Title: Simple LaunchPad
Author: Rafael Minuesa
Published: <strong>November 29, 2025</strong>
Last modified: Januarie 9, 2026

---

Soek deur uitbreidings

![](https://ps.w.org/simple-launchpad/assets/banner-772x250.png?rev=3405809)

![](https://ps.w.org/simple-launchpad/assets/icon-256x256.png?rev=3405809)

# Simple LaunchPad

 Deur [Rafael Minuesa](https://profiles.wordpress.org/rafaelminuesa/)

[Laai Af](https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/simple-launchpad.3.1.5.zip)

 * [Besonderhede](https://af.wordpress.org/plugins/simple-launchpad/#description)
 * [Aanbevelings](https://af.wordpress.org/plugins/simple-launchpad/#reviews)
 *  [Installation](https://af.wordpress.org/plugins/simple-launchpad/#installation)
 * [Ontwikkeling](https://af.wordpress.org/plugins/simple-launchpad/#developers)

 [Hulp](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/simple-launchpad/)

## Beskrywing

**Simple LaunchPad** appears as the first menu item in your WordPress admin, providing
instant access to 20 carefully organized buttons across four categories: Content
Management, Appearance, Administration, and WooCommerce.

#### Why This Plugin Exists

If you manage multiple WordPress installations with different plugins (like I do),
you know the frustration: plugin developers arbitrarily decide where their menu 
entries appear, constantly pushing core WordPress menu items like Themes, Plugins,
and Settings up and down the sidebar. One site has “Plugins” at position 5, another
at position 12, and yet another at position 8. You’re forced to scroll endlessly,
hunting for the same common entries you use every day.

**I got tired of complaining about it, so I did something about it.**

Simple LaunchPad puts all your most-used admin pages in ONE predictable location
at the top of your admin menu. No more scrolling. No more hunting. Just click and
go. This is my contribution to the WordPress community—a solution to a problem we’ve
all experienced but rarely talk about.

Perfect for:
 * **Site administrators** who want faster navigation * **Agencies**
managing multiple client sites * **Developers** who need quick access to tools ***
Content teams** focusing on specific admin areas * **Users with visual disabilities**
who rely on screen readers and predictable navigation

#### Accessibility Features

Simple LaunchPad is fully **WCAG 2.1 AA compliant** and specifically designed to
help users with visual disabilities navigate WordPress more efficiently.

**Why This Matters for Accessibility:**

When you manage multiple WordPress sites with different plugins, the admin menu 
becomes unpredictable. One site has “Posts” at position 3, another at position 7.
Plugin developers arbitrarily inject their menu items anywhere, constantly shifting
core WordPress items up and down. For sighted users, this is frustrating. **For 
screen reader users, this is a nightmare.**

Every time a screen reader user logs into a different site, they must:
 – Navigate
through the entire menu structure to find familiar items – Re-learn where “Posts”,“
Pages”, “Plugins”, and “Settings” are located – Tab through dozens of unfamiliar
plugin menu items just to reach core WordPress functions

**Simple LaunchPad solves this by providing ONE predictable location** at the top
of the admin menu where all essential WordPress areas are always accessible.

**Accessibility Compliance Features:**

✓ **Keyboard Navigation:** Full keyboard support with visible focus states
 ✓ **
Global Keyboard Shortcut:** Press Alt+Shift+L (Windows/Linux) or Control+Option+
L (Mac) to instantly open LaunchPad from anywhere in WordPress admin ✓ **Screen 
Reader Support:** Proper ARIA labels and semantic HTML structure ✓ **Skip Links:**“
Skip to admin shortcuts” link for faster navigation ✓ **Descriptive Labels:** Each
button includes clear, descriptive aria-labels (e.g., “Go to Posts”, “Go to Settings”)
✓ **Icon Accessibility:** All icons are properly marked as decorative (`aria-hidden
="true"`) ✓ **Semantic HTML:** Proper use of navigation landmarks and heading structure
✓ **Large Click Targets:** 64px icons with generous padding meet WCAG touch target
guidelines ✓ **Focus Management:** Clear visual focus indicators with high contrast
✓ **Consistent Location:** Always appears as the first menu item for predictable
navigation

