If you’ve just started with WordPress, then you might have noticed the Hello Dolly plugin pre-installed.
Some of our users have asked us what the Hello Dolly plugin does in WordPress. Its description doesn’t give much away, leaving them puzzled.
The Hello Dolly plugin has been around for a long time, but what does it actually do? More importantly, should you keep it or delete it?
In this article, we’ll explore the Hello Dolly plugin’s purpose.
Video Tutorial
If you prefer written instructions, then continue reading. Here’s a quick overview of all the topics we’ll cover in this guide:
Ready? Let’s dive right in.
What Is the Hello Dolly WordPress Plugin?
Hello Dolly is a simple WordPress plugin that comes pre-installed in WordPress.
If you activate the plugin, it will display a line from the lyrics of the Hello Dolly song that Louis Armstrong most famously performed.
The plugin description is extremely vague and does not explain its usefulness.
This is not just a plugin, it symbolizes the hope and enthusiasm of an entire generation summed up in two words sung most famously by Louis Armstrong.
In case you were wondering, YES, this plugin is completely useless for all practical purposes.
So why is it there?
History of The Hello Dolly WordPress Plugin
Hello Dolly was one of the first WordPress plugins created. It was released in May 2004 with WordPress 1.2, which introduced the plugin architecture.
Hello Dolly is written by Matt Mullenweg, co-founder of WordPress. Apart from Hello Dolly, there were four other plugins pre-installed in the earlier version. Those plugins were:
- Search Hilite
- Markdown
- Textile1
- Textile2
Since then, Hello Dolly has shipped with every version of WordPress.
What Is the Purpose of Hello Dolly in WordPress?
Apart from the sentimental value, Hello Dolly has no practical purpose. The community has debated its removal from the core install. However, after 11 years, it’s still part of all default installs.
The current primary reason/excuse for its inclusion is that it helps new developers start writing plugins.
However, it’s not a very good example of how to study WordPress plugin development. Better resources include the Plugin Handbook and countless other tutorials/videos.
We believe the reason for its inclusion as a default plugin is mainly tradition. For many early WordPress adopters, Hello Dolly is a reminder of the good old days and how far WordPress has come.
Should I Delete the Hello Dolly WordPress Plugin?
Yes, you can definitely delete Hello Dolly without any impact on your site.
Often, folks leave it installed and deactivated. In our experience, we have found hackers hiding malicious codes in old default WordPress themes and plugins, which is the last place most beginners look.
Understand that while the default themes and plugins did not cause your website to be hacked, they are one of the many spots where hackers usually hide their malicious backdoor code.
So, we strongly recommend deleting ALL plugins you’re not using on your site (not just Hello Dolly).
We hope this article answers your questions about the Hello Dolly WordPress plugin. Next, you might want to check out our guide on how and why you should leave reviews on WordPress and our expert picks of the must-have WordPress plugins.
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Dennis Muthomi
This is such an important security tip! I’ve learned the hard way that even deactivated plugins can become security risks on WordPress sites. These days, I’m super careful about keeping things clean. The first thing I do on any site is remove unused plugins – even the default ones like Hello Dolly. It’s become part of my standard cleanup routine for all my clients’ websites.
For any new WordPress site I work on, I immediately remove plugins that aren’t going to be used. Pair this with regular security scans, and you’ve got a much safer, cleaner website. It’s a simple change that makes a big difference!
Jiří Vaněk
I always automatically deleted the Hello Dolly plugin with every new WordPress installation. I never saw any benefit in it, which you confirmed in your article. However, I never really thought about its purpose in WordPress or why it’s included as a native plugin right after installation. Your article explained it perfectly. Thanks.
Ray Wyman Jr
I’ve been using WordPress since 2003, when I switched from Greymatter blog (Noah Grey). “Hello Dolly” has been running in the background of just about every WP website I’ve launched since. It is harmless. It does not increase DOM or weigh down performance. And it is a sentimental trinket – a reminder of the old days, which, in my mind, are not so old.
WPBeginner Support
Thanks for sharing your opinion on the plugin, if you want to keep it active you certainly can on your site
Admin
Alain Guillot
Thank you. I have several WordPress sites. Only recently I was helping a friend of mine installing her brand new WordPress site when challenged me about the purpose of this plugin. It was nice to show her that this plugin is useless.
shahadat khan
Oh really help full post thanks for sharing good inform keep up the good work thanks again
Joolz
Thank you – very helpful and interesting to read the low-down on this plugin’s useful/lessness. Long live “Hello Dolly!”
Lauree Sayne
Thanks for the info. I’m new to Wordpress and I was wondering about Hello Dolly. I’m happy to delete anything not needed and have a minimalist dashboard!
Thanks again,
Lauree
avinash kumar dubey
Thanks for sharing this concept. can you answer me, how to change howdy name , is this possible to edit. Thanks.
WPBeginner Support
Please our tutorial on how to change the howdy text in WordPress.
Admin
Mione C
Thanks for clearing this up! How about older default WordPress themes, though –should you delete those as well? I usually like to keep the most recent, just in case it’s helpful for troubleshooting at some point, but I’ve noticed that most people never delete any of them. What’s your take on that?
WPBeginner Support
Yes, you should delete old themes that you don’t intend to use. Keeping the latest default theme for troubleshooting and backup is a good practice. However, you can always install them for free whenever you need.
Admin
Richard Buro
Thank you for the information about the “Hello, Dolly!” Plug-in. It was informative and somewhat nostalgic. I deactivated it after realizing it really was harmless. Your article provided context and depth to my understanding about its longevity and its purpose as an initial test of the plug-in concept in the WordPress environment. As a trained historian, I can understand the desire to maintain a handle on the past. It is commendable, and – in my opinion – a touchstone for remembering the WordPress past while doing in a subtle way. Great article, great history!