How to Disable Self-Pingbacks in WordPress: Proven Step-by-Step Methods

Interlinking your own posts boosts SEO, but self-pingbacks clutter comment sections. As experienced WordPress users, we've managed this issue on numerous sites. Many find these notifications unhelpful. Here's how to disable them effectively, drawing from years of hands-on optimization.

What Is a Pingback?

Pingbacks allow sites to notify each other of links, like digital feedback. Consider this example:

1. You publish a post on the WPBeginner blog.
2. Another site links to it.
3. Their WordPress software sends a pingback automatically.
4. Your WordPress verifies the link and adds it as a comment with a link back.

This applies internally too: linking your own posts triggers self-pingbacks, which can be frustrating.

For in-depth details, check our guide on trackbacks and pingbacks.

Ready to stop them? We cover plugin and manual methods that work reliably.

Video Walkthrough

Subscribe to WPBeginner for more. Prefer text? Keep reading below.

Multiple reliable options exist. Choose based on your comfort level.

Method 1: Disable with Plugins

Two straightforward plugins handle this.

Option 1: No Self Pings Plugin

Install and activate No Self Pings. It works immediately—no settings needed. Note: It's over two years old but remains compatible with recent WordPress versions (tested up to 4.2.3). For safety, review our guide on untested plugins first, as we advise caution with outdated tools.

Option 2: Disabler Plugin

Install and activate Disabler, then go to Settings » Disabler.

In the Back-end settings section, check Disable self-pings. Save changes.

Method 2: Disable Without Plugins

Option 1: Global Disable

Head to Settings » Discussion. Under Default article settings, uncheck Attempt to notify any blog linked to in the article. Save changes.

Option 2: Add Code Snippet

For code-savvy users, add this to your theme's functions.php or a site-specific plugin:

function no_self_ping( &$links ) {
    $home = get_option( 'home' );
    foreach ( $links as $l => $link )
        if ( 0 === strpos( $link, $home ) )
            unset( $links[$l] );
}
add_action( 'pre_ping', 'no_self_ping' );

That's it! Self-pingbacks are now disabled. See our guide on stopping WordPress trackback spam for more security tips.

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