# Dark Mode for wp-admin (Per User)

> Adds a "Dark mode" checkbox to each user's profile that switches the whole admin area to a dark look, with images and videos kept in their real colors.

- Type: PHP
- Runs: Admin only
- Category: [Admin](https://wpide.com/library/category/admin/)
- Tags: dark-mode, admin, accessibility
- Author: WPIDE Team
- Installs: 0
- Updated: 2026-10-28
- Page: https://wpide.com/library/admin-dark-mode-per-user/

## Code

```php
add_action( 'personal_options', function ( $user ) {
    wp_nonce_field( 'wpide_dark_mode', 'wpide_dark_nonce' );
    printf(
        '<tr><th scope="row">Dark mode</th><td><label><input type="checkbox" name="wpide_dark_mode" value="1" %s> Use a dark admin area</label></td></tr>',
        checked( get_user_meta( $user->ID, 'wpide_dark_mode', true ), '1', false )
    );
} );

$wpide_save_dark_mode = function ( $user_id ) {
    if ( ! current_user_can( 'edit_user', $user_id ) || ! isset( $_POST['wpide_dark_nonce'] ) || ! wp_verify_nonce( sanitize_key( $_POST['wpide_dark_nonce'] ), 'wpide_dark_mode' ) ) {
        return;
    }
    update_user_meta( $user_id, 'wpide_dark_mode', empty( $_POST['wpide_dark_mode'] ) ? '0' : '1' );
};
add_action( 'personal_options_update', $wpide_save_dark_mode );
add_action( 'edit_user_profile_update', $wpide_save_dark_mode );

add_action( 'admin_head', function () {
    if ( '1' !== get_user_meta( get_current_user_id(), 'wpide_dark_mode', true ) ) {
        return;
    }
    ?>
    <style>
    html { filter: invert(.92) hue-rotate(180deg); background: #fff; }
    img, video, iframe, picture, canvas, .wp-color-result, .theme-screenshot, .attachment-preview .thumbnail, .editor-styles-wrapper, .block-editor-iframe__container { filter: invert(1) hue-rotate(180deg); }
    .editor-styles-wrapper img, .editor-styles-wrapper video { filter: none; }
    </style>
    <?php
} );
```

## Notes

The theme uses a CSS filter, so a few plugin screens may look slightly off; the block editor canvas keeps your theme's real colors.

## How to use it

Install the free WPIDE plugin (https://wordpress.org/plugins/wpide/), find "Dark Mode for wp-admin (Per User)" in its snippet library and add it in one click; or create a new PHP snippet in WPIDE (or any code snippets plugin) and paste the code above. More snippets: https://wpide.com/library/