Plugin info

Total downloads: 224,642
Active installs: 5,000
Total reviews: 27
Average rating: 4.7
Support threads opened: 0
Support threads resolved: 0 (0%)
Available in: 7 language(s)
Contributors: 3
Last updated: 11/30/2025 (31 days ago)
Added to WordPress: 10/17/2016 (9 years old)
Minimum WordPress version: 5.0
Tested up to WordPress version: 6.9
Minimum PHP version: f

Maintenance & Compatibility

Maintenance score

Actively maintained • Last updated 31 days ago • 27 reviews

65/100

Is Salt Shaker abandoned?

Likely maintained (last update 31 days ago).

Compatibility

Requires WordPress: 5.0
Tested up to: 6.9
Requires PHP: f

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Description

By using Salt Shaker plugin, you’ll be able to harden your WordPress security. It allows you to change the salt keys either manually or automatically.

Try it out on a free dummy site.

Why Use SALT Keys in WordPress?

When you log in to WordPress, you have the option to remain logged in long-term. To achieve this, WordPress stores your login data in cookies instead of in a PHP session. Malicious individuals can hijack your cookies through various means, leaving your website vulnerable.

To make it harder for attackers to use cookie data, you can take advantage of SALT keys. WordPress SALT keys encrypt your password, making it harder to guess. What’s more, it’s next to impossible for hackers to simply ‘unscramble’ the result in order to get at the original password.

Read more on WPEngine Blog

What people says about Salt Shaker

WPBeginner
Kinsta
WPEngine
Elgenat Themes
Hostinger

Like Salt Shaker? Consider leaving a 5 star review.

Salt Shaker Features

  • Improve your WordPress security.
  • Easy to use, set it and forget it, with minimal settings.
  • Manual and immediate WP security keys and salts changing.
  • Set automated schedule for keys and salts change.

Developers?

Feel free to fork the project on GitHub and submit your contributions via pull request.

Installation

  1. Upload salt-shaker folder to the /wp-content/plugins/ directory.
  2. Activate the plugin through the Plugins menu in WordPress.
  3. Navigate to Tools > Salt Shaker menu to configure the plugin.

Frequently Asked Questions

Nothing happens?

Make sure that wp-config.php file has the salt keys. If for any reason the keys aren’t there; you can always generate a set of keys from this link https://api.wordpress.org/secret-key/1.1/salt/ and add it to your wp-config.php file. Once that’s done, the plugin will be able to shake them based on your settings.

The plugin isn’t working or have a bug?

Post detailed information about the issue in the support forum and we will work to fix it.

Custom wp-config.php location?

You can use this filter to define the file location salt_shaker_salts_file. Example:
In this example, the new location of the config file is in a folder that’s outside WordPress location in a folder called wpsecret. Make sure to replace it with your secret location 😉

function salt_shaker_new_file($salts_file_name) {
    $salts_file_name = '../wpsecret/wp-config';
    return $salts_file_name;
}

add_filter('salt_shaker_salts_file', 'salt_shaker_new_file');

Review feed

anmari
1/11/2019

Thanks - handy, worked

If I have time later, I'll see if I can add the code to add missing salts.
Kenny Moore
1/31/2020

Works great

Thank you for making this available for free. My site is now a bit more secure.

Screenshots

  1. Plugin Settings.

    Plugin Settings.

Changelog

2.1.0

  • Added comprehensive audit trail logging for all salt rotations
  • Automatic cleanup of old logs with configurable retention periods
  • Performance improvements and better error handling
  • WordPress 6.9 compatibility

2.0.1

  • Improved salt generation and replacement
  • WordPress 6.8 compatibility

Read the full changelog here