Disable WP Cron replaces WordPress's built-in pseudo-cron system with real server-side cron jobs. This improves performance and reliability for sites with scheduled tasks like publishing posts or checking for updates.
What this feature does
WordPress uses an internal scheduling system called WP-Cron to run periodic tasks. Unlike real cron jobs that execute on a schedule regardless of traffic, WP-Cron runs only when someone visits your site. This creates two problems. First, if your site is quiet, scheduled tasks can be delayed for hours or days until the next visitor arrives. Second, every page load checks whether any cron tasks are due, which adds overhead.
This setting disables WP-Cron's automatic triggering. Instead, you set up a real server cron job to call WordPress on a schedule (usually every 5 or 15 minutes). This ensures tasks run reliably and predictably, regardless of traffic, and removes the scheduling overhead from every page load.
Simply disabling WP-Cron is not enough. You must set up a real cron job on your server to replace it, or scheduled tasks will never run. Contact your hosting provider for help setting up a cron job that calls your WordPress installation (e.g., via curl or wget). This setting only makes sense if you have cron access on your server.
How to enable it
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Contact your hosting provider.
Ask them to set up a server-side cron job that runs every 5 or 15 minutes. It should call a URL like
https://yoursite.com/wp-cron.php?doing_wp_cronor use WP-CLI:wp cron event list. - Open AdminEase and navigate to Performance. Click AdminEase in the WordPress admin menu, then switch to the Performance tab.
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Toggle Disable WP Cron on.
Save the setting. AdminEase writes the constant to
wp-config.phpimmediately. - Verify the server cron is working. Check that scheduled posts publish on time and that plugins relying on cron (like email notifications or backups) still function. If they stop working, your server cron may not be configured correctly. Contact your host for help.
Settings reference
| Setting | What it does | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Disable WP Cron | Disables WordPress's internal cron triggering on page loads. Requires a real server-side cron job to be set up to handle scheduled tasks. When enabled, WordPress will no longer run cron tasks automatically. Your server cron must call WordPress to execute pending tasks. | Off |
What gets written to wp-config.php
AdminEase writes the DISABLE_WP_CRON constant to wp-config.php:
define( 'DISABLE_WP_CRON', true );When set to true, WordPress skips its internal cron checks on every page load. This removes the scheduling overhead but requires an external cron job to trigger WordPress cron events at regular intervals.
Troubleshooting
I enabled Disable WP Cron, but my scheduled posts aren't publishing
This is almost certainly because your server cron job is not set up. Disabling WP-Cron only works if you have a real cron job calling WordPress. Contact your hosting provider and ask them to set up a cron job that calls your WordPress site (via HTTP request or WP-CLI) every 5-15 minutes. Provide them with your site URL. Until the cron job is working, disable this setting to restore the fallback behavior.
How do I know if my server cron is working?
Check your server's cron logs (usually in your hosting control panel or via SSH). Verify that the cron job is running at the expected intervals. You can also monitor your site's behavior: if scheduled posts publish on time, backups run, and email notifications send, the cron is working. If these features stop working after disabling WP-Cron, the cron setup failed.
Should I use this on a low-traffic site?
Yes. Even on low-traffic sites, WP-Cron's dependency on visitors means scheduled tasks can be delayed for hours. If you have scheduled posts, backups, or automated emails, a real cron job ensures they run predictably. The overhead of checking cron on every page load is minimal, but removing it is slightly faster. For any site running scheduled operations, real cron is more reliable.
Can I disable both WP-Cron and set up a server cron wrong?
Yes, and your site will stop running scheduled tasks. Never disable WP-Cron unless you've already confirmed your server cron job is working. Test your server cron before enabling this setting, and have a way to quickly disable it if needed. If you can't reach your hosting provider to set up cron, leave WP-Cron enabled.