Who this guide is for
You want to open admin screens in a side panel instead of navigating away—useful for plugins, settings, analytics, or theme screens while staying on the current page.
What a drawer is
A drawer is a slide-out panel from the right edge of the screen. The target admin page loads inside the panel (like a focused window). Close it with the X, the backdrop, or the Escape key.
When drawers appear
- At least one top bar link must use Drawer interaction (not Redirect).
- You must be logged in with the admin bar visible (usually in wp-admin; on the front end too if the bar shows and drawer links exist).
Set up a drawer link
- Go to EdminBoost → Top Bar.
- Add or select a link on the canvas (from the discovered list or a custom path).
- In the item panel, set Interaction to Drawer (slide-out panel).
- Click Save.
Configure panel behavior
After at least one drawer link exists, Panel & badges unlocks below the canvas:
- Drawer width — compact, standard, full screen, or custom (pixel width in a set range).
- Animation speed — fast, normal, or slow.
- Badge style — how live counters look on bar items (dot, pill, accent).
- Badge refresh rate — how often local badge counts update (seconds).
- Optional glassmorphism — frosted panel backdrop when enabled.
Click Save after changes.
Try it before go-live
Select a drawer item on the Top Bar page and use Preview drawer (when shown) to open the panel in the editor context.
Day-to-day use
- Click the shortcut on the black admin bar.
- The panel opens; work inside it like a normal admin screen (forms, lists, etc.).
- Close when done; your underlying page is still there.
Badges with drawers
You can combine drawer links with badge sources (orders, comments, updates, etc.). Counts come from your WordPress site only.
Security:
Drawer loads use signed, whitelisted URLs so random pages cannot be opened in the panel. Only administrators configure drawers; users still need normal WordPress permission to see each screen inside the iframe.
Good use cases
- Client’s Website preset — Appearance in a drawer so clients rarely need the full themes screen.
- Shop Manager — Analytics in a drawer while viewing orders elsewhere.
- Power User / Agency — Plugins, Tools, or Settings in drawers for quick checks.
Tips
- Use Redirect for everyday screens (Posts, Orders list); use Drawer for occasional deep screens.
- If Panel & badges is grayed out, add at least one drawer link first.
- Too many drawer links can feel heavy—keep the bar to a handful of favorites.