CaptainCore Helm

Take the helm of your WordPress admin.

CaptainCore Helm is a WordPress plugin that reimagines the admin experience. It replaces the standard, often cluttered, WordPress admin interface with a streamlined, searchable, and unified command center called the Quick Menu. Helm is designed for power users who want to navigate and manage their sites with maximum speed and efficiency.

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A Unified Admin Experience

One of the core problems in WordPress is the disjointed nature of the admin interface. Depending on where you are—the frontend, the backend, the Site Editor, or the Customizer—the available navigation and tools change unpredictably. The standard admin menu disappears, and the top admin bar shifts its contents.

Helm fixes this by providing a single, consistent interface that works everywhere. The Quick Menu is always available, giving you access to every part of your site from anywhere.

Here's how Helm compares to the standard WordPress navigation across different areas:

Area	CaptainCore Helm	WP Admin Top Bar	WP Admin Sidebar
Frontend	✅	✅	❌
Backend (wp-admin)	✅	✅	✅
Block Editor	✅	👌	👌
Elementor Editor	✅	❌	❌
Divi Builder *	✅	❌	❌
Beaver Builder	✅	❌	❌
Bricks Builder	✅	❌	❌
Customizer	✅	❌	❌
Site Editor	✅	❌	❌
Etch	✅	❌	❌
Standard Error Pages	✅	❌	❌

* In order to work with the Divi editor, Helm's island is positioned up top to prevent overlap.

👌 By default the block editor is in fullscreen mode which hides the WP Admin bars.

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Features

• Quick Menu Popout: A searchable, full-screen menu that aggregates all admin navigation links into one place.
• Universal Access: The Quick Menu is available on the frontend, backend, Site Editor, Customizer, and even standard WordPress error screens (wp_die).
• Page Builder Integration: Seamlessly integrates with Elementor, Divi, Beaver Builder, and Bricks. Helm intelligently adjusts its layout (z-index and positioning) to float above these builders without obstructing tools, providing consistent access to the dashboard and exit links.
• Smart Context Menu: Automatically detects your current location (e.g., viewing a specific settings page or post type) and offers a popup menu with related sibling pages for quick navigation.
• Admin Theme Adaptation: Helm automatically detects your selected WordPress Admin Color Scheme and adapts its UI colors to match your preference.
• Streamlined UI: Hides the default left-hand admin menu and provides a compact, clean top admin bar for a focused workspace.
• Live Search: Instantly find any admin page by typing in the search bar. All menu items and sub-items are indexed.
• Keyboard-First Navigation: Open the Quick Menu with a shortcut (Ctrl+Shift+. or ⌘⇧.) and navigate entirely with your keyboard.
• Consistent Tooling: Disables the block editor's fullscreen mode by default to ensure the admin bar and its tools are always visible.

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Installation

1. Download the latest captaincore-helm.zip file.
2. In your WordPress admin, go to Plugins > Add New.
3. Click Upload Plugin and select the downloaded zip file.
4. Activate the plugin. Helm will be enabled for your user account automatically.

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Usage

Once activated, CaptainCore Helm takes over the admin interface.

• To open the Quick Menu:

  • Click the Menu button in the top-left of the admin bar.
  • Or, use the keyboard shortcut:
    • Windows/Linux: Ctrl + Alt + K
    • Mac: ⌘ + Option + K

• To find a page:

  • Once the Quick Menu is open, just start typing. The list will filter in real-time.

• To opt-out:

  • You can disable Helm for your account by visiting your Profile page and unchecking the "Enable Helm" option.