DarkAdmin – Dark Mode for Adminpanel

1. 

   Settings Page - Default (Dark Mode off)

2. 

   Settings Page - Dark Mode active

3. 

   Dashboard - Default (Dark Mode off)

4. 

   Dashboard - Dark Mode active

Does this affect the frontend?

No. It only loads CSS in wp-admin.

Where are the settings?

Settings > DarkAdmin

Can I customize the colors?

Yes. The plugin includes multiple color pickers for the complete admin theme and also supports additional custom CSS.

What is Auto Dark Mode?

An optional second toggle that uses JavaScript to dynamically darken bright backgrounds and lighten dark text from third-party plugins not covered by the built-in stylesheet. Requires Dark Mode to be active.

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0.2.2

• Fixed Plugin Details dialog footer color

0.2.1

• Lowered minimum WordPress version requirement from 6.7 to 6.3
• Dark mode styles for Thickbox modal (plugin details dialog): background, text, links, buttons and close button fully themed via --adm-* variables
• Fixed theme overlay header navigation buttons (.theme-overlay .theme-header .left / .right / .close): applied background, color and border: none using --adm-* variables in both darkadmin-dark.css and darkadmin-wp-modern.css
• Fixed #contextual-help-back button styling: background, border and color now use --adm-* tokens in both CSS presets
• Fixed: consolidated duplicate darkadmin_get_preset_fallbacks() definition and inline fallback helper functions in defaults.php and enqueue.php into single canonical helpers
• Fixed: removed unused $presets variable in enqueue.php admin_enqueue_scripts callback
• Fixed: misplaced <!-- .adm-preset-layout --> HTML comment in settings-page.php (was on inner preview panel </div> instead of outer .adm-preset-layout </div>)
• Fixed: moved translators: comment outside sprintf() onto the line directly above __() so PHPCS WordPress.WP.I18n.MissingTranslatorsComment detects it correctly (settings-page.php)

0.2.0

• Raised minimum WordPress version to 6.7
• Raised minimum PHP version requirement to 8.0 (already required by existing use of str_starts_with, str_contains and named arguments)
• Added defer loading strategy to darkadmin-settings-js and darkadmin-auto-darken via the strategy argument introduced in WordPress 6.3
• Fixed: replaced inline echo ” in settings-page.php with wp_add_inline_script()
• Fixed: replaced anonymous arrow function sanitize callbacks in register_setting() with named functions darkadmin_sanitize_bool(), darkadmin_sanitize_user_ids() and darkadmin_sanitize_preset()
• Fixed: used strict boolean check (true === $value) instead of loose cast in darkadmin_sanitize_bool()
• Fixed: removed direct $_POST access in darkadmin_sanitize_colors() and darkadmin_sanitize_layout(); preset value now read from $input array
• Fixed: added shadow_md value validation against a safe CSS pattern in darkadmin_sanitize_layout()
• Fixed: added late escaping via wp_strip_all_tags() to both wp_add_inline_style() calls for $vars and $custom
• Fixed: renamed generic JS object names admData and admI18n to darkadminData and darkadminI18n in enqueue.php and settings.js
• Added i18n string “Copied!” to enqueue.php via wp_localize_script (darkadminI18n.copied)
• Fixed: replaced hardcoded ‘Copied!’ string in settings.js initVarCopy() with darkadminI18n.copied for full translateability
• Fixed: replaced innerHTML with textContent in initVarCopy() to prevent potential XSS
• Updated all language files (.pot, de_AT, de_DE, en_US): added Copied! / Kopiert! translation, bumped version to 0.1.3, updated timestamps
• Fixed: added missing @package DarkAdmin tag to darkadmin.php file comment
• Fixed: add_filter() and add_action() calls in darkadmin.php now comply with WPCS multi-line function call rules (opening parenthesis last on line, one argument per line, closing parenthesis on its own line)
• Fixed: equals sign alignment for $has_users in settings-page.php (7 spaces expected)
• Fixed: closing PHP tag not on its own line in settings-page.php ($prev assignment block)
• Fixed: opening PHP tag not on its own line in settings-page.php ($current_color block)
• Fixed: replaced short ternary ?: with explicit isset() check and full ternary for $current_color in settings-page.php
• Fixed: incorrect indentation in settings-page.php (10 tabs expected, 9 found)
• Fixed: Yoda conditions for all comparisons in settings-page.php
• Fixed: replaced inline control structure with braced block in settings-page.php
• Fixed: replaced $_GET[‘page’] with get_current_screen() in enqueue.php to avoid direct superglobal access
• Fixed: added current_user_can() capability check at the top of darkadmin_settings_page() in settings-page.php
• Fixed: added missing darkadmin_layout option cleanup in uninstall.php
• Fixed: proper UTF-8 umlauts in readme-de.txt (replaced ASCII substitutions with correct characters)
• Fixed: replaced escaped HTML entity checkmark with literal UTF-8 character in preset button (settings-page.php)

