Changing the Footer in Your WordPress Admin Panel

Would you like to update the message at the bottom of your WordPress admin panel? By default, the footer simply states that your site is built with WordPress and displays the version number. However, you might want to customize it to credit yourself as the theme developer, promote a plugin’s pro version, or provide support links for clients.

Why Change the Admin Panel Footer?

The default footer in your WordPress admin area is basic and often goes unnoticed. It includes a link to the WordPress homepage and shows the current WordPress version. If there’s an update available, the link changes to prompt you to update your site.

Methods to Change the Footer

There are two methods to change the footer text in the WordPress admin panel:

Method 1: Using WPCode (Recommended)

This method uses the WPCode plugin, which simplifies adding code snippets safely to your WordPress site without directly editing theme files.

1. Install WPCode: First, install and activate the WPCode plugin on your WordPress site.
2. Add Snippet: Navigate to Code Snippets » + Add Snippet. Search for ‘footer’ and select ‘Change Admin Panel Footer Text’. Click ‘Use snippet’.
3. Edit Snippet: Customize the $footer_text variable to your desired message using HTML if necessary. Activate the snippet and update.

Method 2: Manual Method (Advanced Users)

This method involves adding code directly to your theme’s functions.php file, which is recommended for users familiar with coding and site management.

1. Access Theme Files: Connect to your site via FTP or use your hosting provider’s file manager to locate /wp-content/themes/your_theme/.
2. Edit functions.php: Open functions.php in a text editor and add the provided PHP code snippet. Customize the $footer_text variable as needed.
3. Save Changes: Save the functions.php file. The updated footer text will appear immediately in your WordPress admin panel.

Conclusion

Changing the footer in your WordPress admin panel allows you to personalize your site and provide valuable information or links for users. Whether using a plugin like WPCode or manually editing theme files, these methods give you the flexibility to enhance your WordPress admin experience.