How to Disable Automatic Updates in WordPress via 2 Quick Methods

Have you ever logged into your WordPress site and noticed something went mysteriously wrong? It may, somewhat frustratingly, be the result of an automatic update. WordPress automatically updates itself to fix bugs and add additional security features. However, at times, it may conflict with your custom code, themes, or plugins, causing more headaches than benefits.

This is the reason many site owners/developers try to find a way to stop these surprises! If you are in this camp, you may be asking, “How to disable automatic updates in WordPress, without ruining anything?”.

In this thorough guide for 2025, we will show you step-by-step how to disable automatic updates in WordPress, with instructions on either a simple code snippet or a beginner-friendly plugin. We will also talk about turning off updates, the pros and cons, and some common FAQs to help you make the right decision for your website’s stability.

Let’s dive in.

What Are Automatic Updates In WordPress?

The automatic update feature is a feature that WordPress introduced in version 3.7 to help make websites more secure and less dependent on people doing it manually. Their purpose is to help defend against vulnerabilities by ensuring you have important security patches installed without you having to do anything.

By default, WordPress automatically updates:

• Minor core releases (e.g., version 6.5.1 to 6.5.2).
• Security updates are needed to patch vulnerabilities quickly.
• Translation files for updated language support.
• Occasionally, themes and plugins, depending on your settings or plugin developer preferences.

Pretty convenient, right? In general, it’s probably convenient for any basic websites. But automatically applying these updates can also cause complications, especially on complex or customized sites.

That is why many developers want to learn how to disable automatic updates in WordPress so that they don’t have to deal with unpredictable compatibility problems and suddenly broken features.

Why Disable Automatic WordPress Updates?

If automatic updates are designed to make our lives easier, why do so many WordPress users decide to turn them off?

While updates can help improve the security of your site and offer performance enhancements, they can potentially create some serious headaches, especially if you are managing a business-critical or custom site. This is why knowing how to disable automatic updates in WordPress is a smart move in very specific scenarios.

Here are the most common reasons that site owners take the manual approach:

1. Avoid Site Breakage

Automatic updates can’t always play nicely with existing code. One little update can change everything, and in the worst case, changes to a core function may cause a theme or plugin to malfunction or break your site entirely. If you have disabled automatic updates, you can first test everything in your staging environment.

2. Maintain Full Control

Many developers prefer the manual route with updates so they can:

• Read Changelogs
• Test for compatibility
• Deploy all changes on their terms

This level of control can help avoid nasty surprises during peak traffic or sales periods.

3. Avoid Plugin Conflicts

Not all plugins are updated at the same pace. If one plugin updates while others do not, it can lead to functionality issues and unexpected errors, or worse, a full site crash!.

4. Maintain Custom Code

A lot of websites will include custom changes made directly into the theme or the plugin. Automatic updates will usually overwrite those changes unless they are safely saved in child themes or custom plugins. But by disabling the updates, you have control over when & how the changes are made!

How to Disable Automatic Updates in WordPress: 2 Effective Methods

Now that we’ve addressed the “why,” let’s get into the “how.”

There are two ways to effectively manage your updates, whether you are an experienced developer or new to WordPress. You can either modify your site’s code or use a plugin.

You don’t need to know how to code, but we will walk through both methods step-by-step so you can choose whatever is best for you.

Method 1: How to Disable Automatic Updates in WordPress through Code

This is the cleanest way to disable automatic updates in WordPress, and you don’t even need any additional plugins. All you will need to do is simply edit the wp-config.php file. Check the step-by-step instructions below:

Step 1: Open wp-config.php

In cPanel File Manager or FTP using FileZilla, access the root directory of your WordPress site, locate the wp-config.php file, and open it.

Step 2: Add the following line of code

Simply paste the following line above the comment that states “That’s all, stop editing! Happy blogging.”

define( 'AUTOMATIC_UPDATER_DISABLED', true );

This deactivates all types of automatic updates, including security updates, minor core actions, and translation updates.

Optional: Disable Only Core Updates

If you’d like more control and only want to disable automatic updates of the WordPress core, use this code instead:

define( 'WP_AUTO_UPDATE_CORE', false );

You can also replace false With:

• 'minor' → Only allow minor core updates
• 'true' → Allow all core updates
• 'false' → Block all core updates (recommended for advanced users)

Pro Tip:

Before making any changes, you must:

• Backup your site
• Test updates in a staging environment
• Document any changes you make in the file

This method is best for developers or those who want to avoid plugin clutter.

Method 2: Using a Plugin to Disable Automatic Updates

If you are not comfortable with file editing, using a plugin is the safest and easiest option.

