Dark Mode for WP Dashboard
by Naiche · Admin & Utilities
Also makes 5 other plugins · 3.1K+ installs across the portfolio →
A clean, lightweight dark mode for the WordPress admin dashboard.
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
A 91/100
no flags
Active installs
3K+
≈3.2K estimated
Momentum
-34%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Swap “accessibility” and “admin theme” for “mode” and “wordpress admin dashboard”. “accessibility” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “mode” sits at #5 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “admin theme” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “wordpress admin dashboard” sits at #10 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
91 health vs 56 average across 5,897 Admin & Utilities plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →4.4%
of downloads still active
At least 3K of 68.8K lifetime downloads are still running, above its category: the median Admin & Utilities plugin keeps 0.6%, across 4,190 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 11 releases 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
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
Most to gain: Support resolution
Updated 27 days ago
Tested up to WordPress 7.1.4, the current branch or newer
4.8★ over 34 reviews, smoothed to 4.38★
5 of 5 tags set · short description in place
2 of 3 support threads resolved in the last 2 months
To rank higher: Mark more forum threads resolved — the resolved ratio feeds the ranking.
Get the full rank-higher report →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.
28
Momentum
Losing ground
-1.6
Velocity
places per keyword, 28d
4%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 28d
-1.1
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| dark | #2 | #2 | 0 |
| dark mode your tag | #2 | #2 | 0 |
| dark web | #1 | #1 | — |
| night mode your tag | #3 | #3 | down 1 |
| mode | #5 | #6 | down 1 |
| dark site | #2 | #2 | — |
| go dark | #2 | #2 | 0 |
| wordpress dark mode | #2 | #2 | 0 |
| wordpress night mode | #2 | #2 | 0 |
| wp dark | #2 | #3 | up 1 |
| wp dark mode | #2 | #2 | 0 |
| dark ui | #2 | #2 | 0 |
| dark mode plugin | #2 | #2 | 0 |
| night mode on off | #2 | #2 | 0 |
| dark theme | #5 | #5 | 0 |
| night mode for wordpress | #3 | #3 | 0 |
| website night mode | #3 | #3 | 0 |
| dark mode toggle | #3 | #3 | 0 |
| wp dashboard | #10 | #17 | 0 |
| dashboard your tag | #10 | #12 | down 1 |
| accessibility your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| admin theme your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
133 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 20 listed. 94 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 “accessibility” and “admin theme” for “mode” and “wordpress admin dashboard”. “accessibility” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “mode” sits at #5 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “admin theme” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “wordpress admin dashboard” sits at #10 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 7.5K · 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
Actively maintainedHow often this plugin actually ships. A steady rhythm is the maintenance signal a single "last updated" date can't show.
11
releases in the last 12 months
27d ago
latest release · v1.3.11 · 5 Oct 2026
28
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare 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.
Estimated active installs
The public count shows “3K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 2 months ago and a band this size takes about a year or more to cross, so the real count is still just over 3K.
At the current install trend, crossing 4K+ in roughly 126 days.
Install history since 7 Dec 2020
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ rasbeni4mo 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 ↗ - ★★★★★ jh200015mo 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 ↗ - ★★★★★ itwm77191.0y ago
outstanding!!! Best!!!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ vander251.0y ago
Works great. So much nicer on the eyes.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ tonyquicktech2.0y 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 ↗ - ★★★★★ grdesign2.4y ago
Huge help and I use it a lot, but the template parts page looks wonky with it on.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ JJNW2.5y 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 ↗ - ★★★★★ texjer2.7y 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 ↗
Latest updates
via wp.org changelogRecent releases and news for this plugin
- — 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
- — 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
- — 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
- — Version 1.3.1 Added: SmartCrawl SEO support Added: Smush support Fixed: Form table left/right padding on settings pages 1.3.1
- — 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
- — Version 1.2.4 Update: Added nonce to requests 1.2.4
Security history
via Wordfence IntelligenceThe 1 disclosed vulnerability is patched in the current version (1.3.11). Sites still on an older version should update.
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.
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
4 of 8 pass · checked 28 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 3 questions in the FAQ.
- ✓ FAQ asks real questions 3 of 3 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 Mentions WooCommerce, Block editor, Yoast, Advanced Custom Fields and 1 more.
- ! Headings and lists 0 headings and 3 lists; assistants quote headed sections and bullet lists, not paragraphs.
- ✓ Enough to quote 1,399 characters of description.
- ! Tags match the text Only 2 of 5 tags appear in the text ("accessibility", "admin theme", "Night Mode" missing).
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2026-08-21 2K+ → 3K+ up after 243 days in tier
- 2025-12-21 3K+ → 2K+ down after 39 days in tier
- 2025-11-12 2K+ → 3K+ up after 1 days in tier
- 2025-11-11 3K+ → 2K+ down after 1 days in tier
- 2025-11-10 2K+ → 3K+ up after 24 days in tier
- 2025-10-17 3K+ → 2K+ down after 1 days in tier
- 2025-10-16 2K+ → 3K+ up after 2 days in tier
- 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).
-
Dark Mode – Improve Accessibility with AI Powered Dark Theme 20K+ installs · 4.5★ · 3 shared tags A -
Markdown Editor (Formerly Dark Mode) 1K+ installs · 3.4★ · 3 shared tags C -
Dark Mode Toggle 2K+ installs · 4.3★ · 2 shared tags A -
Darkify – Dark Mode & Night Mode for Website & Admin (Dark Theme Included) 1K+ installs · 4.5★ · 2 shared tags A -
DarkMySite – Advanced Dark Mode Plugin for WordPress 900+ installs · 4.3★ · 2 shared tags B -
DarkLooks – Dark Mode Switcher For WordPress 800+ installs · 4.4★ · 2 shared tags B
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.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/dark-mode-for-wp-dashboard" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Dark Mode for WP Dashboard — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> Dark Mode for WP Dashboard: 3K+ active installs, 4.8★ (34 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-11-01. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/dark-mode-for-wp-dashboard
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