๐ง Introduction
The WordPress dashboard is the control center of your website. Every taskโwriting posts, installing themes, managing pluginsโstarts here.
If youโre new to WordPress, this complete beginner walkthrough will help you understand every important section of the WordPress dashboard with ease.
๐ What Is the WordPress Dashboard?
The WordPress dashboard is the admin area where you manage your website.
You can access it by visiting:
After logging in, youโll see the main dashboard screen.
๐งญ Dashboard Home Overview
The dashboard home shows:
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Welcome panel
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Site health
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Activity
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Quick draft
๐ These widgets give a quick overview of your website status.
๐ Posts Section (Create Blog Content)
Go to Posts โ All Posts
Here you can:
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Add new blog posts
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Edit existing posts
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Assign categories
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Add featured images
๐ PingSlash Tip:
Use Classic Editor for a clean writing experience.
๐ Pages Section (Static Pages)
Go to Pages โ All Pages
Used for:
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About Us
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Contact
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Privacy Policy
Difference:
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Posts = Blog content
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Pages = Static content
๐จ Appearance Section (Themes & Design)
Under Appearance, you can:
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Install Astra Theme
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Customize website layout
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Create menus
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Manage widgets (sidebar)
Important options:
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Themes
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Customize
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Widgets
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Menus
๐ Plugins Section (Website Features)
Go to Plugins โ Add New
Plugins add functionality like:
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SEO
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Security
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Speed optimization
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Page builders
Recommended beginner plugins:
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Classic Editor
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Yoast SEO
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WPForms
๐ค Users Section (Manage Authors)
Go to Users โ All Users
Here you can:
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Add new users
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Assign roles (Admin, Editor, Author)
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Edit profiles
๐ Perfect for multi-author blogs like PingSlash.
โ๏ธ Settings Section (Important!)
Go to Settings
Key settings to check:
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General โ Site title & tagline
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Permalinks โ Set to Post name
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Reading โ Homepage settings
โ Always use Google-friendly permalinks
๐ Tips for Beginners
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Donโt install too many plugins
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Keep WordPress updated
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Use Astra for speed
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Practice on localhost first
๐ Final Thoughts
Understanding the WordPress dashboard makes website management easy and stress-free. Once you master it, creating content and customizing your site becomes fun.
This guide is the foundation of your WordPress journey.