Table of contents

Why you might want to remove the Customize optionMethod 1: Remove Customize using a pluginMethod 2: Remove Customize by adding code to functions.phpOptional: Remove Customize for specific user roles onlyCommon issues to watch out forCan you re-enable Customize later?Troubleshooting tipsNext stepsAdditional resources

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WordPress Guide → Admin → Remove Customize From Admin Menu

How to remove Customize from a WordPress admin menu

Sometimes you want to simplify the WordPress dashboard, especially if you’re building a site for clients, teams, or contributors. One of the common changes is removing the Customize link from the WordPress admin menu.

Here’s how to do it safely and cleanly.

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Why you might want to remove the Customize option

There are plenty of good reasons to hide the Customize link from the Appearance menu in WordPress:

Simplifies the admin area for clients or contributors who don’t need full control over the site’s design.
Prevents accidental changes to theme settings and site appearance.
Improves security by restricting access to tools that can expose theme or widget settings.
Keeps workflows clean if you’re using a block-based theme and don’t rely on the Customizer anymore.

Methods to remove Customize from the admin menu

There are two primary ways to remove the Customize link from the dashboard:

With a plugin (good for non-coders)
With a code snippet (good for developers or users comfortable editing files)

Method 1: Remove Customize using a plugin

If you want to avoid editing code, the Admin Menu Editor plugin is the easiest way to manage menu visibility.

Go to Plugins > Add New in your dashboard.
Search for Admin Menu Editor and click Install Now, then Activate.
In your dashboard, navigate to Settings > Menu Editor.
Scroll to the Appearance > Customize item in the menu tree.
Click the gear icon, then check Hide this item or restrict visibility by role.
Click Save Changes.

That’s it—Customize is now hidden from the WordPress admin menu.

You can also use User Role Editor if your goal is to restrict access based on user capabilities rather than change the menu structure directly.

Method 2: Remove Customize by adding code to functions.php

If you’d rather not install another plugin, you can remove the menu item manually by editing your theme’s code.

In the dashboard, go to Appearance > Theme File Editor.
Open the functions.php file of your active theme (ideally a child theme).
Scroll to the bottom and paste in the following code:

function remove_customize_from_admin_menu() {
    global $submenu;
    if (isset($submenu['themes.php'])) {
        foreach ($submenu['themes.php'] as $index => $menu_item) {
            if (in_array('customize.php', $menu_item)) {
                unset($submenu['themes.php'][$index]);
            }
        }
    }
}
add_action('admin_menu', 'remove_customize_from_admin_menu', 999);

Click Update File to save.
Refresh your dashboard to confirm that Customize is gone.

Optional: Remove Customize for specific user roles only

You can also remove Customize conditionally, for example, hiding it from Editors but not Admins. Use this snippet instead:

function remove_customize_for_non_admin() {
    if (!current_user_can('manage_options')) {
        remove_submenu_page('themes.php', 'customize.php');
    }
}
add_action('admin_menu', 'remove_customize_for_non_admin', 999);

This keeps the Customize link available for Admins but hides it for everyone else.

Common issues to watch out for

Hiding admin menu items can affect usability or plugin functionality if not tested correctly. A few tips:

Use a staging site to test changes before pushing to production.
Use a child theme if editing functions.php, so updates don’t overwrite your changes.
Avoid conflicts with plugins that rely on the Customizer, like theme settings or header builders.

If your theme or plugins depend heavily on the Customizer, removing it could cause confusion or even break workflows for users.

Can you re-enable Customize later?

Absolutely. If you used a plugin, just re-enable the menu item in the plugin settings.
If you added a code snippet, remove or comment it out in functions.php, save the file, and the Customize option will return right away.

Getting started with removing Customize from a WordPress admin menu

Removing the Customize option from the WordPress admin menu is a simple but powerful way to streamline your dashboard. Whether you use a plugin or a short code snippet, it only takes a few minutes to make your backend cleaner and more secure.

If you’re managing multiple client sites or roles, go with the Admin Menu Editor plugin for full control. If you’re building a custom theme or want to avoid extra plugins, the functions.php method works just as well.

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