What Are WordPress Screen Options?

WordPress Screen Options are customizable display settings located in the top-right corner of many admin pages. They allow users to:

• Show or hide dashboard elements
• Customize columns in post and page lists
• Adjust how many items appear per page
• Enable hidden editing features
• Simplify the WordPress admin interface

Each admin screen has its own unique Screen Options menu, so the settings you see will change depending on where you are in the dashboard.

Where to Find Screen Options in WordPress

You can locate the Screen Options tab in the upper-right corner of many WordPress admin pages, including:

• Dashboard
• Posts
• Pages
• Media Library
• Comments
• Users
• Appearance menus
• Plugin screens

Simply click the tab to expand the available options.

How to Use Screen Options in WordPress

Using Screen Options is simple:

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Navigate to the page you want to customize.
3. Click the Screen Options tab in the top-right corner.
4. Check or uncheck the available boxes.
5. Save or apply changes if prompted.

Your preferences are automatically saved for your user account, so the layout stays customized each time you log in.

Common Ways to Customize Screen Options

1. Show or Hide Dashboard Widgets

On the main WordPress dashboard, Screen Options lets you control which widgets appear, such as:

• Activity
• Quick Draft
• WordPress Events & News
• Site Health
• Plugin widgets

This is useful for reducing clutter and focusing on the tools you use most.

2. Customize Posts and Pages Screens

When viewing your Posts or Pages list, you can use Screen Options to:

• Display or hide columns like Author, Categories, Tags, and Comments
• Change the number of posts shown per page
• Switch between compact and extended view modes

These adjustments help content managers work more efficiently on large websites.

3. Enable Hidden Editing Features

While editing posts or pages, Screen Options can reveal additional tools such as:

• Featured Image
• Excerpt
• Discussion settings
• Custom Fields
• Slug settings
• Author settings

If a feature seems “missing” in WordPress, there’s a good chance it’s simply hidden inside Screen Options.

4. Customize Navigation Menus

On the Appearance → Menus screen, Screen Options lets you enable advanced menu items like:

• CSS Classes
• Link Targets
• Descriptions
• Categories
• Tags
• Custom Post Types

This is especially useful for developers and advanced WordPress users building custom navigation menus.

Screen Options in the Gutenberg Editor

If you use the WordPress block editor (Gutenberg), Screen Options work a little differently.

Instead of the classic “Screen Options” tab, many settings are located under the three-dot menu in the top-right corner of the editor. From there, you can customize editor preferences, enable advanced panels, and manage layout settings.

Why Screen Options Matter

Many WordPress users overlook Screen Options, but they can significantly improve productivity by:

• Reducing visual clutter
• Speeding up content management
• Revealing hidden tools
• Creating a more personalized workflow
• Making WordPress easier for beginners

For agencies and developers, Screen Options also help simplify the admin experience for clients and editors.

Troubleshooting WordPress Screen Options

If Screen Options are missing or not working properly, common causes include:

• Plugin conflicts
• Outdated themes
• WordPress version issues
• Changes introduced by the block editor
• User role restrictions

Updating WordPress, temporarily disabling plugins, or switching themes can often resolve the issue.

Final Thoughts

The WordPress Screen Options feature is one of the easiest ways to customize your dashboard and improve your workflow. Whether you want a cleaner editing experience or need access to advanced settings, Screen Options give you greater control over how WordPress works for you.

If you spend a lot of time managing content in WordPress, taking a few minutes to personalize your admin screens can make a noticeable difference in efficiency and usability.