By default, all WordPress plugins are set to automatically check update and show notifications inside the dashboard. This is meant to help the owner see such update availability and possibly take action for either update any specific plugin and or to leave it depending on any reason one may be having.
As we know it well, not all plugins including their updates are supported by either the WordPress core version one may be running, the theme, etc reasons one may have, webmasters find themselves wanting to stop or even turn off specific plugins from checking updates in order to be safe basing on what one wants.
In the last few day, many readers have sent me emails on how they could be able to completely turn off specific plugins from update checks since that would help them be safe when it comes to accidentally updating them as a way of avoiding issues like crushes the site, etc.
By default, it is recommended that you keep your WordPress core and all of your site plugins updated as a security measure which is known to help when it comes to hacking, an act which is available more than you may think on the internet for example, one of my sites attracts over 1000 attempted logins everyday by hackers.
And even though you manage to stop your plugins from checking updates and or updating them, you need to keep track of your plugin new features as they are released so as to be in position of switching if there is any need.
Procedures to Stop WordPress Plugin Update Notifications
- Log into WordPress as Admin
- Navigate to plugins and click edit
- Find the name of the plugin you want to disable update notifications
- Copy the plugin php name for example, “wp-social-share/wp-social-share.php”
- Save it somewhere on a notepad
- Click on Appearance and scroll to Editor on your current theme
- Click on theme functions or functions.php and and add this code below.
add_filter( ‘site_transient_update_plugins’, ‘stop_plugin_update’ );
function stop_plugin_update( $value ) {
unset( $value->response[‘wp-social-share/wp-social-share.php‘] );
return $value;
}
- Replace the plugin php name with the name of the plugin you saved
- Click on update file to save your settings.
Your selected plugin will automatically stop from checking updates not until your remove the code in the functions.php file of your theme.
Note: You should first ensure that you have backed up your functions.php file before you attempt to edit it to be on a secure side. And in case you use FTP clients, just on to your site using FTP, navigate to themes, select your current theme, click on edit/view on your functions.php file, edit it, click file and save in order to re-upload it back.