**Real-World Impact:**

Instead of tabbing through 20+ menu items that change position on every site, screen
reader users can:
 1. Log in to WordPress 2. Tab once to “LaunchPad” (always first
in the menu) 3. Access any of 15 core WordPress areas with predictable, consistent
labels

This reduces cognitive load, speeds up navigation, and makes WordPress administration
accessible to everyone—not just sighted users who can visually scan the menu.

#### Key Features

**🎯 Quick Access Buttons**
 * 20 pre-configured buttons organized in 4 logical 
rows (5 buttons each) – **Row 1:** Posts, Categories, Tags, Pages, Media – **Row
2:** Themes, Widgets, Menus, Customizer, Plugins – **Row 3:** Users, Settings, Tools,
Updates, Site Health – **Row 4:** WooCommerce, WC Settings, Orders, Products, Product
Categories (when WooCommerce is active) * One-click access to any WordPress admin
page * Visual icons using WordPress Dashicons * Fully customizable button order 
via drag-and-drop * WooCommerce integration with HPOS support

**🎨 Full Customization**
 * Enable/disable individual buttons * Reorder buttons
via intuitive drag-and-drop interface * Customize text colors (normal and hover 
states) * Customize background colors (normal and hover states) * Responsive design
that works on all devices * Dark mode support

**👥 Role-Based Visibility**
 * Control which user roles can see each button * Capability-
based security (respects WordPress permissions) * Granular per-button access control*
Perfect for multi-user sites with different team roles

**⚡ Performance**
 * Lightweight and fast * Assets only load where needed * Clean,
semantic code * No jQuery dependencies (except admin) * Optimized for WordPress 
standards

**♿ Accessibility**
 * WCAG 2.1 AA compliant * Full keyboard navigation support*
Global keyboard shortcut: Alt+Shift+L to open LaunchPad from anywhere * Screen reader
optimized with proper ARIA labels * Skip links for faster navigation * Large click
targets (64px icons) * Consistent, predictable menu position * Reduces cognitive
load for users with disabilities

**🔧 Developer Friendly**
 * Extensible with WordPress filters and hooks * Well-
documented code with PHPDoc comments * Clean, object-oriented architecture * Translation-
ready (i18n) * Compatible with WordPress Coding Standards

#### Use Cases

**For Bloggers:**
 Quickly access Posts, Media, and Comments without navigating 
through menus.

**For E-commerce Sites:**
 Add custom buttons for WooCommerce pages like Products,
Orders, and Coupons.

**For Agencies:**
 Configure different button layouts for different client sites
or user roles.

**For Developers:**
 Extend the plugin with custom buttons using the provided filter
hooks.

**For Users with Visual Disabilities:**
 Access all core WordPress admin areas from
one predictable location with full screen reader support. No more hunting through
constantly changing menu structures.

#### Developer Hooks

**Filters:**

    ```
    simple_launchpad_default_buttons - Modify or add default buttons
    simple_launchpad_buttons - Modify buttons before rendering
    ```

**Example – Add Custom Button:**

    ```
    add_filter('simple_launchpad_default_buttons', function($buttons) {
        $buttons['my_custom'] = array(
            'label' => 'Custom Area',
            'url' => 'admin.php?page=my-custom-page',
            'icon' => 'dashicons-admin-generic',
            'capability' => 'manage_options'
        );
        return $buttons;
    });
    ```

#### Translations

Simple LaunchPad is translation-ready! Help translate it into your language:
 * 
Text Domain: simple-launchpad * All strings wrapped with proper i18n functions *
POT file included for translators

#### Privacy

Simple LaunchPad does not:
 * Collect any user data * Use cookies * Connect to external
services * Track analytics

All settings are stored locally in your WordPress database.

