Action Hook since 2.0.0

admin_init

Fires at the beginning of every admin page

Description

admin_init is the admin counterpart to init: settings, redirects, and capability checks that must not run on the front-end.

When it runs

wp-admin only, on every admin request including admin-ajax. Does not run on the public site.

Signature

do_action( 'admin_init' );

Examples

Basic

add_action( 'admin_init', function() {
    register_setting( 'my_options_group', 'my_option_name' );
} );

Real case

add_action( 'admin_init', function() {
    if ( ! current_user_can( 'manage_options' ) && ! wp_doing_ajax() ) {
        wp_safe_redirect( home_url() );
        exit;
    }
} );

Block non-admins from the wp-admin dashboard, while allowing AJAX requests through.

Common Use Cases

Register plugin settings
Redirect non-admin users
Handle admin form submissions
Add admin notices conditionally

Common mistakes

Registering front-end post types on admin_init — they will be missing on the public site

Related hooks

Fires before init

Articles

You’re a Tenant, Not the Owner: 6 Doors in Someone Else’s wp-admin, and How Not to Be a Bad Neighbor

Rules of a Good Neighbor — One Per Hook `admin_init` — move in quietly Don’t run heavy code or checks without a reason — this hook fires on…

FAQ

Can I redirect users away from wp-admin on admin_init?

Yes, that's a very common pattern — check current_user_can() and wp_redirect() + exit if the check fails, being careful to allow admin-ajax.php requests through.

Source: wp-admin/admin.php

Group wizard

One session: this hook, then each related_hooks entry. Walk it and tell us what to change.

admin_init → init

functions.php — admin_init

functions.php

<?php
/**
 * Practice: hook into admin_init
 */
add_action( 'admin_init', function() {
	// Write your callback here.

} );

Group tour

admin_init · Hook 1 of 2 · Step 1 of 7

Meet admin_init

Fires at the beginning of every admin page

admin_init is the admin counterpart to init: settings, redirects, and capability checks that must not run on the front-end.

type actionphase initsince 2.0.0source wp-admin/admin.php

do_action( 'admin_init' );

add_action( 'admin_init', function() {
    register_setting( 'my_options_group', 'my_option_name' );
} );

PHP admin_init · Hook 1 of 2 · Step 1 of 7

Practice the admin_init WordPress action hook in our interactive sandbox — a VS Code-style editor with a step-by-step admin_init tutorial, add_action exercises, and instant feedback. No local WordPress install required.