Dark Mode for WP Dashboard

How well this listing is tuned to rank in WordPress.org search, on the factors an owner controls. Not popularity, optimization.

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

How often this plugin actually ships. A steady rhythm is the maintenance signal a single "last updated" date can't show.

Share of active installs on each version of this plugin · 54% run the current release. Green is the current release; a big slice on older versions is a user base that has stopped updating.

Modeled within the band wp.org reports; tightens as we track daily.

At the current install trend, crossing 4K+ in roughly 621 days.

No paid tier is visible, so we don't put a figure on revenue or sale value: that would be guessing. The install base is a real asset to an acquirer, just not one public data lets us price. A small install base leaves thin data to model from.

1. ★★★★★ rasbeni

   2mo ago

   Amazing, lightweight, and it just works! Simple to use; download, activate, and DONE. I’ve used others in and they just don’t work like they should. This one is perfect for my needs.I like the toggle switch on the top bar to easily turn it off/on without having to click through settings, etc. Excellent plugin.

   Read on wp.org ↗
2. ★★★★★ jh20001

   3mo ago

   I tried several options to help darken up the admin sections, some of which have come and gone because they just weren’t updated much beyond initial release. Most of them were haphazard and either broke the admin section in odd ways or just didn’t look right. I remember one went completely overkill, making it impossible to use any plugins like AIOSEO. Then came this plugin. It was the closest thing to perfect, then got better, and finally became the plugin I stuck with. In the latest update, things changed a little, causing a few problems, but the plugin author was on top of it, quickly rolling out a fix. Much appreciate, and heavily enjoyed. This is quite possibly the best dark mode option you’ll ever find.

   Read on wp.org ↗
3. ★★★★★ itwm7719

   10mo ago

   outstanding!!! Best!!!

   Read on wp.org ↗
4. ★★★★★ vander25

   11mo ago

   Works great. So much nicer on the eyes.

   Read on wp.org ↗
5. ★★★★★ tonyquicktech

   1.9y ago

   This plugin does exactly what it says it will do. 5/5. BUT, there is an error being generated, possibly because the plugin hasn’t been maintained for a long time, that causes the post creation page to not fully switch to dark mode. Which is sad, because that’s what I mainly want to use it for. But hey, if the dev gets that fixed, we are back to the best dark mode plugin. I love the decision to not make any spammy “premium” features. Just hope the dev is okay.

   Read on wp.org ↗
6. ★★★★★ grdesign

   2.2y ago

   Huge help and I use it a lot, but the template parts page looks wonky with it on.

   Read on wp.org ↗
7. ★★★★★ JJNW

   2.3y ago

   WOW AMAZING – even has a Toggle button to enable/disable anytime. It is so comf on the eyes. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!! For free!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

   Read on wp.org ↗
8. ★★★★★ texjer

   2.5y ago

   Here is an error when I edit a user: Warning: Undefined array key “dark_mode_dashboard” in wp-content/plugins/dark-mode-for-wp-dashboard/dark-mode-dashboard.php on line 74Warning: Cannot modify header information – headers already sent by (output started at /wp-content/plugins/dark-mode-for-wn-dashboard/dark-mode-dashboard.php: 74) in /wp-includes/pluggable.php on line 1435

   Read on wp.org ↗

Recent releases and news for this plugin

1. — Version 1.3.4 Fixed: activating the plugin made the Gutenberg Custom HTML block preview render the site’s 404 page inside the sandboxed preview iframe (with console sandbox violations). Caused by a leftover reference to a deleted edit 1.3.4
2. — Version 1.3.3 Fixed: jQuery UI autocomplete dropdowns (tags, classic editor) now readable in dark mode Fixed: Command palette (⌘K) icons and “No results found” text were invisible (dark on dark) Fixed: Admin bar kbd shortcut badge no 1.3.3
3. — Version 1.3.2 Added: dark_mode_dashboard_editor_canvas filter to disable editor canvas dark mode Fixed: Editor toggle now properly reverts Classic Editor content area to light mode 1.3.2
4. — Version 1.3.1 Added: SmartCrawl SEO support Added: Smush support Fixed: Form table left/right padding on settings pages 1.3.1
5. — Version 1.3.0 Complete CSS rewrite using CSS custom properties (design tokens) Full block editor support including editor canvas (iframe) Full Site Editor (FSE) support Instant toggle — no page reload needed Auto mode: follows your OS 1.3.0
6. — Version 1.2.4 Update: Added nonce to requests 1.2.4

1 disclosed vulnerability on record for this plugin, fixed in the current version. Sites on older versions stay exposed until they update.

1. Medium · 4.3 Dark Mode for WP Dashboard <= 1.2.3 - Cross-Site Request Forgery ↗
   2024-08-16 CVE-2024-43325 Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) Affects <= 1.2.3 Patched in 1.2.4

Automated install-time checks, tested on PHP 8.1.12 · WP 7.0

Growth timeline

Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow

1. 2026-08-21 2K+ → 3K+ up after 243 days in tier
2. 2025-12-21 3K+ → 2K+ down after 39 days in tier
3. 2025-11-12 2K+ → 3K+ up after 1 days in tier
4. 2025-11-11 3K+ → 2K+ down after 1 days in tier
5. 2025-11-10 2K+ → 3K+ up after 24 days in tier
6. 2025-10-17 3K+ → 2K+ down after 1 days in tier
7. 2025-10-16 2K+ → 3K+ up after 2 days in tier
8. 2025-10-14 3K+ → 2K+ down after 1 days in tier

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).

• Markdown Editor (Formerly Dark Mode) 1K+ installs · 3.4★ · 3 shared tags C
• Dark Mode Toggle 2K+ installs · 4.3★ · 2 shared tags A
• DarkMySite – Advanced Dark Mode Plugin for WordPress 1K+ installs · 4.3★ · 2 shared tags B
• DarkLooks – Dark Mode Switcher For WordPress 900+ installs · 4.4★ · 2 shared tags A
• Darkify – Dark Mode & Night Mode for Website & Admin (Dark Theme Included) 700+ installs · 4.5★ · 2 shared tags A
• Zephyr Admin Theme 200+ installs · 4.2★ · 2 shared tags C

Embed this report card

Drop a live Pulse card for Dark Mode for WP Dashboard into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.

Dark Mode for WP Dashboard: 3K+ active installs, 4.8★ (30 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-08-29. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/dark-mode-for-wp-dashboard