For our application, we will be using the Easy Updates Manager plugin. It is lightweight, powerful, and easy to use, even for beginners. Step-by-step instructions are given below to use the Easy Updates Manager plugin:

Step 1: Install the Plugin

1. In your WordPress Dashboard, navigate to Plugins → Add Plugin.
2. In the search bar, search for Easy Updates Manager.
3. Click Install Now → Activate.

Step 2: Set up the Update Settings.

• After activating, you will go to either Dashboard → Updates Options or Settings → General, depending on your WordPress Theme/Setup.
• You will see the Updates options. From here, you can manage updates for:
  • Core WordPress
  • Plugins
  • Themes
  • Translation files
  • Developer logs and email notifications

Step 3: Disable any Automatic Updates.

• Scroll to the General Settings section.
• Toggle to Disable all updates or select different settings.

You can truly select the combination of exactly what you want to control.

Why Use This Plugin?

• No coding required
• Gives granular control
• Useful logs and optional email notifications
• Works on multisite networks too!

The Easy Updates Manager plugin is actively maintained and has over 300,000 active installations, making it a trusted choice for managing WordPress updates in an easy way.

Pros and Cons of Disabling Automatic Updates in WordPress

At this point, you understand how to disable automatic updates in WordPress, but is it the right move for your site?

Like most choices in web development, it comes down to a balance. Automatic updates provide ease of use, security, and up-to-date plugins and themes with less effort, while turning them off gives you more control and customization.

Let’s examine the pros and cons so you can make an educated, informed decision.

Pros of Disabling Automatic Updates

1. You control your website: When you disable updates, nothing will change, or will change when you decide to change it. You will be able to control when things are updated, and you will be able to take your time to test things.
2. Avoid broken sites: Some updates could cause issues with your existing plugins, themes, or custom code. Disabling automatic updates could avoid some unexpected downtime and broken things.
3. Compatibility testing: You can always test your updates in a staging environment before you apply them and make sure everything works properly with your existing stack.
4. Custom Work: You may have or may want to make custom modifications to your themes or plugins. Automatic updates can erase those modifications. Disabling those updates so that you don’t accidentally erase your custom work will keep those tweaks safe.

Cons of Disabling Automatic Updates

1. Security Risks: Often, automatic updates contain patch updates to known vulnerabilities. If you miss or forget to update, your site could remain susceptible.
2. Manual Maintenance: Along with the power responsibility comes. If you turn off automatic updates now, then you’ll have to check updates and install them yourself.
3. Missed Improvements: Updates not only fix bugs – they also provide performance improvements, features, and compatibility updates. If you are not looking for them, you could miss out on those.
4. Larger Learning Curve: If you are a beginner, managing updates manually could be daunting, especially when you have a lot of plugins or multiple websites.

When Is It Smart to Disable Automatic Updates?

Turning off updates is best if:

• You are operating a heavily modified WordPress website.
• You operate a popular business website.
• You have a staging environment to test updates.
• You or the developer can monitor updates manually.

But, on the other hand, if you are running a simple blog or small business website with no complex customizations, then leaving automatic updates enabled may be safer and easier.

Final Thoughts: Take Control of Your WordPress Updates

There you have it – a complete, step-by-step guide on how to disable automatic updates in WordPress without too much fuss.

Automatic updates were created to help protect your site by ensuring it is always up to date and does not stall due to an unexpected incompatibility; however, it is not necessarily the best scenario for everyone.

In particular, if your site is custom code, requires premium plugins, or you have a uniquely configured stack, then this either needs to be re-verified by you in the morning or disabled entirely.

The good news? You’ve got options.

To summarize:

• You can disable updates for your site by adding one line of code in your wp-config.php file.
• You can choose to disable updates by using a reliable plugin like Easy Updates Manager, which also allows toggling on or off specific updates.
• The most important takeaway is to remember that disabling is not doing. You still need to take it on yourself to work through your updates manually to keep your site secure, efficient, and supportable.

Whether you are running a personal blog, an eCommerce store, or a client project, knowing how to disable automatic updates in WordPress gives you the ability to determine how and when your site changes.

Your Next Steps

• Backup your site regularly.
• Choose the method (code or plugin) that fits your skill level.
• Set a monthly update reminder or use a site management tool.
• Monitor vulnerabilities with security tools.

Taking control of your updates doesn’t mean doing everything manually—it just means doing it your way.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

To finish the topic, we will answer several common questions that users search for on search engines regarding how to disable automatic updates in WordPress. These questions reveal real user issues, help you make informed choices, and help you understand update management.