Add Admin CSS
by Scott Reilly · Admin & Utilities
Also makes 64 other plugins · 78.4K+ installs across the portfolio →
Easily define additional CSS (inline and/or by URL) to be added to all administration pages.
Try it live opens a temporary test site in your browser, which can take about 20 seconds to load. Plugins that rely on outside services or a full server may not work completely there.
Health
B 80/100
no flags
Active installs
10K+
≈15K estimated
Momentum
+3%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Swap “admin”, “style” and “admin theme” for “coffee2code”, “additional css” and “administration”. “admin” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “coffee2code” sits at #5 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “style” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “additional css” sits at #7 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “admin theme” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #23. “administration” sits at #24 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
80 health vs 56 average across 5,897 Admin & Utilities plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →6.8%
of downloads still active
At least 10K of 147.9K lifetime downloads are still running, above its category: the median Admin & Utilities plugin keeps 0.6%, across 4,189 plugins.
Downloads count every update, not just first installs, so older and more frequently released plugins read lower. Compare against other Admin & Utilities plugins, not across the directory. wp.org reports active installs as the bottom of a band, so the real rate is this or higher.
This plugin shipped 1 release in the last 12 months, and every existing install that updated counted as another download. wp.org publishes no split between first installs and updates, so we show the raw rate rather than guess at one.
Details
Recent review vibe
read from the latest 12 reviews to 2025-09-14Reviewers keep calling it simple and effective for hiding admin clutter without touching PHP files, though a couple mention support seems quiet and one hoped for a compatibility update.
Directory ranking optimization
How it's scored →How well this listing is tuned to rank in WordPress.org search, on the factors an owner controls. Not popularity, optimization.
Excellent listing optimization
Well tuned across the board
Updated 328 days ago, past the ~180 days where wp.org starts discounting
Tested up to WordPress 6.9.11, the current branch or newer
4.9★ over 35 reviews, smoothed to 4.43★
5 of 5 tags set · short description in place
Search visibility
How it's tracked →Directory searches this plugin turns up in, and which way each one is moving. WordPress.org publishes no history of search positions, so this starts the day we first tracked a keyword and never backfills.
35
Momentum
Losing ground
-0.4
Velocity
places per keyword, 28d
10%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 28d
-0.1
Acceleration
recent half vs earlier
wp.org is where the directory puts the plugin for that search. On merit is where it would sit if results were ranked on rating, support and updates, without the install boost. The last column is how far the wp.org position moved, from our first reading in the last 90 days to the latest.
| Keyword | wp.org | On merit | wp.org move, 90 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| admin css | #3 | #4 | 0 |
| stylesheets your tag | #8 | #9 | up 1 |
| additional css | #7 | #9 | 0 |
| coffee2code | #5 | #3 | 0 |
| css class | #9 | #9 | down 2 |
| css your tag | #19 | #20 | down 2 |
| admin customization | #13 | #14 | 0 |
| admin theme your tag | #23 | #18 | down 4 |
| admin interface | #17 | #12 | down 2 |
| administration | #24 | #17 | — |
| css id | #11 | #14 | down 1 |
| admin colors | #18 | #11 | down 1 |
| admin color | #20 | #13 | 0 |
| site css | #15 | #16 | up 1 |
| add style | #15 | #13 | down 5 |
| admin note | #24 | #15 | down 6 |
| admin style | #16 | #15 | 0 |
| admin your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| style your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
72 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 17 listed. 55 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words). 2 of its tags aren't in the top 24 for their own search.
What to do about it
- Swap “admin”, “style” and “admin theme” for “coffee2code”, “additional css” and “administration”. “admin” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “coffee2code” sits at #5 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “style” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “additional css” sits at #7 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “admin theme” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #23. “administration” sits at #24 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
Daily downloads
Since 5 Oct 2022 · 1,489 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 5K · peaks are release surges
Directory rank vs rivals
wp.org popularity rank over time · higher is better · when a rival's line climbs above yours, they've overtaken you
Rating trend
Star average over time · dips mark rough releases
Health trend
Composite health score, snapshotted daily
Update activity
How busy the existing users are, measured as downloads in the last 30 days for every 1,000 active sites. A spike means a new release everyone's pulling; a long, slow decline means an aging user base that updates less.
Release cadence
Occasionally updatedHow often this plugin actually ships. A steady rhythm is the maintenance signal a single "last updated" date can't show.
1
releases in the last 12 months
11mo ago
latest release · v2.5.1 · 8 Dec 2025
17
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare of active installs on each version of this plugin · 50% run the current release. Green is the current release; a big slice on older versions is a user base that has stopped updating.
Estimated active installs
The public count shows “10K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 3.5 years ago; a band this size takes about a year or more to cross, which places it about 50% of the way through.
