Admin Search
Admin Search adds a simple, easy-to-use interface to your WordPress admin site that gives you and your admin users the ability to search across multip …
The facts
- Rating
- 4.5★ from 18
- Active installs
- 1k+
- Price
- Free
- Last updated
- 28 May 2026
- Added
- Mar 2020
- Requires WP
- 4.9.2
- Tested up to
- WP 7.0.4
- Requires PHP
- 5.2
- Downloads
- 28,630
Our analysis
AI-assistedAdmin Search is a WordPress plugin that enhances the search functionality within the WordPress admin interface. It consolidates search results from various sources including post types, media, taxonomies, comments, users, and admin pages into a single interface. You can customize which post types and taxonomies are included in the search, as well as the number of results displayed for each.
The plugin is lightweight and offers filter hooks for users who want to extend its capabilities. This allows for modifications to the search query, sources, and results, making it suitable for users who require a more tailored search experience on their WordPress sites.
Best for: This plugin is suitable for WordPress administrators looking to improve search functionality across their site.
What it does well
- ✓Searches across multiple content types
- ✓Customizable search sources and results
- ✓Lightweight and easy to use
- ✓Supports custom post types and taxonomies
- ✓Filter hooks for deep customization
Where it falls short
- •Limited information on user experience or support
- •No details on specific customisation examples
Verdict
Admin Search provides a straightforward solution for enhancing search capabilities in the WordPress admin area, with options for customization to fit specific needs.
From the developer
Andrew Stichbury's own description of Admin Search, lightly tidied.
Admin Search makes searching your WordPress website easy by bringing results from all your post types, media, taxonomies, comments, users and admin pages together in a single, simple-to-use interface, seamlessly integrated into the WordPress admin interface.
Choose which post types and taxonomies are searched and the number of results displayed for each. Admin Search also supports custom post types and taxonomies.
Admin Search is a lightweight plugin with filter hooks for deep customization.
Features
- Search everything on your WordPress site, anywhere
- Simple and easy to use
- Sources of search results are customizable
- Extend the search query with filter hooks
Configure & Extend
Admin Search can be extended by using filter hooks. The following filters are available:
admin_search_queryto modify the search query string. The filter argument supplied is a string containing the search queryadmin_search_sourcesto modify the search sources. The filter argument supplied is an array of sources, add, remove or modify sourcesadmin_search_posts_queryto modify theWP_Queryarguments array for all searched post types. The filter argument supplied is an array ofWP_Queryarguments, add, remove or modify supported argumentsadmin_search_{Post Type}_queryto modify theWP_Queryarguments array for a specific post type. The filter argument supplied is an array ofWP_Queryarguments, add, remove or modify supported arguments. Replace {Post Type} with the name of the post type to modifyadmin_search_terms_queryto modify theget_termsarguments array for all searched terms (taxonomies). The filter argument supplied is an array ofget_termsarguments, add, remove or modify supported argumentsadmin_search_{Term}_queryto modify theget_termsarguments array for a specific term (taxonomy). The filter argument supplied is an array ofget_termsarguments, add, remove or modify supported arguments. Replace {Term} with the name of the term to modifyadmin_search_comments_queryto modify theWP_Comment_Queryarguments array for all searched comments. The filter argument supplied is an array ofWP_Comment_Queryarguments, add, remove or modify supported argumentsadmin_search_users_queryto modify theWP_User_Queryarguments array for all searched users. The filter argument supplied is an array ofadmin_search_users_queryarguments, add, remove or modify supported argumentsadmin_search_website_titlesto modify the labels array for external websites. The filter argument supplied is an array of predefined domains and titles, add, remove or modify domains and titlesadmin_search_pre_resultsandadmin_search_post_resultsto modify the results array before or after results are appended to the array. The filter argument supplied is an empty array foradmin_search_pre_resultsor search results for a given query foradmin_search_post_results, add, remove or modify result itemsadmin_search_fieldsto modify the searchable fields array. The filter argument supplied is an array of searchable fields (post_title,post_name,post_excerptandpost_content)admin_search_meta_queriesto add custom fields to the searchable fields array. The filter argument supplied is an empty array. Use this filter instead ofadmin_search_fieldswhen adding custom fields
Examples:
Modify the query string before a search is initiated
// Correct the spelling of dog when searching
add_filter( 'admin_search_query', function( $query ) {
if ( 'dog' === $query ) {
$query = 'doggo';
}
return $query;
} );
Modify the WP_Query parameters before a search is initiated
// Exclude post with the ID 96
add_filter( 'admin_search_posts_query', function( $query ) {
$query['post__not_in'] = array( 96 );
return $query;
} );
Add a custom field to the searchable fields
// Add the price custom field to the searchable fields
add_filter( 'admin_search_meta_queries', function( $fields, $post_type ) {
if ( 'post' === $post_type ) {
$fields[] = 'price';
}
return $fields;
}, 10, 2 );
Modify the search results after a search has initiated