Once you log in, you land on the Dashboard — WordPress's home screen. This guide is your map to the two main navigation tools you'll use constantly: the admin menu on the left and the toolbar across the top.

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The full WordPress Dashboard, with the admin menu on the left labeled

The admin menu (left sidebar)

This vertical menu is where every task begins. Here's what each item does:

Menu item What it's for
Dashboard The home/summary screen
Posts Your blog — create, edit, and organize blog posts
Media Every image and file you've uploaded
Pages Your website's core pages (Home, About, Services, Contact, etc.)
Comments Reader comments on blog posts, waiting for your approval
Appearance Menus, and — depending on your site — logo, colors, and footer content
Plugins Add-on features installed on your site
Users Accounts for you and your team
Settings Site-wide preferences (mostly configured by us already)
Hover to expand Hover over (or click) any menu item with a submenu — like Posts or Pages — to see options like "All Posts," "Add New," and "Categories" without leaving the page you're on.

The toolbar (top bar)

A slim bar runs across the very top of the screen whenever you're logged in — including when you're viewing your live website. It gives you quick shortcuts:

  • Site name (far left) — takes you back to your live website
  • + New — a shortcut to create a new post, page, or media upload
  • Comments icon — jumps straight to pending comments
  • Your name (far right) — edit your profile or log out
A handy trick While browsing your live website while logged in, this toolbar still appears at the top. Hover over any page to see an "Edit Page" link — a fast shortcut straight into editing that exact page.

Where to go next

Now that you know your way around, jump to the task you actually need: