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Free Plugin by required v3.0.1

Widget Disable

Disable sidebar and dashboard widgets with an easy to use interface.

Widget Disable

The facts

Rating
4.8★ from 24
Active installs
10k+
Price
Free
Last updated
17 Jul 2026
Added
Apr 2015
Requires WP
6.0
Tested up to
WP 7.0.4
Requires PHP
7.4
Downloads
188,766

Our analysis

AI-assisted

Widget Disable is a WordPress plugin that enables you to disable sidebar and dashboard widgets on your site. It features a user-friendly interface accessible to users with edit_theme_options capabilities, typically Administrators, found under Appearance -> Disable Widgets. Once settings are saved, the specified widgets are removed from view for the user.

This plugin is suitable for site administrators who want to streamline their WordPress dashboard and sidebar by removing unnecessary widgets, enhancing the user experience for themselves and other users with similar permissions.

Best for: This plugin is best for WordPress site administrators looking to customise their dashboard and sidebar.

What it does well

  • Allows disabling of sidebar and dashboard widgets
  • User-friendly interface for easy management
  • Accessible to users with edit_theme_options capabilities
  • Regularly updated, with the latest version released in July 2026
  • High rating of 4.8 out of 5 from 24 ratings

Where it falls short

  • Limited to users with Administrator permissions
  • No additional features beyond widget disabling

Verdict

Widget Disable offers a straightforward solution for managing widgets in WordPress. It is a useful tool for those who want to simplify their site's interface.

From the developer

required's own description of Widget Disable, lightly tidied.

This simple plugin allows you to disable any sidebar and dashboard widget for the current WordPress site you are on. It provides a simple user interface available to users with edit_theme_options capabilities (usually Administrator role) available under Appearance -> Disable Widgets.
After saving the settings, the sidebar and dashboard widgets are removed from and the user can’t see those widgets anymore.

Developer? Get to know the hooks

Have a look at the filters we provide:

  • wp_widget_disable_default_sidebar_widgets – Allows you to exclude certain sidebar widgets from being disabled.
  • wp_widget_disable_default_dashboard_widgets – Allows you to exclude certain dashboard widgets from being disabled.

Contributions

If you would like to contribute to this plugin, report an issue or anything like that, please note that we develop this plugin on GitHub.

Developed by required

Read the full description on the official page →

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