Automattic

Daniel López Sánchez

Roberto Aranda

<p>Desktop Mode renders /wp-admin as a desktop operating system. Admin screens open as draggable, resizable, minimizable windows on a desktop, with a left-edge dock built from the admin menu. The classic admin stays untouched for everyone else, and deactivating the plugin restores vanilla Core exactly.</p>
<p>Built and maintained by <a href="https://automattic.com" rel="nofollow ugc">Automattic</a> — the company behind WordPress.com, Jetpack, WooCommerce, and Tumblr. Zero Core patches: every feature is wired through public WordPress hooks.</p>
<h4>Highlights</h4>
<ul>
<li><strong>Per-user opt-in.</strong> An admin-bar toggle flips a user-meta flag; nobody else sees any change.</li>
<li><strong>Window system.</strong> Iframe windows load admin pages chromelessly. Native windows render directly in the parent DOM via a public registration API. Both share drag, resize, minimize, maximize, fullscreen, and detach-to-new-tab.</li>
<li><strong>Dock + taskbar.</strong> Left-edge dock for core menus; bottom macOS-style pill taskbar for plugin menus. Letter-badge icon fallback for plugins without icon art.</li>
<li><strong>Virtual desktops (“Spaces”).</strong> Multiple desktops per user, each with its own window set. Overview grid surfaces the Spaces switcher and thumbnails.</li>
<li><strong>Arrange & snap.</strong> Cascade, Tile, Overview, Snap-to-grid. Plugins contribute custom entries.</li>
<li><strong>Wallpaper & widget registries.</strong> Server- and client-side registration. CSS presets plus canvas (WebGL/2D) wallpapers with collision-aware surface data for snow/rain/physics effects.</li>
<li><strong>Desktop icons.</strong> Wallpaper-layer shortcuts that open native windows or admin URLs.</li>
<li><strong>AI Copilot (optional).</strong> Cmd+K palette backed by an agentic loop with built-in search tools. Disabled until you supply an API key. See “External services” below.</li>
<li><strong>Slash commands & palettes.</strong> Public registration APIs for plugin authors.</li>
<li><strong>Cross-frame drag bridge.</strong> Media-library attachments drag across iframe boundaries.</li>
<li><strong>Session persistence.</strong> Window stack (including desktops, focus, state) restored across reloads.</li>
<li><strong>i18n.</strong> Full gettext coverage across PHP and TypeScript; Spanish translation shipped.</li>
</ul>
<h4>For plugin authors</h4>
<p>Desktop Mode is built to be extended. Every significant behavior is hookable — add a desktop icon, register a dock item, gate desktop mode by role, react to window events, or register a native window, all from your own plugin with zero patches here.</p>
<p>Comprehensive PHP and JavaScript hook surface, plus stable <code>desktop_mode_register_*</code> functions for windows, widgets, wallpapers, icons, window tabs, commands, settings tabs, and AI tools. See the <a href="https://github.com/WordPress/desktop-mode/tree/trunk/docs" rel="nofollow ugc">developer docs on GitHub</a>.</p>
<h4>External services</h4>
<p>This plugin’s optional <strong>AI Copilot</strong> sends data to <strong>OpenAI</strong> (<code>https://api.openai.com/v1/responses</code>) when, and only when, an administrator configures an OpenAI API key in <strong>Settings <span aria-hidden="true" class="wp-exclude-emoji">→</span> AI</strong>. With no key configured, no external requests are made.</p>
<p>When the AI Copilot is enabled and a user invokes it (via Cmd+K or the slash-command palette):</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>What is sent:</strong> the user’s prompt, the conversation history for the active session, the chosen model identifier (e.g. <code>gpt-4o-mini</code>), and tool-call metadata. The plugin’s built-in tools (<code>search_posts</code>, <code>search_pages</code>, <code>search_comments</code>) run WordPress’s native keyword search and may include excerpts of the matching posts/pages/comments in tool results, which are then sent back to OpenAI as part of the agentic loop.</li>
<li><strong>When it is sent:</strong> on user-initiated AI requests, and (if enabled) on comment-save hooks for spam analysis. Comment spam analysis runs server-side as part of the comment-insert flow. Posts, pages, and taxonomy terms are not sent automatically.</li>
<li><strong>Why it is sent:</strong> to obtain model completions and tool-call decisions that drive the AI Copilot.</li>
<li><strong>Who provides the service:</strong> OpenAI, L.L.C. — see the <a href="https://openai.com/policies/row-terms-of-use/" rel="nofollow ugc">OpenAI Terms of Use</a> and the <a href="https://openai.com/policies/row-privacy-policy/" rel="nofollow ugc">OpenAI Privacy Policy</a>.</li>
</ul>
<p>The AI Copilot’s provider layer is also extensible: third-party plugins may register additional providers via <code>desktop_mode_register_ai_provider()</code>. Those providers may send data to other endpoints; review each plugin’s own privacy disclosure separately.</p>
<p>No other external services are contacted by this plugin.</p>
<h3>Credits</h3>
<p>Desktop Mode is brought to you by <a href="https://automattic.com" rel="nofollow ugc">Automattic</a>. The plugin is open source under GPLv2-or-later; contributions are welcome on <a href="https://github.com/WordPress/desktop-mode" rel="nofollow ugc">GitHub</a>.</p>
<h4>Third-party libraries</h4>
<p>The plugin bundles the following third-party JavaScript library, loaded on demand only when a feature that needs it is in use:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong><a href="https://pixijs.com/" rel="nofollow ugc">PixiJS</a></strong> (MIT License) — used by the interactive <strong>OS Settings <span aria-hidden="true" class="wp-exclude-emoji">→</span> About</strong> scene, the <strong>Content Graph</strong> window, and built-in canvas wallpapers (e.g. the animated WordPress logo). PixiJS is loaded from the plugin’s own <code>assets/vendor/</code> directory; no CDN requests are made.</li>
</ul>


