Remove Plugin Action Links From Plugin List Easily

gptAI

10 min read

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11-15- 2024

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Removing plugin action links from your WordPress plugin list can help streamline your dashboard and reduce clutter, making it easier to manage your site. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or a WordPress newbie, this guide will walk you through the process step by step, ensuring you have a cleaner and more organized interface.

Understanding Plugin Action Links

In WordPress, each plugin usually comes with its own set of action links located directly under the plugin name in the plugin list. These action links can include options such as Activate, Deactivate, Delete, and any custom links added by the plugin developer. While these links are useful, they can also clutter your plugin list, especially if you are managing multiple plugins.

Why Remove Action Links?

There are several reasons you might want to remove these links:

• Clutter Reduction: Too many action links can make your interface confusing and overwhelming.
• User Experience: A cleaner interface enhances usability, especially for users who may not be familiar with WordPress.
• Security: Reducing the number of visible options can minimize the risk of accidental clicks that could disrupt your site.

How to Remove Plugin Action Links

Removing plugin action links can be done in several ways, ranging from simple code snippets to using a specialized plugin. Below, we’ll explore various methods you can use:

Method 1: Using Code Snippets

One of the simplest ways to remove action links is to add a small code snippet to your theme’s functions.php file. Here’s how to do it:

1. Access Your Theme’s Functions File:

   • Go to your WordPress Dashboard.
   • Navigate to Appearance > Theme Editor.
   • Locate the functions.php file from the list on the right side.

2. Add the Code: Add the following code snippet to the end of the functions.php file:

   function remove_plugin_action_links($actions, $plugin_file) {
       // Specify the plugin you want to target
       if (isset($actions['activate'])) {
           unset($actions['activate']);
       }
       if (isset($actions['deactivate'])) {
           unset($actions['deactivate']);
       }
       if (isset($actions['delete'])) {
           unset($actions['delete']);
       }
       return $actions;
   }
   add_filter('plugin_action_links', 'remove_plugin_action_links', 10, 2);
   

   In this code, we check for the action links we want to remove and unset them.

3. Save Changes: After adding the code, click on the Update File button to save your changes.

Important Note

Always create a backup of your website before modifying theme files. Changes to functions.php can cause your site to crash if not done properly.

Method 2: Using a Custom Plugin

If you prefer to keep your modifications separate from your theme, you can create a custom plugin to remove action links:

1. Create a Custom Plugin:

   • Navigate to wp-content/plugins using FTP or your hosting file manager.
   • Create a new folder named remove-plugin-links.
   • Inside that folder, create a file named remove-plugin-links.php.

2. Add the Plugin Header: At the beginning of the remove-plugin-links.php file, add the following code:

3. Include the Code Snippet: Below the header, add the previous code snippet:

   function remove_plugin_action_links($actions, $plugin_file) {
       if (isset($actions['activate'])) {
           unset($actions['activate']);
       }
       if (isset($actions['deactivate'])) {
           unset($actions['deactivate']);
       }
       if (isset($actions['delete'])) {
           unset($actions['delete']);
       }
       return $actions;
   }
   add_filter('plugin_action_links', 'remove_plugin_action_links', 10, 2);
   

4. Activate Your Plugin:

   • Go to your WordPress dashboard.
   • Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins.
   • Find Remove Plugin Action Links and click on Activate.