional | #1a1a2e | #ffffff | #e94560 | #16213e | #e94560 |
| Ocean Blue | #0a1628 | #e0e7ff | #3b82f6 | #0a1628 | #2563eb |
| Forest Green | #1b2a1b | #d4edda | #28a745 | #1b2a1b | #218838 |
| Warm Neutral | #2d2424 | #f5f0eb | #c87941 | #2d2424 | #b5651d |
| Minimal Light | #f8f9fa | #343a40 | #0d6efd | #ffffff | #0d6efd |
Copy any of these hex values directly into the color pickers to get started quickly.
Who Sees the Custom Colors?
Understanding which users see your custom colors is important:
- Non-administrator roles (Editor, Author, Subscriber, etc.) — See custom colors immediately after saving
- Administrators (Free version) — See the default WordPress admin colors. Custom styling is skipped for admins by design.
- Administrators (Pro version) — Can see custom colors when the “Apply to Administrators” toggle is enabled in settings
This default behavior exists so administrators always have a familiar, standard interface. The Pro version gives you the option to override this.
Additional Branding Options
Beyond colors, you can further brand the admin area:
- Hide WordPress Logo — Remove the WordPress logo from the admin bar (available in free version)
- Custom Admin Sidebar Logo (Pro) — Upload your own logo to display at the top of the sidebar menu
- Hide Footer Text (Pro) — Remove “Thank you for creating with WordPress” from the admin footer
- Hide Update Nags (Pro) — Remove update notifications for a cleaner look
- Hide Admin Notices (Pro) — Remove all plugin notices and promotional banners
Resetting Colors
If you want to start over or go back to the WordPress defaults:
- Go to Incognito Admin → Admin Theme Styler
- Click the “Reset to Defaults” button
- Confirm the reset in the dialog that appears
- All colors return to their original values
You can also clear individual color fields to reset them one at a time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do custom colors affect the frontend of my site?
No. Admin colors only apply to the WordPress admin dashboard and admin bar. Your website’s frontend design is completely unaffected.
Will custom colors slow down my site?
No. The plugin generates a small inline CSS stylesheet that loads only in the admin area. It has no impact on frontend performance.
Can I use different colors on different sites?
Yes. Each WordPress installation has its own settings. You can configure completely different color schemes for each site you manage.
Do the colors apply to the frontend admin bar too?
Yes. When a logged-in user views the frontend of the site, the admin bar at the top uses your custom colors as well.
Conclusion
The built-in WordPress color schemes are limited and generic. With Incognito Admin Manager, you can change WordPress admin colors to anything you want — sidebar, admin bar, buttons, and widgets — all with a live preview and no code required.
Get started now: