How to Change Plugin Name in WordPress Dashboard

In WordPress dashboard – changing a plugin’s name has different meanings for WordPress admins.

A plugin’s name refers to the WordPress dashboard‘s left panel label.

Usually, users don’t need to change plugin details on the dashboard. If, for example, changing a plugin’s data is undeniable, customizing the WordPress dashboard, branding, or client’s requirements might weigh more importance in such cases.

In this resource, we will learn how to change the name of a WordPress plugin in the dashboard. The process includes changing source files, preferably Functions.PHP, in the WordPress core structure or files inside a Theme’s directory.

Let’s learn how to change a plugin’s name in the WordPress dashboard without further ado.

How do you change the name of a WordPress plugin in the dashboard?

Using various methods, let’s learn how to change a plugin’s name and label in the dashboard.

Use a WordPress Plugin

Regardless of the plugin’s purpose, you can use it to change labels in WordPress. WordPress plugins help users extend WordPress functionality without learning to code or going through complex infrastructure. The plugins help you use point-and-click options to get things done in the WordPress dashboard.

Let’s discuss the matter in more detail.

In this case, you will use White Label Pro, a plugin that helps you change the labels for installed WordPress plugins. Let’s proceed and describe how the plugin works.

White Label Pro is a premium plugin; you must sign up for a paid plan.

Once purchased, installed, and activated in WordPress, the plugin lists plugins’ details under Menus & Plugins.

As shown in the “screenshot” above, you can choose and change a plugin’s details, including label, description, Author, and URL.

Once you’ve made changes, you can save them. Also, remember to check your site’s plugin list for updated labels. The plugin also helps you hide version numbers or the author’s information.

Note: Let’s learn how to change a plugin’s name with source code snippets in WordPress. You can perform coding routines for free using code snippet placements in the Functions.PHP file.

Change a Plugin’s name using Source File

Note: Before changing WordPress source files, such as PHP documents, you must take your site’s backup. Backup plans help restore your site if something goes wrong. As its name suggests, changing WordPress infrastructure manually requires knowledge of specific domains, such as WordPress core files.

Let’s describe the case in more detail.

Using cPanel -> File Manager, we can change a plugin’s name in WordPress, also known as plugin’ labels.

Head to the hosting cPanel, login and browse to File Manager. In this case, you must load the WordPress directory for installed plugins, such as the wp-content. Under the WordPress core structure, the directory contains system files, such as themes and plugin files.

For example, enter the plugin’s directory under the wp-content folder in File Manager.

Once entered, look for a PHP file, open it with the code editor, and make changes as shown below.

In this case, you must open a specific PHP file containing the plugin’s name and description. If you see multiple PHP files, ensure you have checked each one individually.

Let’s assume you’ve found the particular file. Under the plugin’s name, you can make and save changes at the end – as shown in the screenshot below.

Remember—after you’ve made changes, you can see the updated name under WordPress plugins. If, for example, a plugin creates a dashboard menu in the left panel, routines such as changing labels for separate menus in the dashboard may fail.

Also – using the above routine, you may fail to find the particular PHP file under the plugin’s directories in File Manager. In this case, you can take a different road to change the plugin’s name in WordPress.

Change a Theme’s Functions.PHP File

Let’s address and learn how to change a Theme’s Functions.PHP file to change a plugin’s label. The Functions.php file is a system file, preferably called a WordPress core file, and is one of the most sensitive files in the WordPress directory.

Let’s describe the case in more detail.

In such scenarios, changing a Theme’s Functions.PHP can help you change a plugin’s Menu Name in the WordPress dashboard. However, you may need to go through manual routines, such as editing the WordPress core file and then uploading the file to the WordPress core root.

By Menu Name, we refer to the plugin’s separate menu inside the WordPress dashboard, shown on the left panel. For more information on finding the exact labels, log into the WordPress dashboard and verify before you make changes.

Head over to the Theme Editor page in the WordPress dashboard. You need to change the Theme’s Functions.PHP file on the next page. The screen should feature the following factors:

• An editor, you can see where the content of the selected file is visible.
• A list of WordPress files, you can choose one on the right panel and see the editor with the files’ content.

After you’ve chosen the file from the right side, you can update it with a specific code snippet. Don’t forget to save changes at the end.

For the code snippet and more details, refer to this detailed tutorial.

Professional Tips

• Only change a plugin’s name in the WordPress dashboard if specifically required. Remember—if you’re not technical enough, changing source codes may damage WordPress. Changing a plugin’s name or label is personal; it doesn’t help you improve page speed, make WordPress error-free, or maintain it. However, changing a plugin’s name can only help improve user experience in a site where multiple users can log into the dashboard.
• Always take your site’s backup before you’re ready to change WordPress core files. Also, learning how to recover WordPress with backup restoration would be best. Please note that you should use the same plugin to restore a WordPress website you used to take site backups. In this case, you can use a variety of candidates, such as Up Drafts Plus.
• Sometimes, users must temporarily change the plugin’s folder name for security, maintenance, or management purposes. In this case, you can make changes using cPanel’s options, as shown above. Once completed, undo the changes. You can also use plugins for the said purpose, such as Rename Plugins Folder.
• If you’ve changed a plugin’s name in Dashboard, updating the particular plugin will override previous changes. In this case, once the plugin has finished updating, you’ll need to make changes again if you want to keep new labels longer.
• Most importantly – changing a plugin’s name may create WordPress bugs. For example – using manual maintenance routines or automated plugins, such routines may make errors while you’re restoring your site from a backup. Also, please note that you can’t enter special characters on a plugin’s label. This may create serious consequences when the plugin tries to update the WordPress database.
• You can also change a plugin’s name using the Developer’s options. Hiring WordPress support professionals, plugin developers, or Technical assistants may help if possible.
• Changing a plugin’s name might be possible using database options in WordPress. For more information on using, modifying, or managing WordPress databases, learn how to operate WordPress databases using cPanel options. In such scenarios, a cPanel interface is an area given to users once they’ve purchased a web hosting plan. Here, using various options and tools – you can manage your site’s files, change SSL settings, configure redirects, or download/upload files.

Conclusion

So – How do you change the plugin name on the WordPress Dashboard?

Changing a plugin’s name in WordPress is not recommended unless required for specific reasons, such as security purposes, maintenance routines, or one-time fixing routines.

In most cases, changing the name of a WordPress plugin helps admins improve the UX or branding for clients. However, overlooking maintenance precautions may result in WordPress disasters.

In this article, you’ve learned how to use WordPress plugin(s) to change a plugin’s label in the WordPress dashboard and change a plugin’s PHP files to display a different label in the dashboard.

If you want to change a plugin’s label in the dashboard’s plugin list and its left-panel menu name, you might need to change multiple options in the dashboard, including the plugin’s files, Theme’s Functions.PHP file, and cPanel options.

Remember to let us know your requirements, custom plans, or one-time support requirements for more options on WordPress edits, maintenance, and security precautions.