Desktop Mode


Great for apps and for keeping focused on the job.


Very interesting experience


Un-freaking-believable !Ok, may be more than one word. This will be beyond excellent when completed and some of the bugs are fixed. I hope one thing returns that was there in the earlier versions - if you clicked anywhere on the desktop, all open "windows" (folders) would minimize, and once minimized, clicking on the desktop again, all the windows would come back. Now, we have to right mouse click and choose a menu option to do those things - WHY?Anyway, love this plugin, it has some interesting ways to show some things... the new screens are really good.


One Word !


Really interesting concept and one of the more unique WordPress admin experience plugins I’ve tested recently.



I especially like the desktop/workspace direction and the overall creativity behind the UI.



I spend a lot of time testing modern admin/workspace plugins and Desktop Mode definitely stands out with its own approach.



Looking forward to seeing how the project evolves 👌






Modern and creative admin experience


This plugin blowed my mind. It turns your wordpress admin in such a beautiful dashboard. What an experience. Contratulations to the owners of the project!


One word... Wow!

Reimagines the WordPress admin as a desktop OS with draggable windows and a dock. Per-user opt-in. By Automattic.

explorersoft

<p>Explorer Soft Admin Shell transforms the classic WordPress admin into a modern desktop-style workspace.</p>
<p>Instead of constantly switching tabs and navigating crowded admin menus, you can work with draggable windows, desktop shortcuts, multiple workspaces, native dashboard apps, and a real taskbar experience directly inside WordPress.</p>
<p>The result is a faster, cleaner and more productive admin workflow that feels closer to a modern operating system than a traditional wp-admin panel.</p>
<p>Perfect for:</p>
<ul>
<li>WordPress power users</li>
<li>WooCommerce stores</li>
<li>Agencies</li>
<li>Developers</li>
<li>Content teams</li>
<li>Busy administrators</li>
</ul>
<h4>Main Features</h4>
<ul>
<li>Desktop-style WordPress experience – turn wp-admin into a real desktop environment with windows, icons, taskbar and Start menu.</li>
<li>Draggable admin windows – open and manage multiple WordPress admin pages simultaneously.</li>
<li>Multiple desktops / Spaces – separate workflows for content, WooCommerce, maintenance, analytics and more.</li>
<li>Native dashboard apps – includes Operations Center and Site Insights dashboards for fast operational monitoring.</li>
<li>Command Palette – quickly launch admin pages, actions and apps using keyboard shortcuts.</li>
<li>Taskbar and window management – minimize, maximize, restore and organize your workflow like a desktop operating system.</li>
<li>Custom shortcuts and folders – create your own desktop layout with custom admin shortcuts and folders.</li>
<li>Wallpapers, themes and widgets – personalize your workspace with themes, backgrounds, clock widgets and optional feeds.</li>
<li>WooCommerce integration – quick access to products, orders, reporting and operational alerts.</li>
<li>Privacy-friendly – no tracking and no external requests by default.</li>
</ul>
<h4>Designed for Real Productivity</h4>
<p>Explorer Soft Admin Shell is not just a visual redesign.</p>
<p>It changes the way administrators interact with WordPress by reducing navigation friction, improving multitasking and creating a more focused workspace for daily operations.</p>
<p>The classic WordPress admin remains fully available at all times and can be opened instantly from the taskbar or direct admin links.</p>
<h4>Included Native Apps</h4>
<ul>
<li>Operations Center – monitor updates, WooCommerce activity, scheduled tasks, moderation queues, security baselines and system health from a centralized dashboard.</li>
<li>Site Insights – view WooCommerce metrics, registrations, content activity, runtime health and operational summaries in a native desktop window.</li>
