What is xmlrpc.php in WordPress? Should we care about it? How to disable it?
The Simplest definition of xmlrpc.php is…
Ability to access the management panel of WordPress sites, via mobile or tablet. In fact, without this feature, you will definitely need a computer system to access the management panel.
What is xmlrpc in wordpress?
If we want to talk more specifically about xmlrpc.php…
It is an application to connecting different systems and interacting on different blogging platforms like Jetpack plugin, trackback and pingback. It does its tasks by using HTTP to transporting mechanism and XML to encoding mechanism.
However, do not rush; things are not going so well. Enabling this feature in WordPress may cause security risks for the site and of course your data.
Should we care about xmlrpc.php?
Absolutely yes. This feature is automatically enabled in your WordPress. Moreover, this can jeopardize your information. Because other users can have access like you and this is not good.
Of course, this feature was previously disabled. However, when the WordPress version 3.5 releases, this feature was activated automatically. At the time, this was done so that users could access WordPress through a mobile app. But now there are safer ways to do it.
Should I Disable xmlrpc php?
Is xmlrpc vulnerability? Such questions are asked frequently. The answer to this question depends on whether the security of your site and information is important to you or not. If you care about this then you should disable xmlrpc php. Plus since the Rest API came out no need to have an xmlrpc php. Because the Rest API performs, xmlrpc php tasks much better.
Rest API interact with many blogging platforms, systems and services. It covers and accesses much and better than xmlrpc php file.
However, in three cases you should not disable it:
- You are not equipped with Rest API, but for any reason you need to connect with other platforms
- You do not have access to Rest API due to the use of a special application
- You cannot upgrade your WordPress to version 4.4 or higher for any reason
Can I Delete xmlrpc php wordpress?
If this feature is enabled on your WordPress site, you can disable it. There are several different techniques like Plugin for disable xmlrpc that we will introduce and teach you how to use them.
How do I disable xmlrpc in wordpress
To do this, you must first determine if this feature is enabled on your WordPress site or not. This action has a specific solution.
You need use WordPress XML-RPC Validation Service. This service determines exactly whether it is active on your site or not. Once this feature is enabled on your site, you can disable it in the following ways:
- Using plugins
There are some plugin to do this:
- XML-PRC plugin
With plugins like the Disable XML-PRC plugin, you can disable xmlrpc.php like a piece of cake!
You may not believe, but installing this plugin on your WordPress site means disabling xmlrpc.php and you do not need to do anything else.
- Rest XML-RPC Data Checker plugin
Install and activate this plugin. Then go to the settings and find the REST XML-RPC Data Checker option. Then you need to click the tab named XML-RPC.
- Disable XML-RPC Pingback plugin
This plugin comes in handy if you just want to disable the pingback function. In this case, by installing and activating this plugin, the pingback function will be automatically deactivated.
- Using the htaccess file
To do this, you must first copy all your files so that your data is not lost. Then you can disable xmlrpc from wordpress by entering this code in the .htaccess file:
<Files xmlrpc.php>
Order Allow,Deny
Deny from all
</Files>
The final point…
Note that disabling this without backing up data can break your site. Therefore, it is better to make sure your files security before taking any action.
