How to Disable WordPress Auto-Save and Post Revisions (Without Plugins)
This guide explains how to disable WordPress's auto-save and post revision features by modifying core files. Important: Directly editing core files is risky and changes will be overwritten during updates. Use these methods only in development or when absolutely necessary. For production sites, consider using a dedicated optimization plugin instead.
How It Works & Precautions
WordPress auto-save and revisions prevent content loss but can create redundant data for stable sites with infrequent edits. You can disable them via configuration and code edits.
Warning: Always back up files before modifying them. These steps are based on recent WordPress versions; adjust if file paths or code differ.
Step 1: Modify wp-config.php
In your WordPress root directory, open wp-config.php. Before the line /* That's all, stop editing! Happy publishing. */, add:
define('WP_POST_REVISIONS', false);
define('AUTOSAVE_INTERVAL', 86400); // Seconds (24 hours)Explanation:
define('WP_POST_REVISIONS', false);– Completely disables post revisions.define('AUTOSAVE_INTERVAL', 86400);– Sets auto-save interval to 24 hours, drastically reducing frequency. To disable entirely, set to a very high value, but Step 2 may still be needed.
Step 2: Disable Auto-Save Script (If Needed)
If auto-save remains active, comment out its script in these files:
wp-admin/post-new.phpwp-admin/post.php
Find lines containing wp_enqueue_script('autosave'); and comment them:
// wp_enqueue_script('autosave');Step 3: Disable Auto-Draft Creation (Advanced)
WordPress creates an "auto-draft" when opening the post editor. To stop this, edit wp-admin/includes/post.php.
Find the wp_write_post() function or search for if ( $create_in_db ) {. Before that line, add:
$create_in_db = false;Caution: This is a deep modification that may affect post creation. Test thoroughly.
Alternative: Use Plugins
For most users, plugins are safer and easier to maintain. Recommended options:
- Disable Post Revision
- Revision Control
- WP Performance Score Booster
These plugins safely control revision limits and auto-save intervals, and remain compatible with updates.
Summary
You can disable auto-save and revisions by editing wp-config.php and core scripts without plugins. However, core modifications are risky and temporary. For live sites, using a trusted plugin is the recommended approach.