Remove default WordPress dashboard widgets

wordpress.php

/**
 * Remove default WordPress dashboard widgets
 */
function nn_remove_dashboard_meta_boxes() {

  global $wp_meta_boxes;

  // WordPress
  unset( $wp_meta_boxes['dashboard']['normal']['core']['dashboard_activity'] );
  unset( $wp_meta_boxes['dashboard']['normal']['core']['dashboard_right_now'] );
  unset( $wp_meta_boxes['dashboard']['normal']['core']['dashboard_recent_comments'] );
  unset( $wp_meta_boxes['dashboard']['normal']['core']['dashboard_incoming_links'] );
  unset( $wp_meta_boxes['dashboard']['normal']['core']['dashboard_plugins'] );
  unset( $wp_meta_boxes['dashboard']['side']['core']['dashboard_primary'] );
  unset( $wp_meta_boxes['dashboard']['side']['core']['dashboard_secondary'] );
  unset( $wp_meta_boxes['dashboard']['side']['core']['dashboard_quick_press'] );
  unset( $wp_meta_boxes['dashboard']['side']['core']['dashboard_recent_drafts'] );

  /**
   * Remove Yoast SEO dashboard widget
   * Last Tested: Jun 16 2017 using Yoast SEO 4.9 on WordPress 4.8
   */
  if ( defined( 'WPSEO_VERSION' ) ) {
    // May need to replace 'side' with 'normal' or 'advanced' in some cases.
    remove_meta_box( 'wpseo-dashboard-overview', 'dashboard', 'side' );
  }
}
add_action( 'wp_dashboard_setup', 'nn_remove_dashboard_meta_boxes' );