Scott Reilly

This plugin prevents WordPress from allowing and handling any search requests from the front-end of the site. Specifically, this plugin:
<ul>
<li>Prevents the search form from appearing if the theme uses the standard <code>get_search_form()</code> function to display the search form.</li>
<li>Prevents the search form from appearing if the theme uses a <code>searchform.php</code> template</li>
<li>Prevents the search item from appearing in the admin tool bar when shown on the front-end.</li>
<li>Disables the search widget.
<ul>
<li>Removes the Search widget from the list of available widgets</li>
<li>Deactivates any search widgets currently in use in any sidebars (they are hidden, not deleted; they’ll reappear in their original locations if this plugin gets deactivated)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Disables the search block.
<ul>
<li>Removes the Search block from the list of available blocks</li>
<li>Deactivates any search blocks currently in use, such as in posts or as a widget (they are disabled, not deleted; they’ll reappear if this plugin gets deactivated and the associated placeholder block doesn’t get deleted)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>With or without a search form, the plugin prevents any direct or manual requests by visitors, via either GET or POST requests, from actually returning any search results.</li>
<li>Submitted attempts at a search will be given a 404 File Not Found response, rendered by your site’s 404.php template, if present.</li>
<li>Disables output of <code>SearchAction</code> in SEO schema by the <a href="https://wordpress.org/plugins/wordpress-seo/" rel="ugc">Yoast SEO</a> plugin.</li>
</ul>
The plugin only affects search on the front-end of the site. It does not disable searching in the admin section of the site.
Links: <a href="https://coffee2code.com/wp-plugins/disable-search/" rel="nofollow ugc">Plugin Homepage</a> | <a href="https://wordpress.org/plugins/disable-search/" rel="ugc">Plugin Directory Page</a> | <a href="https://github.com/coffee2code/disable-search/" rel="nofollow ugc">GitHub</a> | <a href="https://coffee2code.com" rel="nofollow ugc">Author Homepage</a>

Disable Search


In 2024, numerous bots are crawling sites, generating significant search spam. Generally, site search incurs high costs, primarily because we end up paying for CPU resources consumed by spam.



If site search is not crucial for your website, I recommend activating this plugin.



Thank you, Scott, for maintaining this simple yet effective plugin!


The most effective way to avoid search spam

Disable the built-in front-end search capabilities of WordPress.

This plugin uses a combination of WordPress hooks, CSS (when possible), and Javascript (last resort) to removed specified admin interface elements. These elements may be considered by some to be superfluous interface elements that are undesired for one reason or another, so this plugin aids in their visual removal.
Each admin interface element is individually selected for removal. The elements that can be removed are:
<ul>
<li>The header WordPress logo (bear in mind this functions as a menu) in the admin bar</li>
<li>The home icon next to your site’s name in the admin bar</li>
<li>The “Howdy,” greeting before your username in the admin bar</li>
<li>Your username link to your profile in the admin bar</li>
<li>Your avatar in the admin bar</li>
<li>The Dashboard menu link in the sidebar</li>
<li>The contextual “Help” link</li>
<li>The footer links</li>
<li>The WordPress version in the footer</li>
</ul>
(There is an associated screenshot which points out these different sections.)
Note: These settings are global and will affect all users who are able to visit the admin pages.
Links: <a href="https://coffee2code.com/wp-plugins/admin-trim-interface/" rel="nofollow ugc">Plugin Homepage</a> | <a href="https://wordpress.org/plugins/admin-trim-interface/" rel="ugc">Plugin Directory Page</a> | <a href="https://github.com/coffee2code/admin-trim-interface/" rel="nofollow ugc">GitHub</a> | <a href="https://coffee2code.com" rel="nofollow ugc">Author Homepage</a>

Admin Trim Interface

Customize the WordPress admin pages by selectively removing interface elements on a per-user basis.

Disable Search vs Admin Trim Interface