How to Disable WP-Cron in WordPress? Speed Up Your Site Fast

Introduction

If you’ve ever noticed slow page loads or inconsistent scheduled tasks on your WordPress site, WP-Cron might be the silent culprit behind the scenes. WP-Cron is WordPress’s built-in task scheduler, responsible for running time-based tasks like publishing scheduled posts, checking for updates, and sending emails. While it works for many small to mid-size websites, it has its limitations.

Every time someone visits your website, WordPress checks if any scheduled tasks need to run. This means WP-Cron doesn’t operate like a traditional server cron job – it’s visitor-dependent. So, if your site has low traffic, tasks might not run on time. And on high-traffic websites, WP-Cron can run too frequently, affecting performance.

Disabling WP-Cron and setting up a real cron job is a common solution for improving site stability and speed. In this article, we’ll explore why and how to disable WP-Cron safely and replace it with a server-level cron job to ensure scheduled tasks run consistently.

Whether you run a WooCommerce store or a personal blog, understanding and optimizing cron behavior can significantly improve your site’s efficiency.

What Is WP-Cron and Why Should You Disable It?

WP-Cron (wp-cron.php) is not a real cron job. Instead of running tasks at set intervals, it triggers on every page load. Here’s what that means:

Why It Can Be a Problem:

• Performance Bottlenecks: On high-traffic sites, wp-cron.php may run multiple times within seconds, creating a server strain.
• Missed Tasks: On low-traffic sites, tasks may not run at all if there’s no visitor at the scheduled time.
• Random Failures: Shared hosting environments often block or delay WP-Cron execution, especially under heavy load.

Common Issues Caused:

• Scheduled posts not publishing
• Backups failing
• Email notifications not sent
• Plugin updates getting stuck

By disabling WP-Cron and replacing it with a system-level cron job, you get more reliability and better server performance.

How to Disable WP-Cron in WordPress

Disabling WP-Cron is straightforward and involves editing the wp-config.php file.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Access Your Website Files: Use your hosting file manager or connect via FTP/SFTP using tools like FileZilla.
2. Open wp-config.php: This file is in your site’s root directory (where you see wp-content, wp-includes, etc.).
3. Add the Disable Command:  Insert the following line above the line that says /* That’s all, stop editing! Happy blogging. */:
   define(‘DISABLE_WP_CRON’, true);
4. Save and Exit

That’s it – WP-Cron is now disabled. But remember, you still need to set up a real cron job to handle scheduled tasks.

How to Set Up a Real Cron Job to Replace WP-Cron

After disabling WP-Cron, your scheduled tasks won’t run unless triggered manually or through a server cron job.

Setting It Up via cPanel (Most Common Hosting)

1. Login to cPanel: Navigate to your hosting account’s control panel.
2. Find “Cron Jobs” Section
3. Add a New Cron Job
   • Recommended Frequency: Every 5 minutes
   • Command to Run:
     wget -q -O – https://yourwebsite.com/wp-cron.php?doing_wp_cron >/dev/null 2>&1 
   • Replace yourwebsite.com with your actual domain.
4. Save

This setup triggers wp-cron.php at fixed intervals, regardless of site traffic.

Alternative Commands for Cron Job:

If wget is not available, you can use:

curl https://yourwebsite.com/wp-cron.php?doing_wp_cron

Or using PHP CLI (on VPS/Dedicated):

php /home/username/public_html/wp-cron.php

Common Use Cases: When Should You Disable WP-Cron?

Not every WordPress site needs WP-Cron disabled. But if any of the following applies to you, it’s time to make the switch:

Real-world example: A WooCommerce store with flash sales and multiple plugins started missing scheduled email reminders. After disabling WP-Cron and switching to a server cron job, task reliability increased, and server load dropped by 15%.

Best Practices After Disabling WP-Cron

1. Test Task Execution: After setup, publish a scheduled post or use plugins like WP Crontrol to confirm tasks are running.
2. Monitor Server Load: A well-set cron job should reduce load. If it’s increasing, check for misconfiguration.
3. Backup Regularly: Especially before changing core files like wp-config.php.
4. Use a Cron Job Monitor: Tools like Cronitor or Better Uptime can notify you if your scheduled tasks fail to run.
5. Log WP-Cron Jobs: Use a plugin like WP Crontrol to see scheduled tasks and debug any issues.

Pros and Cons of Disabling WP-Cron

Conclusion

Disabling WP-Cron in WordPress can significantly enhance the reliability of your website’s scheduled tasks and reduce server load. While it’s not required for every site, high-traffic websites, WooCommerce stores, and membership platforms benefit the most from making the switch.

By editing your wp-config.php file and setting up a proper server-level cron job, you ensure your site functions smoothly, even under heavy load or low traffic. It’s a small tweak that can lead to big performance gains and fewer missed tasks.

FAQ Section

1. What is WP-Cron in WordPress?

WP-Cron is WordPress’s internal scheduler that runs tasks like publishing posts and sending emails whenever a visitor loads a page.

2. Why should I disable WP-Cron?

Disable WP-Cron if your site has performance issues or if scheduled tasks often fail. It’s visitor-dependent and can cause delays or overuse server resources.

3. How do I disable WP-Cron in WordPress?

Add define(‘DISABLE_WP_CRON’, true); to your wp-config.php file, just above the “stop editing” line.

4. Will disabling WP-Cron break my site?

No, but scheduled tasks won’t run unless you set up a real cron job at the server level to replace it.

5. What command should I use for a server cron job?

Use wget -q -O – https://yourdomain.com/wp-cron.php?doing_wp_cron >/dev/null 2>&1 in your hosting control panel’s cron job section.

6. How often should I run the server cron job?

Running it every 5 or 10 minutes is typical. Adjust based on how frequently your site runs scheduled tasks.

7. Can I re-enable WP-Cron later?

Yes. Just remove or comment out the line define(‘DISABLE_WP_CRON’, true); in your wp-config.php file.

8. What plugin can help manage WP-Cron jobs?

Use WP Crontrol to view, edit, and debug cron jobs directly from your WordPress dashboard.

You May Like These Useful Tips

How to Disable Auto Excerpt in WordPress?

How to De-Index Tag Pages in WordPress?

How to Create Half-Size Cards in WordPress?