</ul>
<h4>Keyboard Shortcuts</h4>
<ul>
<li>Command Palette: Ctrl+Shift+K or Alt+K</li>
<li>Switch desktops: Ctrl+Alt+Left / Right</li>
<li>Direct desktop access: Ctrl+Alt+1..9</li>
</ul>
<h4>Privacy & External Services</h4>
<p>Explorer Soft Admin Shell does not track users and does not contact external services by default.</p>
<p>Optional widgets such as Weather and RSS News are disabled until enabled and configured by the current user.</p>
<h4>Important</h4>
<p>Explorer Soft Admin Shell becomes the default admin landing experience after activation, while the classic WordPress admin always remains accessible.</p>
<p>Custom shortcut targets are limited to the current site’s WordPress admin area. The default View site shortcut opens the current site’s public home URL.</p>
<h3>External services</h3>
<p>Explorer Soft Admin Shell does not track users and does not contact third-party services by default. External requests are only made after the current user enables the related widget and configures the provider or feed.</p>
<h4>Native admin dashboards</h4>
<p>Operations Center and Site insights are admin-only native dashboard windows. They use local WordPress, WooCommerce, cron, Action Scheduler, runtime and server information available to the current site and current user. They do not contact third-party services.</p>
<h4>Weather services</h4>
<p>The Weather widget is disabled by default. When enabled, the user’s browser contacts the selected weather provider to show live conditions. The configured location is sent to the selected provider when the widget loads or refreshes. API keys, when used, are stored only in the current user’s saved desktop layout.</p>
<p>Supported weather providers:</p>
<ul>
<li>Open-Meteo geocoding and forecast APIs, used to find the configured location and load current weather without an API key. Terms and privacy: https://open-meteo.com/en/terms</li>
<li>OpenWeatherMap current weather API, used only when the user selects OpenWeatherMap and enters an API key. Terms: https://openweathermap.org/terms Privacy: https://openweathermap.org/privacy-policy</li>
<li>WeatherAPI.com current weather API, used only when the user selects WeatherAPI.com and enters an API key. Terms: https://www.weatherapi.com/terms.aspx Privacy: https://www.weatherapi.com/privacy.aspx</li>
<li>Custom JSON endpoint, used only when the user enters a custom endpoint. The configured location and API key placeholders may be sent to that custom URL depending on the URL entered by the user.</li>
</ul>
<h4>RSS news services</h4>
<p>The News widget is disabled by default. When enabled, WordPress uses its feed functions to request the configured RSS feed URL from the server and display headlines. The RSS feed URL is sent when the widget loads or refreshes. Preset feeds are optional conveniences; users can choose a custom RSS feed instead.</p>
<p>Preset RSS providers:</p>
<ul>
<li>CoinDesk RSS. Terms: https://www.coindesk.com/terms/ Privacy: https://www.coindesk.com/privacy</li>
<li>Cointelegraph RSS. Terms and privacy: https://cointelegraph.com/terms-and-privacy</li>
<li>BBC News RSS. Terms: https://www.bbc.co.uk/usingthebbc/terms/ Privacy: https://www.bbc.co.uk/usingthebbc/privacy/</li>
<li>Le Monde RSS. Terms: https://www.lemonde.fr/en/help/article/2026/03/19/general-terms-and-conditions_6751600_106.html Privacy: https://www.lemonde.fr/confidentialite/</li>
<li>TechCrunch RSS. Terms: https://techcrunch.com/terms-of-service/ Privacy: https://techcrunch.com/privacy-policy/</li>
<li>The Verge RSS. Terms: https://www.voxmedia.com/legal/terms-of-use Privacy: https://www.voxmedia.com/legal/privacy-notice</li>
<li>WordPress.org News RSS. Terms: https://wordpress.org/about/terms-of-service/ Privacy: https://wordpress.org/about/privacy/</li>
</ul>


Explorer Soft Admin Shell

Transforms the classic WordPress admin into a modern desktop-style workspace with windows, shortcuts, Spaces, native dashboard apps, and a taskbar.

Desktop Mode vs Explorer Soft Admin Shell