### Credits

Developed by [Rafael Minuesa](https://prowoos.com)

### Support

For support, feature requests, or bug reports, please visit:
 * [Plugin Support Forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/simple-launchpad/)*
[GitHub Repository](https://github.com/rafael-minuesa/simple-launchpad)

### Donations

If you find this plugin helpful, please consider:
 * [Leaving a 5-star review](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/simple-launchpad/reviews/)*
[Contributing on GitHub](https://github.com/rafael-minuesa/simple-launchpad)

## Screenshots

 * [[
 * Dashboard view showing the quick-access button grid
 * [[
 * Settings page – Buttons tab with drag-and-drop reordering
 * [[
 * Settings page – Appearance tab with color customization
 * [[
 * Settings page – Role Visibility tab for access control
 * [[
 * Mobile responsive view of the dashboard buttons

## Installation

#### Automatic Installation

 1. Log in to your WordPress admin panel
 2. Navigate to Plugins  Add New
 3. Search for “Simple LaunchPad”
 4. Click “Install Now” and then “Activate”

#### Manual Installation

 1. Download the plugin zip file
 2. Log in to your WordPress admin panel
 3. Navigate to Plugins  Add New  Upload Plugin
 4. Choose the downloaded zip file and click “Install Now”
 5. Activate the plugin

#### Configuration

 1. After activation, go to **Settings  Simple LaunchPad**
 2. Choose which buttons to enable/disable
 3. Drag and drop to reorder buttons
 4. Customize colors in the Appearance tab
 5. Configure role visibility in the Role Visibility tab
 6. Click “Save Settings”
 7. Visit your WordPress Dashboard to see the new launchpad!

## Kwel-vrae

### Is there a keyboard shortcut to open LaunchPad?

Yes! Press **Alt+Shift+L** (Windows/Linux) or **Control+Option+L** (Mac) from anywhere
in the WordPress admin to instantly jump to the LaunchPad page. This follows WordPress’s
standard keyboard shortcut conventions and works globally across all admin pages.

### Is this plugin accessible to users with disabilities?

Yes! Simple LaunchPad is fully WCAG 2.1 AA compliant with:
 * Full keyboard navigation
support * Global keyboard shortcut (Alt+Shift+L) for instant access * Proper ARIA
labels for screen readers * Skip links for faster navigation * Large click targets(
64px icons) * Consistent menu position for predictable navigation

The plugin specifically helps screen reader users by providing ONE predictable location
for all essential WordPress admin areas, eliminating the need to navigate through
constantly changing menu structures across different sites.

### Does this plugin work with the latest WordPress version?

Yes! Simple LaunchPad is tested with the latest WordPress version and follows WordPress
coding standards.

### Can I add my own custom buttons?

Yes! Use the `simple_launchpad_default_buttons` filter hook to add custom buttons.
See the “Developer Hooks” section in the description for examples.

### Can I change the button order?

Absolutely! Go to Settings  Simple LaunchPad  Buttons tab, then drag and drop buttons
to reorder them.

### Does it work with mobile devices?

Yes! Simple LaunchPad is fully responsive and works beautifully on tablets and mobile
phones.

### Can I control which users see which buttons?

Yes! Use the Role Visibility tab to configure which WordPress roles can see each
button. The plugin also respects WordPress capabilities, so users will only see 
buttons for pages they have permission to access.

### Will this conflict with other plugins?

Simple LaunchPad is designed to be compatible with other plugins. It uses WordPress
best practices and only modifies the dashboard area. If you experience any conflicts,
please report them in the support forum.

### Is it translation-ready?

Yes! All text is wrapped with WordPress i18n functions and ready for translation.

### Does it work with multisite?

Yes! Simple LaunchPad works on both single-site and multisite WordPress installations.