Install history since 6 Aug 2021
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ ellencarnahan1.1y ago
I really like to customize my admin experience, and installed this plugin to distinguish the icons when other plugin developers default to things like “post icon.” Seems to lack support but that is how it goes with open source plugins. Many thanks when it works 🙂
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ mikeecho4.6y ago
Awesome plugin, works fantastic Well done!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ ipchania4.6y ago
Working great !!!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Jak5.0y ago
Hi, I am a beginner and have no idea about CSS coding and wondered if someone can help with providing the CSS code to replace the footer color of the website with an image, thanks.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Topher5.4y ago
This plugin did *exactly* what I wanted. A plugin had dropped some ad stuff into the Publish box, but it had a good CSS class, so I just hid it. I really like that the text field for holding the CSS is intelligent and does things like auto include closing brackets, code coloring, etc.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ strettonbull5.5y ago
If you get fed up of all the nag screens from themes and plugins nagging you to “Go Pro” etc, then this is a great plugin for adding css to hide them all. Really easy to use.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Hematoma5.6y ago
Fantastic plugin, perfect for editing your admin panel. Not needing to deal with the hassle of php. files is great. I just hope this plugin gets an update for wordpress 5.7 soon as some things seem to not be working as they used to. Regardless, thank you so much Scott for your amazing work!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ WillOfTheWeb6.1y ago
Great plugin and simple to use.
Read on wp.org ↗
Latest updates
via wp.org changelogRecent releases and news for this plugin
- 2025-12-02 Version 2.5.1 Highlights: A bugfix release to address the overzealous encoding of some valid CSS characters introduced in v2.5. Details: Fix: Escape only the minimum of characters so that valid CSS characters don’t get escaped. Props 2.5.1
- 2025-03-29 Version 2.5 Highlights: This recommended long overdue release adds a new filter for fine-grained control of whether CSS should be output or not, updates the plugin framework to the most current version (for hardening and miscellaneo 2.5
- 2021-05-30 Version 2.0.1 Highlights: This recommended bugfix release addresses a potential conflict with other plugins that prevented the plugin settings page main content from being displayed. Details: Change: Update plugin framework to 063 Fix 2.0.1
Security history
via Wordfence IntelligenceThe 1 disclosed vulnerability is patched in the current version (2.5.1). Sites still on an older version should update.
- 2024-07-26 CVE-2024-6547 Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor Affects <= 2.0.1 Patched in 2.5
Vulnerability records provided by Wordfence Intelligence. Copyright 2012-2026 Defiant Inc. License and terms.
CVE records: Copyright 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation. CVE terms of use.
Behavioral tests
via WP HiveAutomated install-time checks, tested on PHP 8.1.12 · WP 6.9
Languages
via translate.wordpress.orgTranslated into 72 languages, 2 at 90% or more
Plus 48 more locales with partial translations.
AI assistants
How it's measured →Whether ChatGPT and Claude name this plugin when asked the category question, and whether the readme gives them something to quote.
Not measured yet for this plugin’s topics. Its tracked searches are not among the measured topics. See the topics measured so far.
Readme readiness
3 of 8 pass · checked 31 Oct 2026Can an assistant quote this readme? Eight deterministic checks over the wp.org listing, no model involved.
- ! Says what it does Short description names no action; say what the plugin does for the site.
- ✓ Has a FAQ 6 questions in the FAQ.
- ✓ FAQ asks real questions 6 of 6 read like questions a user would type.
- ! Names who it is for Never says who the plugin is for or what they use it for.
- ! Names what it works with Names no plugin, service or platform it works with.
- ! Headings and lists 1 heading and 1 list; assistants quote headed sections and bullet lists, not paragraphs.
- ✓ Enough to quote 1,076 characters of description.
- ! Tags match the text Only 2 of 5 tags appear in the text ("admin theme", "style", "stylesheets" missing).
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2023-05-09 20K+ → 10K+ down after 203 days in tier
- 2022-10-18 10K+ → 20K+ up after 2146 days in tier
- 2016-12-02 9K+ → 10K+ up after 324 days in tier
- 2016-01-13 8K+ → 9K+ up after 128 days in tier
- 2015-09-07 6K+ → 8K+ up
Competes with
The plugins that solve the same job, ranked by shared tags then reach, closest match first. The letter on the right is each plugin's health grade (A best, F worst).
-
WP Add Custom CSS 60K+ installs · 4.7★ · 2 shared tags B - S Scripts n Styles 30K+ installs · 4.2★ · 2 shared tags D
- T TJ Custom CSS 8K+ installs · 4.3★ · 2 shared tags D
-
WpRedesigned – Beautiful Custom Admin Theme 3K+ installs · 4.1★ · 2 shared tags D - C Custom CSS Manager 1K+ installs · 4.2★ · 2 shared tags D
-
Mouse cursor customizer 900+ installs · 3.9★ · 2 shared tags D
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for Add Admin CSS into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/add-admin-css" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Add Admin CSS — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> Add Admin CSS: 10K+ active installs, 4.9★ (35 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-11-01. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/add-admin-css
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