WP Dash Message
The plugin allows the user to write a message for a new widget box that appears at the top of the dashboard. This can be accomplished on both a site and network level. The site level options are available on the site’s…
Consider an alternative
WP Dash Message shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 200+ sites, is rated 5/5 and was last updated 15 years ago, and scores 33/100 on our health check.
- Small user base (200+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 14 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 3.3 (latest is 7.1)
How does it stack up?
Side-by-side on installs, updates, ratings & support
Daily downloads
Download spikes usually follow a new release — each site that auto-updates counts as a download.
Rankings
Where WP Dash Message stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| dash | >100 |
| dashboard | >100 |
| dashboard widget | >100 |
| welcome | >100 |
| widget | >100 |
Version adoption
Share of active sites per release.
Rating breakdown
★★★★★★★★★★ 5 from 2 reviews
About WP Dash Message
From the official readme · v1.1.2Description
The plugin allows the user to write a message for a new widget box that appears at the top of the dashboard.
This can be accomplished on both a site and network level. The site level options are available on the site’s
dashboard settings tab called “Dashboard Message”, while the network level options are found on the Network
Settings tab on the Network Admin dashboard. Network level messages are displayed after site level messages
in the message box.
The header of the dashboard box/widget is “Welcome, (user’s display name goes here)” by default.
1.0.2 UPDATE: The dashboard message now appears on the global dashboard as well. Pushed out network level entry field bug fixes as well.
1.1.0 UPDATE: The plugin now also enables you to REMOVE any dashboard widgets you wish to from any of the dashboards. This means that you can disable network, site, and global dashboard widgets.
Network and global (the dashboard new users without a blog/site typically see) dashboard widgets can be removed through the “Network Settings” page (Network Dashboard -> Settings -> Network Settings).
Site dashboard widgets can be removed from both the “Network Settings” page and from the “Dashboard Message” settings page (Dashboard -> Settings -> Dashboard Message). PLEASE NOTE that if a site dashboard widget is disabled through the network settings, site admins will not be able to re-enable it through the “Dashboard Message” settings page.
1.1.1 UPDATE: Optimization.
1.1.2 UPDATE: Small bug fix.
GOALS FOR FUTURE UPDATES:
Colour options would be great to add for a customized look.
Please NOTE: Some users may not have the Welcome box appear at the top of the Dashboard. This usually happens
if the user has rearranged the boxes on the Dashboard previously.
–This widget was developed with the help of the WordPress Codex, Tutorials, and Help Forums–
Installation
This section describes how to install the plugin and get it working.
- Upload the “wp-dash-message” folder to the “/wp-content/plugins/” directory
- Activate the plugin through the ‘Plugins’ menu in WordPress
- To enter text in your widget on a network level go to the “Network Settings” tab on the “Network Admin” dashboard
- To enter text in your widget on a site level go to the site’s dashboard settings tab called “Dashboard Message”
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to have the current background colour on the widget?
It depends on how much work you are willing to do. The colour is set by CSS code in the php file (which can be edited, but keep in mind that any changes made may be wiped by an update that we may create. We are looking at enabling the user to have a choice of background colours for the next update.
Why is my dashboard not displaying properly?
This issue is caused by some HTML syntax errors. Check your site level or network entry and ensure that your HTML code is clean. We are hoping to introduce a filter for the most common syntax errors in our next patch; however, clear and clean text and HTML code is recommended nonetheless.
Changelog
Small bug fix.
1.1.2
Small bug fix.
1.1.1
Mostly code optimization and elimination of all debug notices.
1.1.0
The plugin now also enables you to REMOVE any dashboard widgets you wish to from any of the dashboards. This means that you can disable network, site, and global dashboard widgets! Additionally, fixed bug which occurred during dashboard message widget generation in the global dashboard.
1.0.2
The dashboard message now appears on the global dashboard as well. Network level entry field filter has been fixed along with a number of other errors regarding network level entries (most notably single and double quotes being passed through improperly).
1.0.1
The message box title has been changed to display the user’s display name instead of first and last name as not all users enter their first and last names and this led to some users having a lonesome “Welcome, “.
Screenshots
For developers
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Best WP Dash Message alternatives
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FAQ
WP Dash Message: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 8, 2026
Is WP Dash Message free?
Yes. WP Dash Message is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is WP Dash Message safe to use in 2026?
WP Dash Message shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 200+ sites, is rated 5/5 and was last updated 15 years ago, and scores 33/100 on our health check.
How many websites use WP Dash Message?
WP Dash Message is active on 200+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 10,171 times since it launched in July 2011. It was downloaded 100 times in the last 30 days.
Does WP Dash Message work with WordPress 7.1?
WP Dash Message is officially tested up to WordPress 3.3.2, while the latest release is 7.1.3. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.
When was WP Dash Message last updated?
The latest version, 1.1.2, was released on December 22, 2011 (15 years ago).
Who makes WP Dash Message?
WP Dash Message is developed and maintained by Aleksandar Arsovski.
What are the best alternatives to WP Dash Message?
The most popular alternatives to WP Dash Message are Dash Effortless Digital Ass… (30+ installs), Undo WordPress Default Form… (10+ installs) and ZW Player Video Embed (10+ installs).
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