Disable WP Cron Without Plugin to stop WordPress from triggering cron jobs on every visit. Here’s how to switch to a real server cron job instead.
Step 1: Add the WP Cron Disable Code
Add this to your wp-config.php file:
// Disable WP Cron
define(‘DISABLE_WP_CRON’, true);
How It Works
This constant disables the built-in WP-Cron system, which normally runs on every page load. You can replace it with a real server cron job for better performance.
Why Disable WP Cron Without Plugin?
The default WP-Cron can increase CPU usage and slow down your site, especially if you have high or low traffic. A real cron job is more efficient and reliable for scheduling tasks.
Common Mistake
Don’t disable WP-Cron unless you configure a real server cron job, or your scheduled tasks like backups and updates won’t run.
Pro Tip
Add this tweak to your wp-config.php so it runs before WordPress loads any files.
Related Snippet
If you liked this, check out my guide on disabling the JSON API without a plugin in WordPress.