This is just a question I would like to know about other WordPress bloggers. When we log into our WordPress backend, we are taken to the deault dashboard where there are different widgts displaying information from WordPress, plugins, comments, etc.
This question is to know what widgets you are showing. I know some plugin developers are using this area to display a widget showing information from their site (RSS feed) or on the plugin itself (updates). I don’t really like that and tend to disable it ASAP. I think it would be better if the developer set the option to ‘No’ and the user themself can select if they want to see it.
My WordPress backend dashboard widgets are:
- Right Now
- Incoming Links (minimized)
- WordPress News
- WordPress Development Blog
- Recent Drafts
- Recent Comments

WordPress - Right Now Dashboard Widget

Do you have many widgets showing on your dashboard? Do they relate to some of the plugins you have installed? Do you know of a plugin which can enhance your WordPress dashboard?
Final Thought
It would be interesting to know what you have showing, so that we can see what are the most popular dashboard widgets. All comments and feedback welcomed, so please let me know.
I am the proud owner of Serradinho Blog and have made this my second home. I'm into blogging, downloads, WordPress, meeting and helping others, etc. Basically the internet in general :) Serradinho Web Services is my own company whereby I offer my services to clients. This ranges from web design, website upgrades, theme customizations, support, premium WordPress plugins and many more .....
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{ 32 comments }
i have the default set too, pretty much the same things like the incoming links that i love to check again and again
and the “right now” thing which says the amount of comments is reaching about 500 now 
.-= Uttoran Sen´s last blog ..3 Tips to Remove Duplicate Content Issues from Wordpress Blog =-.
@Uttoran Sen – thanks for letting me know, nice to know what others are showing.
Hi,
I also have WP users online widget showing on my dashboard. It displays the current no. of online users on the blog and also tells the sources from which they entered your blog
.-= Raj´s last blog ..Smart People write goals to achieve them, Do you? =-.
@Raj – thanks for your feedback, seems many bloggers are using the basics with a small change here and there.
Aside from the default widgets, there’s only the Pretty Link widget there which I prefer to keep for quick access.
.-= James Moralde´s last blog ..Help Save MySQL =-.
@James – nice to know, it’s nice to keep things simple, but also have quick access to sections/functions within the backend.
Rightnow, recent comment, recent draft, incomming links, and Submission
It’s enough for me
.-= Minh´s last blog ..Bằng chứng nhận séc (check) của Adbrite =-.
@Minh – what is Submission? Is that for any plugin? I’m asking at I don’t have it.
I regularly check one widget on my dashboard: wordpress stats. There are many other widgets. I never thought about them before reading this post
.-= John Samuel´s last blog ..Blog Or Browse: Daily Dose of Blogging and Browsing Tips =-.
@John Samuel – I just thought of asking the questions, very curious to know what others use.
Yep, pretty much the same as you. I’d like to know how to disable this and enable only ones I want to see.
=-.
.-= Dennis Edell´s last blog ..Send me your best articles, I’ll send you my best traffic!
@Dennis – it’s simple to disable, look for ‘Screen options’ on top and click the down arrow. There you can select which ones to see and hide. I hope that helped you?
I always check for the incoming link in my wordpress dashboard. However, i think the default setting would be good for me. Thanks for sharing!
.-= Kok Siong Chen´s last blog ..MCF-7 – Human Breast Cancer Cell Line =-.
@Kok Siong Chen – thanks for your feedback, seems the majority like the default widgets.
I’m sorting the same dashboard that your sporting George, I do want to look for a few plugins for the dashboard for other purposes. Not sure exactly what yet though.
.-= Extreme John´s last blog ..How To Get Free Products To Review On Your Blog =-.
@Extreme John – Nice to know. I will also see if I can find some great plugins for the dashboard and will share with you all.
I have the same ones you listed, plus one for Meet Your Commenters plugin, which shows all of the social links related to each of your commenters (Blogs, Twitter, LinkedIn, MyBlogLog, etc.). The neat part is that it also shows a list of all of your posts that this person has commented on. It’s a great way to connect with your readers in other areas and get to know more about them.
~ Kristi
.-= Kikolani´s last blog ..Best of Blogging on Kikolani in 2009 =-.
@Kikolani – thanks for your feedback, much appreciated. I will have a look at the plugin you mentioned, sounds very interesting and I might install it. Thanks for sharing that.
Nothing much, just the same with what you have.
.-= steppinout´s last blog ..8 Domain Parking / Maintenance Mode Wordpress Themes and Plugins =-.
Sorry for that, also use Zemanta
Apart from the default set, i have Feed Burner Right Now Stats, WP Stats, GD Press Tools and GD star rating!
.-= Pubudu Kodikara´s last blog ..How To Set Up Wordpress in Your Home PC =-.
I have default and also have OIO Publisher and WP Stats.
.-= Sahil Kotak´s last blog ..Why A Blogger Should Use Twitter? =-.
@Sahil – thanks for your feedback. Nice to know what others are showing.
I already changed ‘WordPress News’ & ‘WordPress Development Blog’ with two blog feed which I want to read everyday and every time. Beside that I always love to see ‘Right Now’ section. It sometime boost my confident. I already share 943 post and want to reach 1000 mark before 1st January 2010.
.-= Arafat Hossain Piyada´s last blog ..Checkout ASUS P7H55-M Pro Motherboard Leaked Information =-.
@Arafat – I agree with you about the ‘Right Now’ widget. So you want to publish 57 posts before 2010, that sounds hectic with the time left. Let me know if you reach that goal
WordPress News
Recent Drafts
Recent Comments
and some widget updates from RSS.
.-= Naruto_thf90´s last blog ..Theme Giáng Sinh dành cho Windows 7 =-.
@Naruto_thf90 – thanks for your feedback, much appreciated.
I guess the standard ones that come with WordPress. I used to install the WordPress.com traffic graph. It was cool to see but rather pointless since I check my Analytic traffic every morning anyway lol
So I took it out to speed up my administration area a little bit
.-= Michael Aulia @CravingTech´s last blog ..Panda Cloud Antivirus 1.0 Release =-.
1. Analytics
2. Incoming Links
3. Summary
4. Recent Comments.
@Ramkumar – Thanks for your feedback, makes it a bit clearer now.
I’m using all in one seo, comment luv, askmet, site map and adsense integrator. I’m new to wordpress and not sure which need tweaking. Thanks for your tips.
@claire – some nice plugins you are using. Maybe also go have a look at ‘Super Cache’, it helps a lot when your site gets visitors.
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