How do I remove Dashicons from WordPress?

Dashicons is the default icon font used in WordPress for the admin interface. While these icons provide a visually appealing experience, they may not always be necessary, especially for users looking to optimize their website’s performance. Removing Dashicons can help reduce unnecessary HTTP requests and improve loading speed, particularly for visitors who do not require access to the WordPress admin panel.

Why Remove Dashicons from WordPress?

There are several reasons why a site owner might want to remove Dashicons:

• Performance Optimization: Reducing unnecessary assets improves page speed.
• Reducing HTTP Requests: Lowering the number of external resources improves loading efficiency.
• Customization: Developers may prefer using custom icons instead of Dashicons.

By default, Dashicons is loaded on both the front-end and the admin panel, even if they are not used on the front end. Let’s explore how to remove them effectively.

Removing Dashicons for Non-Logged-In Users

For most websites, Dashicons are only necessary in the WordPress dashboard. If the theme or plugins do not use them on the front end, it is safe to remove them for non-logged-in visitors.

Add the following code snippet to the functions.php file of your active theme:

function remove_dashicons() {
    if (!is_user_logged_in()) {
        wp_deregister_style('dashicons');
    }
}
add_action('wp_enqueue_scripts', 'remove_dashicons');

This snippet ensures that Dashicons are not loaded for non-logged-in users while keeping them available for administrators and editors inside the WordPress dashboard.

Removing Dashicons Completely

If you are certain that neither your theme nor your plugins use Dashicons, you can remove them entirely from both the front-end and the admin area:

function remove_all_dashicons() {
    wp_deregister_style('dashicons');
}
add_action('wp_enqueue_scripts', 'remove_all_dashicons');
add_action('admin_enqueue_scripts', 'remove_all_dashicons');

However, if you remove Dashicons from the admin panel, WordPress may lose some styling and icon functionalities in the dashboard. Proceed cautiously and test to ensure that it does not affect usability.

Checking for Dashicons Dependencies

Some themes or plugins may rely on Dashicons for their user interface. To verify whether they are used, open your browser’s developer tools (F12 or right-click > Inspect), navigate to the Network tab, and reload your website. Look for a request to dashicons.css. If found, test your site after removing Dashicons to ensure nothing breaks.

Using a Plugin to Disable Dashicons

If you are not comfortable editing code, a simple alternative is to use a performance optimization plugin, such as:

• Asset CleanUp: Allows selective disabling of scripts and styles.
• WP Rocket: Includes optimizations that reduce unnecessary requests.

These plugins provide options to unload Dashicons from the front end while preserving them inside the admin panel.

Alternative Icon Libraries

If your goal is to replace Dashicons with a different icon set, consider using:

• Font Awesome – A popular library with extensive icons.
• Google Material Icons – Modern and clean icon designs.

Conclusion

Removing Dashicons from WordPress can help improve site performance, especially for visitor-facing pages. By either using a code-based approach or leveraging optimization plugins, site owners can ensure their websites load faster while maintaining the necessary functionality within the dashboard. Always test after making changes to confirm that no important features are affected.

FAQs

1. Will removing Dashicons break my site?

If no plugins or themes rely on Dashicons for front-end functionality, removing them will not break your site. However, it’s always recommended to test after making changes.

2. Do all users need Dashicons?

No. Dashicons are mainly used in the WordPress dashboard. Regular visitors to your site do not require them unless a theme or plugin specifically uses them.

3. How can I check if my theme or plugins use Dashicons?

You can inspect your site with browser developer tools and check the Network tab for requests to dashicons.css. If they are loaded, something on your site is using them.

4. Can I use a plugin to disable Dashicons?

Yes, optimization plugins such as Asset CleanUp can help disable Dashicons without modifying code manually.

5. What is the best alternative to Dashicons?

If you need an alternative icon set, Font Awesome and Google Material Icons are excellent choices.