Mike Walsh

The 2.5 release dramatically changed the layout of the WordPress Dashboard. 
This plugin implements an admin theme which results in the Dashboard looking 
similar (but not exactly) to how it looked prior to the 2.5 release. This is 
implemented using CSS declarations which take precedence over those shipped 
with WordPress.
This plugin also supports Andy Staines’ <a href="http://www.stuff.yellowswordfish.com/admin-drop-down-menus/" title="Advanced Admin Menus" rel="nofollow ugc">Advanced Admin Menus</a> and similarly 
employs CSS declarations which take precendence over those shipped with the 
plugin. The result is Advanced Admin Menus which look closer to those shipped 
in Andy’s pre-2.5 plugin. The required “click” to activate a menu remains.
This plugin has been tested (but not exhaustively) with IE7, Firefox 2.x, 
Apple’s Safari all running on the Windows platform. No other testing has 
been performed. I personally use IE most of the time but that is largely 
due to some thing I use at work which require IE.
<h3>Credits</h3>
I got the idea to do this after looking at the 
<a href="http://deanjrobinson.com/projects/fluency-admin/" title="Fluency Admin There" rel="nofollow ugc">Fluency Admin Theme</a>, 
which doesn’t support IE or I probably would have used it, and the 
<a href="https://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/baltic-amber-admin-themes-and-schemes/" title="Baltic Amber">Baltic Amber</a> theme. 
Fluency redesigns the Dashboard and Baltic Amber offers multiple color choices 
for the Dashboard. After seeing how Baltic Amber loaded, I realized I 
could do something similar for the CSS declarations I wanted to change. 
It was surprisingly easy.

Retro-Dashboard Admin Theme

This plugin implements an admin theme which results in the Dashboard looking similar (but not…

Chris Jean

WordPress has a built-in feature to install themes and plugins by supplying a zip file. Unfortunately, you cannot upgrade a theme or plugin using the same process. Instead, WordPress will say “destination already exists” when trying to upgrade using a zip file and will fail to upgrade the theme or plugin.
Easy Theme and Plugin Upgrades fixes this limitation in WordPress by automatically upgrading the theme or plugin if it already exists.
While upgrading, a backup copy of the old theme or plugin is first created. This allows you to install the old version in case of problems with the new version.
Attention: Version 2.0.0 changed the functionality of the plugin. You are no longer required to select “Yes” from a drop down before the theme or plugin can be upgraded. The need for an upgrade is now detected automatically. So, if you are used to the old functionality of the plugin, do not be concerned about the absence of upgrade details on the theme and plugin upload pages. Simply upload the theme or plugin as if you were installing it, and the plugin will automatically handle upgrading as needed.

Easy Theme and Plugin Upgrades

This is a great plugin, and works exactly as intended.

Works great!


This was a GREAT plugin and I used it for years, but WordPress core does this now, so the plugin is no longer needed.  Thank you for your great work all these years.


No longer needed

Easily upgrade your themes and plugins using zip files without removing the theme or plugin first.

Retro-Dashboard Admin Theme vs Easy Theme and Plugin Upgrades