### How do I uninstall the plugin?

Simply deactivate and delete the plugin through the WordPress admin. All settings
will be automatically removed from the database.

## Aanbevelings

There are no reviews for this plugin.

## Contributors & Developers

“Simple LaunchPad” is oopbron sagteware. Die volgende mense het bygedra tot die 
ontwikkeling van hierdie uitbreiding:

Contributors

 *   [ Rafael Minuesa ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/rafaelminuesa/)

[Translate “Simple LaunchPad” into your language.](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/simple-launchpad)

### Interested in development?

[Browse the code](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/simple-launchpad/),
check out the [SVN repository](https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/simple-launchpad/),
or subscribe to the [development log](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/simple-launchpad/)
by [RSS](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/simple-launchpad/?limit=100&mode=stop_on_copy&format=rss).

## Changelog

#### 3.1.5 – 2026-01-09

 * Fixed: Removed outdated FAQ entries about dashboard replacement (plugin no longer
   replaces the dashboard)

#### 3.1.4 – 2025-11-08

 * Fixed: Renamed all classes from Dashboard_LaunchPad_* to Simple_LaunchPad_* for
   proper plugin prefix
 * Fixed: WordPress.org requirement – all global classes must use plugin prefix
 * Changed: Dashboard_LaunchPad_Settings  Simple_LaunchPad_Settings
 * Changed: Dashboard_LaunchPad_Dashboard  Simple_LaunchPad_Dashboard
 * Changed: Dashboard_LaunchPad_Custom_Buttons  Simple_LaunchPad_Custom_Buttons

#### 3.1.3 – 2025-11-08

 * Fixed: Replaced .gitkeep with index.php in languages directory (hidden files 
   not permitted)
 * Fixed: Added proper sanitization to $_GET[‘settings-updated’] parameter
 * Note: Text domain ‘simple-launchpad’ is correct – Plugin Check warnings about‘
   Simple-Launchpad-main’ are due to local folder naming

#### 3.1.2 – 2025-11-08

 * Fixed: Added phpcs ignore comments for WordPress.org compliance
 * Fixed: Escaped output for disabled attribute in settings
 * Fixed: Added version parameter to wp_register_style() for proper cache busting
 * Fixed: Prefixed global variable in uninstall.php ($simple_launchpad_blog_ids)
 * Fixed: Created /languages directory for translation files
 * Improved: WordPress.org Plugin Check compliance – all critical errors resolved

#### 3.1.1 – 2025-11-08

 * Fixed: Version bump for minor updates

#### 3.1.0 – 2025-11-08

 * Added: Dark Mode toggle setting in Appearance tab
 * Added: Three display options – Light Mode (default), Dark Mode, Auto (Follow 
   System Preference)
 * Changed: Light mode is now the default – users must opt-in to dark mode
 * Changed: Dark mode no longer automatically follows system preference unless “
   Auto” is selected
 * Improved: Manual override of dark mode with .force-light and .force-dark CSS 
   classes
 * Improved: Better control over button appearance regardless of system settings
 * Note: Existing users will default to Light Mode – visit Settings  Appearance 
   to enable Dark Mode

#### 3.0.2 – 2025-11-08

 * Added: Product Categories button – 5th button in WooCommerce row
 * Added: Direct access to WooCommerce product categories taxonomy
 * Improved: Row 4 now complete with 5 buttons (matching other rows)
 * Changed: Total available buttons increased from 19 to 20
 * Note: Product Categories button disabled by default like other WooCommerce buttons

#### 3.0.1 – 2025-11-08

 * Changed: WooCommerce buttons are now disabled by default – users must enable 
   them manually in Settings
 * Added: Visual detection when WooCommerce is not installed – buttons appear greyed
   out in settings
 * Added: “(Requires WooCommerce)” badge on WooCommerce buttons when plugin is not
   active
 * Added: Informational notice in settings explaining WooCommerce button availability
 * Improved: Better UX with greyed-out styling (50% opacity) for unavailable buttons
 * Improved: Disabled checkbox state prevents enabling when WooCommerce is not installed
 * Improved: Dark mode support for disabled button states
 * Fixed: First-time user experience improved for non-WooCommerce sites

