Disable Updates – Updates Manager, Disable Automatic Updates, Disable All Updates

What is Disable Updates?

Disable Updates, developed by Themeisle, is a focused updates manager that has been serving the WordPress community for 9 years. It gives site owners granular control over how and when updates occur on their sites. The plugin currently holds 10K+ active installs and a strong 4.5/5 rating from 24 user reviews, with 88% of those being five-star ratings.

At its core, this tool answers the common question of how to disable all updates in WordPress without needing complex code. Rather than removing update functionality entirely, it lets you decide which parts of your site remain static and which stay current. Whether you need to halt core version bumps or simply want to disable theme updates on a staging environment, the plugin provides a straightforward interface for those decisions.

Key Features of Disable Updates

• Disable Plugin Updates Globally or Individually — Stop all plugin update checks, or use the per-plugin toggle to disable plugin updates individually for specific extensions you want to lock in place.
• Disable Theme Updates Selectively — Prevent all theme updates from appearing, or control the update status on a per-theme basis to protect custom child themes from being overwritten.
• Core Update Management by Release Type — Disable core updates entirely, or fine-tune automatic updates by allowing only major, minor, or development releases to install on their own.
• Disable Automatic Updates Without Hiding Notifications — You can disable automatic updates for core, plugins, and themes while still seeing available updates in the dashboard for manual review.
• Hide Update Notices from Non-Admin Users — Suppress update notifications for all users except administrators, keeping the interface clean for editors and contributors.
• Email Notification Controls — Receive email alerts when updates are available or after successful updates, and optionally disable the default core update notification emails.
• Disable Translation Updates — Stop automatic translation file updates, which is useful for sites running custom language packs or modified string files.

Who Should Use Disable Updates?

This plugin is ideal for site administrators who need precise control over update behavior without editing functions.php or managing server-level configurations. It suits developers running client sites where specific plugins or themes must remain at a fixed version for compatibility reasons. The tool is also a good fit for agencies that want to disable automatic updates across a fleet of sites, then manually approve changes after testing.

With a 4.5/5 rating and 88% five-star reviews, the plugin appeals to both beginners and experienced users. Beginners appreciate the simple toggle switches for disabling core updates, while power users leverage the per-item controls to disable plugin updates individually. The 8% one-star ratings typically cite edge cases with specific hosting environments, which is common for update management tools.

Installation & Setup

Installation is straightforward for any user familiar with the WordPress admin panel. After adding and activating the plugin from the repository, navigate to Settings → Updates manager to configure your preferences. The interface presents clear checkboxes and dropdowns, making it beginner-friendly even for those who have never managed update settings before.

Support & Community

Support is handled through the official WordPress.org forum. In the last two months, the plugin recorded 0 open threads and 0 resolved threads, resulting in a 0% resolution rate for that period. This data suggests either very few users are encountering issues, or support responses may be delayed. Given the plugin’s 9-year maturity and straightforward feature set, many common questions are likely answered by the built-in FAQ.

The rating distribution tells a clear story: 88% of users gave five stars, indicating strong satisfaction with core functionality. The 8% one-star ratings represent a minority but highlight that no update management tool works perfectly for every hosting setup. For most users seeking to disable automatic updates on a standard WordPress installation, this plugin delivers reliable results.