In Short: Unlock hidden WordPress features and time-saving tips that improve website management, speed up your workflow, and make running your site easier.

If you’ve spent any time working with WordPress, you know it’s packed with tools — but many of its best features are easy to overlook. From speeding up your workflow to simplifying your dashboard, here are a few hidden WordPress features you may have missed.

Screen Options

Almost hidden in the top right corner of your WordPress dashboard is a small white tab called Screen Options. Clicking it reveals a menu of settings you can customize for whichever section of the dashboard you’re currently viewing. One especially helpful option is Number of items per page. If you manage dozens of posts or pages, the default of 20 can be frustrating. Increase the number to view everything on a single screen without endless clicking. (Tip: keep it under 75 items per page or it could impact website performance.)

Bonus: Hide or display specific fields for posts and pages. For example, if you never use a Featured Image, uncheck it in Screen Options and streamline your editing view.

Drag, Drop, and Minimize

WordPress lets you reorganize your editing screen to fit your workflow. Just grab a section and drag and drop it into the left or right column, or click the arrow icon to minimize sections you don’t use often. These preferences apply across all posts and pages, so once you’ve arranged your dashboard, it stays that way.

Changing Table Columns and Order

On index pages (like Posts or Pages), you can adjust which columns you see using Screen Options. Hide unnecessary ones (such as Author or Date) to reduce clutter. You can also drag column headers into a new order or click the up/down arrows to sort items alphabetically or by date. For even more customization, tools like Admin Columns Pro expand your options and give you total control over what your index pages look like.

Use Quick Edit

The Quick Edit link (visible when you hover over a post or page title) is a huge time-saver. Instead of loading the full editor, Quick Edit lets you update the title or slug, switch a draft to published, add tags, or change categories — all without leaving the index screen. This is particularly useful when making small changes to multiple posts at once.

Key Points Summary:

• Use Screen Options to customize what you see and increase items per page.
• Drag, drop, and minimize sections in your editor to streamline workflow.
• Rearrange and hide table columns on index pages for better organization.
• Quick Edit posts and pages for faster updates without loading the full editor.

Need help getting the most out of WordPress? At Site Mender, we specialize in WordPress design, maintenance, and training to help businesses use every feature effectively. Contact us today to learn how we can streamline and secure your site.