#### 3.0.0 – 2025-11-08

 * Added: WooCommerce integration with 4 new buttons in dedicated Row 4
 * Added: WooCommerce button – Quick access to WooCommerce dashboard
 * Added: WC Settings button – Direct link to WooCommerce settings
 * Added: Orders button – Manage WooCommerce orders (HPOS compatible)
 * Added: Products button – Manage WooCommerce products
 * Improved: Total available buttons increased from 15 to 19
 * Improved: Button organization now spans 4 rows (when WooCommerce is active)
 * Improved: Proper capability checks for all WooCommerce features
 * Note: WooCommerce buttons only appear when WooCommerce is installed and active

#### 2.0.1 – 2025-11-08

 * Fixed: Converted all inline `<style>` tags to use `wp_add_inline_style()` for
   proper WordPress standards compliance
 * Fixed: Inconsistent product naming in documentation (Dashboard LaunchPad  Simple
   LaunchPad throughout all docs)
 * Fixed: Corrected filter hook examples in readme (`dashboard_launchpad_*`  `simple_launchpad_*`)
 * Fixed: Typos in README.md (`simpled_launchpad`  `simple_launchpad`)
 * Improved: Menu icon CSS now properly enqueued via `wp_add_inline_style()` attached
   to `simple-launchpad-admin` handle
 * Improved: Dynamic button color CSS now uses `wp_add_inline_style()` attached 
   to `simple-launchpad` handle
 * Improved: Eliminated direct `<style>` tag output in favor of WordPress enqueue
   system
 * Improved: Full compliance with WordPress.org Plugin Repository guidelines
 * Documentation: Verified all naming uses consistent `simple_launchpad_` prefix(
   16 characters)
 * Documentation: Confirmed all functions, constants, options, and hooks are properly
   prefixed
 * Note: This is a backwards-compatible release – all existing settings will continue
   to work

#### 1.5.3 – 2025-10-23

 * Added: Global keyboard shortcut Alt+Shift+L (Windows/Linux) or Control+Option
   +L (Mac) to open LaunchPad from anywhere in WordPress admin
 * Improved: Enhanced accessibility with instant keyboard access to LaunchPad page
 * Improved: JavaScript now loads globally to support keyboard shortcut functionality

#### 1.5.2 – 2025-10-23

 * Fixed: Replaced all _e() calls with esc_html_e() for proper output escaping
 * Fixed: Added wp_unslash() before sanitizing all $_POST variables in AJAX handlers
 * Fixed: Added translators comment for sprintf() with placeholder
 * Fixed: Updated “Tested up to” version from 6.7 to 6.8
 * Fixed: Reduced plugin tags from 8 to 5 (WordPress.org requirement)
 * Fixed: Created /languages directory for translations
 * Fixed: Removed forbidden files (.gitignore, phpunit.xml.dist) from plugin directory
 * Improved: Enhanced WordPress.org coding standards compliance

#### 1.5.1 – 2025-10-23

 * Improved: Updated readme.txt with compelling origin story explaining why this
   plugin exists
 * Improved: Better description highlighting the frustration of plugins moving menu
   items around
 * Fixed: Updated all filter hook examples to use new naming (simple_launchpad_*)
 * Fixed: Updated text domain references in documentation
 * Fixed: Corrected support/GitHub URLs to use simple-launchpad slug

