WordPress is an incredibly powerful platform for building websites, but one feature that some users find overwhelming is the constant barrage of update notifications. Whenever a new update is available for WordPress core, themes, or plugins, the system sends an email to administrators. While these emails are crucial for keeping your site secure, many site owners find them unnecessary and prefer to turn them off. In this blog, we’ll walk you through various methods to stop WordPress from sending update emails while ensuring your site remains secure and functional.
Understanding WordPress Update Emails
By default, WordPress sends email notifications to administrators when there are updates available for the WordPress core, plugins, and themes. These emails serve as an important reminder to keep your site up to date and secure. However, this feature can result in a cluttered inbox, especially for site owners who manage multiple websites.
Update emails include information about security patches, bug fixes, and new features, making it crucial for site administrators to know when updates are available. While some updates are essential for site performance and security, other notifications might not be as important, especially if you already have a solid update management system in place.
Why You Might Want to Turn Off Update Emails
While update emails can be helpful for some, they may not be necessary for others. Here are some reasons you might want to turn off WordPress update emails:
- Reduce Inbox Clutter: If you manage multiple websites, constant update emails can fill up your inbox quickly.
- You Prefer to Manage Updates Manually: Some website owners prefer to control updates more granularly and prefer not to be bombarded by notifications.
- Already Using a Management Tool: If you use a third-party management tool like ManageWP or InfiniteWP, these platforms can handle updates for you, reducing the need for email notifications.
- You Don’t Need to Know About Every Update: Not all updates are critical, and some users prefer to only know about important security updates.
If you want to stop these notifications, there are several ways to go about it. Below are methods for disabling WordPress update emails.
Method 1: Using Plugins to Disable Update Emails
The simplest and most efficient way to disable WordPress update emails is by using a plugin. Several plugins are designed to handle update notifications, giving you complete control over what kind of notifications you want to receive.
1.1 Using the “Easy Updates Manager” Plugin
The Easy Updates Manager plugin is one of the most popular tools for managing updates in WordPress. It provides a user-friendly interface that lets you disable or enable updates for the core, plugins, and themes individually. Here’s how to use it:
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Install the Easy Updates Manager Plugin
- Go to the WordPress dashboard and navigate to Plugins > Add New.
- Search for Easy Updates Manager.
- Click Install Now and then Activate the plugin.
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Configure the Plugin
- After activation, go to Dashboard > Updates Options.
- In the settings, you can disable specific types of updates, including emails about plugin and theme updates.
- Under the Email Notifications tab, turn off email notifications for minor or major updates as needed.
1.2 Using the “Disable All WordPress Updates” Plugin
For those who want a more straightforward approach, the Disable All WordPress Updates plugin is a great option. It disables all WordPress update notifications, including email alerts.
- Install the Disable All WordPress Updates Plugin
- Go to Plugins > Add New in your WordPress dashboard.
- Search for Disable All WordPress Updates and install it.
- Once activated, the plugin will stop all update notifications, including email alerts.
This plugin is ideal for users who don’t want to worry about individual plugin settings and simply wish to stop all updates.
Method 2: Disabling Update Emails via Code
If you prefer not to use a plugin, you can disable WordPress update emails by adding a small snippet of code to your site’s wp-config.php or functions.php file. This method requires some technical knowledge but allows for a more customized approach.
2.1 Disabling Update Emails in wp-config.php
Follow these steps to disable email notifications for updates in WordPress:
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Access Your WordPress Files
- Use an FTP client like FileZilla or cPanel File Manager to access your WordPress installation files.
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Edit wp-config.php
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Locate the wp-config.php file in the root directory.
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Add the following code before the line that says, /* That’s all, stop editing! Happy blogging. */:
phpdefine(‘DISALLOW_FILE_MODS’, true);
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Save the File
- Save the changes to wp-config.php. This will disable automatic updates, including email notifications.
2.2 Disabling Update Emails via Functions.php
Alternatively, you can add code to the functions.php file of your active theme to stop the email notifications. Here’s how:
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Access Your Theme’s functions.php File
- Go to Appearance > Theme Editor.
- Locate the functions.php file for your active theme.
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Add the Code
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Add the following code to the end of the file:
phpremove_action(‘admin_init’, ‘send_core_update_notification’); remove_action(‘wp_mails’, ‘wp_send_core_update_notification’);
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Save the File
- Save the file to stop receiving email notifications for updates.
Method 3: Using SMTP Plugins for Email Management
Even if you disable update emails, you may still receive other WordPress notifications, such as form submissions or password reset emails. Using an SMTP plugin, such as WP Mail SMTP or Post SMTP, allows you to manage all email notifications from your WordPress site, including those for updates.
SMTP plugins offer several benefits
- Improve email deliverability: Ensures that emails are sent through a trusted email provider.
- Custom filtering: You can filter out unnecessary update emails while keeping other important notifications.
To install an SMTP plugin
- Install and activate the SMTP plugin of your choice.
- Configure the plugin settings with your email service provider.
- Set up email filters to disable unwanted notifications.
When to Consider Keeping WordPress Update Emails
Although disabling update emails can be a good way to keep your inbox clear, there are instances when it’s beneficial to leave them enabled:
- Security Updates: If you manage a WordPress site that handles sensitive data or performs important business functions, keeping update emails enabled can help you stay informed about critical security patches.
- Third-Party Plugins: Some plugins require regular updates to maintain compatibility with WordPress core updates. Having email notifications enabled ensures you don’t miss important plugin updates.
Conclusion
Disabling WordPress update emails can be an effective way to reduce email clutter, but it’s important to do so cautiously. While turning off these notifications can help streamline your workflow, it’s essential to stay on top of important updates, especially those related to security.
By using plugins like Easy Updates Manager or Disable All WordPress Updates, you can easily control which notifications you receive. Alternatively, adding custom code to the wp-config.php or functions.php files provides more control over your site’s behavior.
Remember that keeping your site updated is crucial for security and performance. Be sure to have a reliable update management system in place, whether it’s through manual checks, third-party tools, or email notifications.
If you’re unsure about turning off update emails, you can always opt for a balanced approach by only disabling non-critical update notifications while keeping security-related alerts intact.
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