Here’s a lightweight, “kills‑it‑all” WordPress plug‑in you can drop into any site to disable the most common built‑in features—REST API, comments, feeds, emojis, oEmbed, XML‑RPC, Gutenberg editor, admin‑bar and a handful of header cruft—in one go. Download, install, and enjoy a leaner, tougher WordPress!

⬇️ Download minimal-disable.zip

What the plug‑in switches off (and why it matters)

Feature disabledPurposeKey hook/filter used
Emojis & SVGsShaves HTTP requests and a small JS file.print_emoji_detection_script, print_emoji_styles 
Embeds / oEmbedRemoves auto‑embedding JS, discovery links, REST routes.wp_oembed_* family + tiny_mce_plugins 
WP REST API (front‑end)Eliminates public JSON endpoints attackers love to probe.rest_authentication_errors 
XML‑RPCBlocks legacy pingbacks / remote publishing hole.xmlrpc_enabled, X‑Pingback header 
Feeds (RSS/Atom)Kills auto‑generated feeds if you don’t publish them.do_feed* callbacks 
Comments everywhereRemoves UI, closes existing threads, hides admin page.remove_post_type_support, comments_open 
Block/Gutenberg editorRestores Classic Editor for all post types.use_block_editor_for_post_type 
Front‑end admin barGives visitors (and yourself) a cleaner view.show_admin_bar 
Misc. <head> bloatStrips RSD, WLW, shortlink, version, & feed tags.remove_action( ‘wp_head’, … ) 

(Every change is reversed cleanly on de‑activation; no database tables are touched.)

Installation

  1. Download the file above—it’s a standard WordPress plugin ZIP.
  2. In your WP admin, go to Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin, choose the ZIP, and click Install Now.
  3. Hit Activate. That’s it—features listed above vanish instantly.

Need to roll anything back? Just deactivate or delete the plugin and WordPress will behave as normal.

Customising the behaviour

Open the single PHP file inside the plugin:

  • Comment‑out any block you want to keep (mwd_disable_embeds(), mwd_disable_feeds(), etc.).
  • Extend it: for example, uncomment wp_deregister_script( ‘jquery’ ); to strip jQuery, or add define( ‘DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT’, true ); to prevent theme/plugin editing from the dashboard.
  • Rename the functions or folder if you intend to run multiple custom hardening snippets to avoid name collisions.

Tested stack & compatibility

  • WordPress 5.0 → 6.5 (latest as of 27 Jul 2025)
  • PHP 7.4 → 8.3
  • Multisite‑safe (network‑activate to affect every sub‑site)
  • No third‑party dependencies, no Composer/autoloader fuss.

Final pep‑talk 🌟

Locking down WordPress doesn’t have to be overwhelming—sometimes a single, tidy plugin is all it takes. Install Minimal WP Disable, shed the weight, shrink your attack surface, and give your site the lean, mean edge it deserves. Stay secure and keep creating! 🎉