Admin Code Search
Admin Code Search is a lightweight developer tool that lets you search code directly from the WordPress admin area — no FTP or terminal access required.
Use with caution
Admin Code Search works, but test it on a staging site before relying on it in 2026. It runs on 50+ sites, is rated 5/5 and was last updated 3 months ago, and scores 60/100 on our health check.
- Small user base (50+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
How does it stack up?
Side-by-side on installs, updates, ratings & supportDaily downloads
Download spikes usually follow a new release — each site that auto-updates counts as a download.
Rankings
Where Admin Code Search stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| code search | #26 |
| debugging | #91 |
| developer-tools | >100 |
| search plugins | >100 |
| search themes | #66 |
Version adoption
Share of active sites per release.
Rating breakdown
★★★★★★★★★★ 5 from 1 reviews
About Admin Code Search
From the official readme · v1.2.2Description
Admin Code Search is a lightweight developer tool that lets you search code directly from the WordPress admin area — no FTP or terminal access required.
It scans active plugins, themes, and MU plugins line-by-line and shows matching results with file paths and line numbers.
Designed for quick debugging, code tracing, and locating specific hooks, functions, or strings across a site.
A simple, fast code search tool for developers working inside WordPress.
Why use Admin Code Search?
Searching through plugin and theme files manually is slow and often requires FTP, file manager access, or local copies.
Admin Code Search brings that functionality directly into wp-admin, allowing you to:
- Search plugin, theme, and MU plugin code instantly
- Locate functions, hooks, and strings across files
- Debug third-party plugins more efficiently
- Work directly on live environments without leaving WordPress
Features
- Search inside active plugins, themes, and MU plugins
- Case-sensitive or case-insensitive search
- Partial match, whole word match, or match entire line exactly
- Custom file extensions (e.g. php, js, css)
- Line-by-line scanning for better performance on large codebases
- Displays file path, line number, and highlighted match
- Shows result count summary
- Limits broad searches to the first 500 matches
- Includes a Clear button to reset the search form and results
- Excludes common heavy directories (vendor, node_modules, uploads, cache, .git, .svn)
- Admin-only access for security
Typical Use Cases
- Locate where a function or hook is defined
- Find all occurrences of a specific string
- Debug custom integrations or third-party plugins
- Debug issues without FTP access
- Quickly explore unfamiliar codebases without leaving wp-admin
Who is this for?
- WordPress developers
- Freelancers working on client sites
- Agencies maintaining multiple projects
- Anyone who needs quick code search inside WordPress
Video Demo
Watch Admin Code Search in action:
Notes
Large searches may take longer on sites with many plugins or large codebases. Results are processed in real time.
To keep output manageable, the plugin limits results to the first 500 matches and shows a warning when that limit is reached.
Privacy
This plugin does not send any data to external services.
Installation
- Upload the plugin folder to
/wp-content/plugins/ - Activate the plugin through the Plugins screen in WordPress
- Go to Tools > Code Search
- Enter a search term and run a search
Frequently asked questions
Who can use this plugin?
Only administrators or users with the manage_options capability.
What files are searched?
The plugin scans active plugin files, the active theme, the parent theme (if different), and MU plugins.
What is the difference between the match modes?
Partial match finds the search term anywhere within a line. Whole word match finds the term as a distinct word, which is useful for function and hook names. Match entire line exactly only returns results where the entire trimmed line exactly matches the search term.
Can I search file types other than PHP?
Yes. You can enter comma-separated extensions such as php,js,css,inc.
Will this affect site performance?
Search runs on demand and only when triggered by an admin. On very large sites, searches may take a few seconds.
Why do I only see 500 results?
To keep searches fast and useful, the plugin limits output to the first 500 matches. If that limit is reached, refine your search term or narrow the search scope.
Does it search WordPress core files?
No. The plugin is limited to plugins, themes, and MU plugins.
Is this plugin safe to use on production sites?
Yes. It is read-only and does not modify any files or data.
Changelog
1.2.2
- Added whole word match.
- Renamed exact line match to “Match entire line exactly” for clarity.
- Added a 500-result limit for broad searches.
- Added a warning when the result limit is reached.
- Added a Clear button to reset the search form and results.
1.2.1
- Added whole word match option.
- Renamed exact line match option to “Match entire line exactly” for clarity.
- Improved match mode labeling in the search results.
1.2.0
- Added partial match and exact line match options.
- Added MU Plugins scanning option.
- Improved search controls for better precision.
1.1.0
- Added case-sensitive search option.
- Added result count summary.
- Improved scanner handling for readable files.
1.0.0
- Initial public release.
Screenshots
For developers
Is this your plugin? Show off the numbers.
Add a live badge to your site, docs or GitHub README. It updates on its own — no account needed.
Best Admin Code Search alternatives
All code search plugins →| Rank | Plugin | Active installs |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
SniffPress
A powerful search tool that helps developers quickly find text strings within theme and…
|
70+ |
| 3 |
Holyprof Source Locator
Find where code, hooks, templates, and text are defined in your themes and plugins.
|
<10 |
FAQ
Admin Code Search: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 5, 2026
Is Admin Code Search free?
Yes. Admin Code Search is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is Admin Code Search safe to use in 2026?
Admin Code Search works, but test it on a staging site before relying on it in 2026. It runs on 50+ sites, is rated 5/5 and was last updated 3 months ago, and scores 60/100 on our health check.
How many websites use Admin Code Search?
Admin Code Search is active on 50+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 1,094 times since it launched in March 2026. It was downloaded 140 times in the last 30 days.
Does Admin Code Search work with WordPress 7.1?
Admin Code Search is officially tested up to WordPress 7.0.6, while the latest release is 7.1.2. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.
What PHP version does Admin Code Search need?
Admin Code Search requires PHP 7.4 or higher. Most hosts run PHP 8.x today, so it works on any modern WordPress hosting.
When was Admin Code Search last updated?
The latest version, 1.2.2, was released on June 22, 2026 (3 months ago).
Who makes Admin Code Search?
Admin Code Search is developed and maintained by marbak.
What are the best alternatives to Admin Code Search?
The most popular alternatives to Admin Code Search are SniffPress (70+ installs) and Holyprof Source Locator (<10 installs).
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