How to Customize Strapi Admin Panel

How to Customize Strapi Admin Panel

Strapi is widely known for its flexibility, extensibility, and powerful admin dashboard that gives developers and content managers a seamless experience managing content. One of its greatest advantages is the ability to customize the Strapi Admin Panel---from styling and branding to extending functionalities, modifying permissions, creating custom fields, and building plugins.

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This article is written entirely in Strapi-compatible markdown, perfect for inclusion in your CMS.

Why Customize the Strapi Admin Panel?

Strapi's admin panel is built with React and is highly modular, making customization both intuitive and powerful.

Benefits of Admin Panel Customization

Customizing the admin dashboard enables: - Brand consistency with your company identity - Improved UX for content editors and clients - Custom workflows adapted to your project needs - Extended functionality with custom plugins and tools - Removal of unneeded features to simplify navigation - Advanced user permissions and role management

The admin panel is essentially the "control center" of your project---so its customization can significantly enhance productivity and user experience.

Understanding Strapi Admin Architecture

Before making changes, it's important to understand how the admin system works.

Key Components of Admin Architecture

1. Admin Panel (React)
   Located in:

   /src/admin
   

2. Plugins System
   Plugins extend features:

   /src/plugins
   /node_modules/@strapi/plugin-*
   

3. Extensions
   Override or extend existing plugins:

   /src/extensions
   

4. Admin Configuration Files
   Settings for theming, localization, permissions, and more:

   /config/admin.js
   

5. Webpack Customizations
   Used for advanced UI changes:

   /admin/webpack.config.js
   

Understanding this structure makes it easier to apply deeper customizations.

Step 1: Customize the Admin Panel Branding

Strapi allows you to modify branding such as the logo, favicon, and colors.

Adding a Custom Logo

Create an admin configuration file:

/src/admin/app.js

Add custom branding:

export default {
  config: {
    auth: {
      logo: '/logo.png',
    },
    menu: {
      logo: '/logo.png',
    },
    head: {
      favicon: '/favicon.ico',
    },
  },
};

Place logo.png in:

/public

Changing Theme Colors

Add to app.js:

export default {
  config: {
    theme: {
      colors: {
        primary100: '#D1E8FF',
        primary600: '#005FB9',
        primary700: '#004A94',
        neutral0: '#FFFFFF',
      },
    },
  },
};

This instantly applies your brand palette across the admin UI.

Step 2: Customize the Login Page

The login screen is the first thing users see---making it ideal for branding.

Customizing Login Background

Add CSS override:

/src/admin/overrides.css

.auth-container {
  background-color: #f7f8fc !important;
}

Import it in app.js:

import './overrides.css';

Add a custom welcome message

In app.js:

export default {
  bootstrap(app) {
    app.registerHook('Admin/CM/pages/HomePage', (component) => {
      return {
        ...component,
        props: {
          ...component.props,
          customMessage: "Welcome to Your Customized Strapi Admin!",
        },
      };
    });
  },
};

Step 3: Add Custom Admin Pages

You can create fully custom React pages inside the admin panel.

Create a New Admin Page

Directory:

/src/admin/pages/custom-dashboard

Create a index.js file:

import React from 'react';
import { BaseHeaderLayout } from '@strapi/design-system/Layout';

const CustomDashboard = () => {
  return (
    <div>
      <BaseHeaderLayout title="Custom Dashboard" subtitle="Your personalized overview" />
      <p>Welcome to your custom dashboard page!</p>
    </div>
  );
};

export default CustomDashboard;

Register this page in:

/src/admin/app.js

export default {
  register(app) {
    app.addMenuLink({
      to: '/plugins/custom-dashboard',
      icon: 'Dashboard',
      intlLabel: {
        id: 'custom.dashboard',
        defaultMessage: 'Dashboard',
      },
      Component: async () => import('./pages/custom-dashboard'),
    });
  },
};

You now have a fully custom admin page accessible via the menu.

Step 4: Extending or Modifying Admin Plugins

Strapi's admin plugins allow deep customization.

Example: Overriding the Content Manager Plugin

Directory:

/src/extensions/content-manager

You can override: - Views - Layouts - Inputs - Validation rules

Example override file:

/src/extensions/content-manager/content-types/article/schema.json

Modify form fields, positions, labels, etc.

Customizing List View Layout

Add:

/src/extensions/content-manager/pages/ListView/index.js

export default {
  layouts: {
    list: [
      { name: 'title', label: 'Article Title' },
      { name: 'author', label: 'Author' },
    ],
  },
};

This changes how content listing tables appear in the admin panel.