0.1.2

• Added dedicated Sidebar color group with three new tokens: Sidebar Background (–adm-sidebar-bg), Sidebar Active Item (–adm-sidebar-active) and Sidebar Text (–adm-sidebar-text)
• Added sidebar token translations to all language files (de_AT, de_DE, en_US, .pot, .l10n.php)
• Added layout token system (spacing, radius, shadow) with per-preset defaults and settings UI
• Unified layout tokens across presets, added layout JS handlers, updated all language files
• Added .adm-layout-grid CSS: 4-column grid with responsive breakpoints and dark mode overrides
• Improved color picker swatch display in settings page
• Fixed translators comment and phpcs:ignore placement in settings-page.php
• Fixed: replaced & HTML entity with literal UTF-8 ampersand in i18n strings (settings-page.php)
• Fixed: replaced PHP \u2713 escape with literal UTF-8 checkmark character in admin notice strings
• Fixed: replaced ✓ HTML entity with literal UTF-8 checkmark in preset button PHP and all .po files
• Fixed: replaced ASCII-escaped umlauts with proper UTF-8 characters in all language files, added missing msgids (checkmark Active, em-dash in admin notice)
• Updated darkadmin-dark.css and darkadmin-wp-modern.css

0.1.1

• Fixed uninstall.php: corrected all option names from wrong adm_ prefix to darkadmin_ prefix so options are properly removed on plugin deletion

0.1.0

• Added support for excluded pages in settings
• Added user access control (include/exclude users)
• Added preset themes (default and modern)
• Fixed critical JS bugs in preset and reset functionality
• Fixed missing closing brace in initPaletteIO() importFile block in settings.js
• Fixed XSS vulnerability in printf output (settings-page.php)
• Fixed Unicode escapes in language files: replaced \uXXXX sequences with literal UTF-8 characters
• Added admI18n JS localization via wp_localize_script for translated UI strings
• Removed redundant wp-color-picker script enqueue
• Added .l10n.php language cache files for all locales (de_AT, de_DE, en_US) with ABSPATH protection
• Added hex validation for JSON palette imports
• Updated documentation for new features

0.0.10

• Extended Themes section: added dark styling for .theme-browser .theme .theme-name, .theme-overlay .theme-actions, .theme-overlay .theme-tags, .theme-overlay .theme-header .theme-title, .theme-overlay .theme-author, .theme-overlay .theme-version and .theme-overlay .theme-rating .star-rating .star
• Added Theme Editor / Template Side section: dark styling for #templateside > ul, .importer-title and .color-option.selected / .color-option:hover
• Reduced .cm-error background opacity from .15 to .05 for a more subtle error highlight in CodeMirror
• All changes applied to both darkadmin-dark.css and darkadmin-wp-modern.css
• Fixed invalid control sequences in all language files (de_AT, de_DE, en_US, .pot): replaced \uXXXX Unicode escapes with literal UTF-8 characters to resolve msgfmt compilation errors
• User Access: Include and Exclude options are now greyed out and non-clickable when no non-administrator users exist (disabled radio input + CSS pointer-events: none)
• User Access: replaced plain text fallback with a styled empty-state block (centered layout, dashed border, large icon)
• i18n: added missing string “No non-administrator users found. Create additional users to manage their dark mode access here.” to .pot, de_AT, de_DE and en_US language files