#### 1.5.0 – 2025-10-23

 * Changed: Complete code refactoring – renamed all identifiers from dashboard-launchpad
   to simple-launchpad
 * Changed: Class names updated: Dashboard_Launchpad_*  Dashboard_LaunchPad_* (capital
   P)
 * Changed: Function names: dashboard_launchpad__()  simple\_launchpad\__()
 * Changed: All constants, text domain, CSS classes, menu slugs, options, AJAX actions,
   and filter hooks renamed
 * Changed: Asset files renamed: dashboard-launchpad.css/js  simple-launchpad.css/
   js
 * Improved: Simplified codebase by removing unnecessary compatibility code (no 
   existing users)
 * Improved: Cleaner code structure aligned with plugin branding

#### 1.4.0 – 2025-10-22

 * Added: 9 new buttons (Categories, Tags, Themes, Widgets, Menus, Customizer, Tools,
   Updates, Site Health)
 * Added: Settings integrated directly into LaunchPad page (bottom section)
 * Added: WordPress.org asset directory structure with placeholders
 * Changed: Reorganized buttons into 3 logical rows (Content, Appearance, Administration)
 * Changed: Grid layout now fixed 5 columns (desktop) / 2 columns (mobile)
 * Changed: Increased icon size from 48px to 64px (+33% larger)
 * Changed: Reduced button padding for more efficient space usage
 * Removed: Settings submenu entry (settings now on main page)
 * Removed: 5 buttons (Add New Post, Add New Page, Comments, old Appearance)
 * Fixed: LaunchPad menu icon now displays correctly in admin sidebar
 * Fixed: Menu icon properly styled (gray with blue hover)
 * Fixed: Uninstall cleanup now removes custom buttons and cache
 * Fixed: Drag-to-reorder functionality now works properly

#### 1.3.0 – 2025-10-22

 * Changed: Plugin renamed from “Dashboard LaunchPad” to “Simple LaunchPad”
 * Improved: Updated branding and documentation
 * Maintained: Backward compatibility (textdomain unchanged)

#### 1.2.0 – 2025-10-21

 * Added: Comprehensive PHPDoc documentation throughout codebase
 * Added: Developer filter hook `dashboard_launchpad_default_buttons`
 * Added: Proper uninstall handler with multisite support
 * Improved: Enhanced input validation and sanitization
 * Improved: Refactored settings page to use WordPress Settings API properly
 * Improved: Better security with button ID and role name validation
 * Fixed: Version constant now matches plugin header version
 * Fixed: Duplicate form processing in settings page
 * Fixed: Better error handling in AJAX operations

#### 1.1.0 – 2025-01-15

 * Added: Role-based button visibility controls
 * Added: Dark mode support
 * Improved: Responsive design for tablets and mobile
 * Improved: Better accessibility with focus states

#### 1.0.0 – 2025-01-01

 * Initial release
 * 10 pre-configured admin buttons
 * Drag-and-drop button reordering
 * Color customization (text and background)
 * Enable/disable individual buttons
 * Capability-based security

## Meta

 *  Version **3.1.5**
 *  Last updated **3 maande gelede**
 *  Active installations **Minder as 10**
 *  WordPress version ** 5.0 or higher **
 *  Tested up to **6.9.4**
 *  PHP version ** 7.4 or higher **
 *  Language
 * [English (US)](https://wordpress.org/plugins/simple-launchpad/)
 * Tags
 * [admin](https://af.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/admin/)[buttons](https://af.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/buttons/)
   [customization](https://af.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/customization/)[dashboard](https://af.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/dashboard/)
   [quick access](https://af.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/quick-access/)
 *  [Gevorderde Aansig](https://af.wordpress.org/plugins/simple-launchpad/advanced/)

## Punte-toekennings

No reviews have been submitted yet.

[Ek wil ‘n aanbeveling maak](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/simple-launchpad/reviews/#new-post)

[See all reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/simple-launchpad/reviews/)

## Contributors

 *   [ Rafael Minuesa ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/rafaelminuesa/)

## Hulp

Got something to say? Need help?

 [Gaan na die hulp-forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/simple-launchpad/)