Step 5: Creating Custom Fields

Custom fields allow developers to add unique components to forms.

Create Custom Field Structure

/src/plugins/custom-field
  └── admin
      ├── index.js
      ├── App.js
      └── components
          └── CustomInput.js

Example:

const CustomInput = ({ value, onChange }) => {
  return (
    <input
      type="text"
      value={value}
      onChange={(e) => onChange(e.target.value)}
      style={{ border: '2px solid blue', padding: '10px' }}
    />
  );
};

Register the Custom Field

/src/plugins/custom-field/admin/index.js

import CustomInput from './components/CustomInput';

export default {
  register(app) {
    app.addFields({
      type: 'custom-text',
      Component: CustomInput,
    });
  },
};

Now you can use type: custom-text inside any content type schema.

Step 6: Modify Permissions and Roles for a Customized Experience

Admins often need tailored roles for editors, writers, marketers, or developers.

Create Custom Roles

Navigate to:

Admin Panel → Settings → Users & Permissions → Roles

You can: - Restrict access to content types - Hide admin pages - Limit editing rights - Restrict access to plugins

Example: Creating a writer role with access only to blog posts.

Programmatic Permission Control

You can override permissions in:

/config/admin.js

module.exports = {
  auth: {
    secret: 'your-secret',
  },
  apiToken: {
    salt: 'your-salt',
  },
};

Step 7: Adding Admin Panel Widgets and Cards

Adding dashboard cards improves visibility and workflow.

Example Custom Widget

Create:

/src/admin/components/StatsCard.js

const StatsCard = ({ title, value }) => (
  <div style={{ padding: 20, border: '1px solid #ddd' }}>
    <h3>{title}</h3>
    <p>{value}</p>
  </div>
);

Display it on dashboard:

/src/admin/pages/homepage

import StatsCard from '../../components/StatsCard';

<StatsCard title="Total Posts" value="42" />

Step 8: Adding Custom Navigation Items

Custom menus help editors navigate faster.

Modify menu:

/src/admin/app.js

app.addMenuLink({
  to: '/plugins/reports',
  icon: 'Chart',
  intlLabel: {
    id: 'reports',
    defaultMessage: 'Reports',
  },
  Component: async () => import('./pages/reports'),
});

This adds a "Reports" tab to the main left sidebar.

Step 9: Theme and Layout Customization

Strapi provides design tokens and layout components.

Customizing Global Layout

Create override:

/src/admin/app.js

export default {
  config: {
    theme: {
      layout: {
        headerHeight: '70px',
        sidebarWidth: '260px',
      },
    },
  },
};

Custom Typography

Override fonts via CSS:

@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Inter:wght@400;600&display=swap');

body {
  font-family: 'Inter', sans-serif !important;
}

This ensures consistent typography across the admin panel.

Step 10: Advanced Admin Customization with Webpack

Advanced modifications require bundler configuration.

Create:

/src/admin/webpack.config.js

Override default configuration:

module.exports = (config) => {
  config.resolve.alias['@custom'] = path.resolve(__dirname, 'custom');
  return config;
};

This allows advanced imports and custom module paths.

Step 11: Building and Deploying Your Customized Admin

To apply admin changes:

Rebuild admin panel

npm run build

Run production

npm start

Deploy to hosting provider

• Render
• Railway
• Fly.io
• AWS
• DigitalOcean
• Docker

Upload /build output if needed.

Best Practices for Customizing Strapi Admin Panel

• Avoid modifying core files inside node_modules
• Use the extensions folder for overrides
• Document customizations for future developers
• Keep customizations modular and plugin-based
• Use environment variables for branding in multiple environments
• Always rebuild admin after UI changes

Conclusion

Customizing the Strapi Admin Panel gives you the freedom to craft a branded, optimized, and user-friendly experience tailored to the needs of your project or client. From theme customization and branding to plugins, custom pages, widgets, permissions, and advanced controls, Strapi's architecture allows near-limitless flexibility.

Whether you're building an enterprise platform, agency project, SaaS dashboard, or internal CMS, mastering Strapi admin customization empowers you to deliver professional-grade digital experiences.

If you need expert help with Strapi, custom dashboards, or full MERN stack development, consider working with AAMAX --- specialists in Web Development, Digital Marketing, SEO, and MERN Stack Development services.