Mastering WordPress: 2 Simple Ways to Turn Off Automatic Updates

Did you know that WordPress can automatically update your website? This includes updates for plugins and themes in certain situations.

While automatic updates in WordPress enhance security, they can sometimes cause more problems than they solve for some website owners. We have seen that these background updates can occasionally lead to unforeseen issues, and in rare cases, they may even break your site.

If you want to have complete control over your WordPress environment, you might consider disabling automatic updates entirely.

In this article, we will guide you on how to turn off automatic updates in WordPress, allowing you to manage updates manually.

Understanding Why WordPress Updates Automatically

WordPress automatically updates its core software primarily for security purposes.

Additionally, it may also update a plugin or theme to address potential security threats. For example, if a critical vulnerability is found in a widely used plugin or theme, the WordPress core team may issue an automatic update to resolve the issue.

In other cases, WordPress allows you to choose when to apply updates.

We advise against disabling automatic updates in WordPress, as they play a crucial role in maintaining security.

In rare cases, updates may cause issues that can disrupt your website’s performance, potentially resulting in lost business and customers.

If you are confident in your ability to handle manual updates, you can safely turn off automatic updates in WordPress.

We will guide you through two straightforward methods to disable automatic WordPress updates: one using code and the other through a plugin. Feel free to use the quick links below to navigate directly to your preferred method:

Method 1: Disable Automatic WordPress Updates Using Code (Recommended)

For a straightforward and secure way to turn off automatic WordPress updates without modifying your theme or core files, the free WPCode plugin is the ideal choice.

Generally, to disable automatic updates through code, you would need to modify your theme’s functions.php file and the wp-config.php file, which can be risky if not done carefully.

WPCode allows you to easily add code snippets directly from your WordPress dashboard, eliminating the need for manual file edits and minimizing the risk of damaging your site.

Additionally, it features a comprehensive code library that includes popular snippets for tasks such as disabling automatic WordPress updates, turning off the REST API, enabling SVG file uploads, disabling comments, and more. This means you won’t have to install multiple single-use plugins.

To begin, install and activate the free WPCode plugin. If you need assistance, refer to our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

After activating the plugin, navigate to Code Snippets » Library in your WordPress admin dashboard.

Next, locate the ‘Disable Automatic Updates’ snippet and click the ‘Use snippet’ button.

WPCode will automatically insert the code snippet and choose the appropriate insertion method.

This code snippet includes three filters that allow you to disable updates for the WordPress core, plugins, and themes.

If you prefer not to use one of these filters, you can simply modify the code by adding an // at the start of the filter line.

For instance, placing a // at the beginning of the core auto-updates filter line will stop it from running. This means you’ll still receive automatic updates for the core, but not for plugins and themes.

After that, just switch the toggle from ‘Inactive’ to ‘Active.’

Next, click the ‘Update’ button.

That’s all there is to it! You’ve successfully disabled automatic updates in WordPress.

Alternative: If you’re comfortable editing WordPress files, you can turn off automatic updates by adding this line of code to your wp-config.php file:

define( 'WP_AUTO_UPDATE_CORE', false );

This will completely disable all automatic updates in WordPress.

To receive minor core updates while disabling updates for themes and plugins, add the following filters to your theme’s functions.php file:

Turn off automatic updates for WordPress plugins:

add_filter( 'auto_update_plugin', '__return_false' );

Turn off automatic updates for WordPress themes:

add_filter( 'auto_update_theme', '__return_false' );

Method 2: Disabling Automatic WordPress Updates Using a Plugin

Another method to disable automatic updates in WordPress is by installing and activating the Easy Updates Manager plugin. If you need assistance, refer to our step-by-step guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

After activating the plugin, navigate to Dashboard » Updates Options to adjust your settings.

You can select ‘Disable all updates’, but we advise against this option as it will stop all update notifications from showing.

Instead, you should select the settings that suit your needs. You can turn off automatic updates for plugins and themes while keeping the standard core WordPress updates active.

Important Note:If you opt to disable updates for plugins and themes rather than choosing to disable all automatic updates, you will no longer receive update notifications for your plugins and themes.

Easy Updates Manager maintains a log of all updates, allowing you to revert to a previous version if something goes wrong with your site. To access this log, navigate to Dashboard » Updates Options and click on the ‘Logs’ tab.

There is also a premium version of Easy Updates Manager that provides additional features.

For example, it integrates with UpdraftPlus, one of the leading WordPress backup plugins, enabling you to automatically back up your site before applying updates.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Automatic WordPress Updates

Now that you understand how to turn off automatic updates, the question remains: should you disable them? The answer varies based on your preferences and your website’s needs.

On our websites, we have disabled automatic updates for plugins and themes, while allowing minor core updates to proceed.

Let’s explore the pros and cons of automatic updates so you can make an informed decision about whether to disable them on your site.

Benefits of Automatic Updates in WordPress

Automatic updates significantly enhance WordPress security, as many users often overlook updating their plugins or the core WordPress system.

With automatic updates activated, you won’t need to manually update your site each time a minor WordPress update is released, as these updates are automatically applied for maintenance and security reasons.

Previously, automatic updates were a feature exclusive to managed WordPress hosting plans, but now they are accessible to all users for minor releases.

You can rest assured that if a critical security vulnerability is discovered in WordPress or a widely used plugin, WordPress will automatically apply the necessary updates, keeping your site secure even when you’re busy or away.

For those managing multiple sites, automatic updates can save a considerable amount of time. Even if you only have one site, the reassurance of automatic maintenance can be invaluable.

Drawbacks of Automatic Updates in WordPress

The WordPress core team ensures that updates are released smoothly and without issues.

There is a small possibility that automatic updates could disrupt your website. Based on our experience, minor updates have not caused any issues for our sites so far.

This is because we adhere to best practices and do not alter any core files. If you change WordPress core files, automatic updates may overwrite those changes.

If WordPress deems it necessary to release a security update for a theme you are using, it could potentially disrupt your website, especially if you have made changes to your theme files.

Automatic updates for plugins can also lead to issues with your site. There are many variables at play, including different server environments and various plugin combinations.

It’s important to understand that these updates typically do not cause problems for most websites. However, you may prefer to avoid any potential risks.

Another downside is that you may not receive notifications when your site undergoes updates.

Should You Disable Automatic WordPress Updates?

Ultimately, the choice is yours to make.

For most beginners and the majority of WordPress sites, automatic updates are safe, and it is advisable to keep them enabled.

If you operate an online store or want to avoid losing business due to a malfunctioning website, you can safely disable automatic updates.

However, be sure to manually apply updates promptly to maintain your website’s security.

Additional Resources on WordPress Updates

We hope this article has helped you understand how to turn off automatic updates in WordPress. You might also want to explore our other guides related to WordPress updates:

• How to Check and Update to the Latest Version of WordPress
• How to Resolve Issues with WordPress Not Updating Immediately
• Step-by-Step Guide to Properly Update WordPress Plugins
• How to Disable Plugin Updates in WordPress and Reasons to Consider Keeping Them Enabled
• How to Enable Automatic Updates in WordPress for Major Releases

Regardless of whether you choose automatic or manual updates, it’s essential to have regular backups of your site. You may also want to review our guide on creating a backup of your WordPress site, or check out our comparison of the top WordPress security plugins.

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