0.0.9

• Added Preset Themes: choose between Default (WP 6.x classic dark) and Modern (WP 7.0 deep blue, glassmorphism-inspired) color palettes
• Each preset ships with its own CSS file (darkadmin-dark.css / darkadmin-modern.css) loaded dynamically based on the active preset
• Added adm_preset option with live preset switching on the settings page
• Added per-user Dark Mode: administrators always have dark mode, non-admin users can be individually enabled via a new User Access card
• Added live color preview: color picker changes update CSS variables instantly without saving
• Added Export / Import palette as JSON file
• Added custom CSS sanitizer (adm_sanitize_custom_css) — preserves valid CSS while stripping dangerous HTML/PHP tags
• Added CSS cache-busting based on md5 hash of current color values
• Refactored plugin into modular includes: defaults.php, user-settings.php, enqueue.php, settings-page.php
• Added uninstall.php to clean up all options on plugin removal
• Color pickers now grouped by category (Backgrounds, Surfaces, Borders, Text, Links, Brand, CodeMirror) on the settings page
• Expanded color tokens from 23 to 34 (new: bg_bar, bg_deep, bg_darker, table_alt, plugin_inactive, border_hover, text_on_primary, link_hover, primary_hover, cm_keyword-cm_bracket)

0.0.8

• Fixed invisible text in .widefat tables (update-core.php and similar pages): override WP core rule .widefat ol, .widefat p, .widefat ul { color: #2c3338 } with dark theme color token

0.0.7

• Added version to darkadmin-dark.css header comment

0.0.6

• Updated Text Domain from darkadmin to darkadmin-dark-mode-for-adminpanel to match the wordpress.org plugin slug
• Updated Plugin URI to https://wordpress.org/plugins/darkadmin-dark-mode-for-adminpanel/
• Updated all language files (.po, .pot) to new text domain

0.0.5

• Rebranded plugin from “WP Admin Dark Mode” to “DarkAdmin – Dark Mode for Adminpanel”
• Renamed main plugin file from wp-admin-dark-mode.php to darkadmin.php
• Renamed CSS file from wp-admin-dark.css to darkadmin-dark.css
• Updated text domain from wp-admin-dark-mode to darkadmin
• Updated all language files (de_AT, de_DE, en_US, .pot) to new darkadmin text domain
• Updated settings menu slug from wp-admin-dark-mode to darkadmin
• Updated plugin folder reference in readme to /wp-content/plugins/darkadmin/

0.0.4

• Added Auto Dark Mode option: optional JS-based pass that dynamically darkens bright backgrounds and lightens dark text from unknown plugins using WCAG luminance calculations
• Auto Dark Mode uses a MutationObserver to also handle AJAX-loaded content
• Fixed color picker swatch visibility: removed background-color from .wp-color-result in CSS so WP’s inline style shows the swatch correctly
• Updated all translation files (de_AT, de_DE, en_US, .pot) with new Auto Dark Mode strings

0.0.3

• Full CSS overhaul with a token-based design system for backgrounds, surfaces, borders, text, links, buttons and semantic states
• Added new customizable color variables: surface1, surface2, surface3, text_soft and danger
• Increased the number of adjustable color tokens from 9 to 13
• Fixed the Add Plugin / page title action button styling so text stays readable in dark mode
• Fixed the WordPress Color Picker button styling by preserving the inline swatch background and styling only the text section
• Improved spacing, sizing and proportions to better match native WordPress admin UI defaults
• Extracted the settings page styles into a dedicated assets/css/settings.css file
• Reworked the settings page layout for cleaner spacing and more consistent component styling
• Improved plugin list styling, row actions, tables, notices, form controls, dashboard elements and navigation tabs
• Removed unwanted colored shadows / blue row highlight artifacts in plugin tables

0.0.2

• Redesigned settings page with card-based layout, page header with status badge and version display
• Added individual color customization for 9 dark mode colors via WordPress Color Picker
• Added “Restore Default Colors” button to reset all colors to the WordPress sidebar palette
• Added Custom CSS editor field to inject additional styles after the dark mode stylesheet
• All dark mode colors are now driven by CSS custom properties (–adm-bg, –adm-card, etc.)
• Base background color changed to #1d2327 (native WordPress sidebar color)
• Fully optimized dark mode CSS: Admin Bar, Sidebar, Buttons, Forms, Tables, Notices, Gutenberg, Media, Screen Options, Dashboard Widgets
• Settings page itself adapts to dark mode when active

0.0.1

• Initial development release.