Daily Tip: How to Disable Plugin and Theme Update and Installation on WordPress

Here’s a quick tip that helps you to restrict access to the plugin and them updating capability within WordPress, as well as remove the ability for users to install new plugins and themes.

Why would you want to do this? Perhaps you’ve set up a WordPress site for a client and you don’t want them mindlessly upgrading without determining the compatibility of their theme or plugins. Poorly executed upgrades can cause a host of issues that you will more than likely be called upon to fix.

Add this constant to your wp-config.php file to disable plugin and theme updates/installation:

define('DISALLOW_FILE_MODS',true);

In case you think it’s a horrible injustice to disable plugin and theme updates, this tip comes to you directly from the WordPress codex – it’s a built-in constant. Feel free to use it as necessary.