Easy Steps to Disable Comments in WordPress
WordPress has an amazing built-in feature called commenting. Sometimes, however, WordPress can be difficult to disable comments.
Whether you are looking to stop spam or focusing your content, or just want to control the appearance of your pages’ pages, it is possible to disable comments (and their cousin trackbacks).
How to Turn Off Comments All Over the World
There is no way to turn off all comments. This is the biggest problem. You can either install Disable Comments for convenience or these three steps (for long-term solutions).
1. For new articles, turn off comments
This can be done under Discussion Settings.
2. Comment on existing articles: Turn off comments
This can be done via “Quick Edit”.
Combine it with the ability to select multiple posts simultaneously and run “Quick Edit”
3. Remove comments from attachment pages
When you upload files to the media library the media creates an “attachment webpage” until it is “attached to a post after you insert it.
This attachment page is available for comment and is currently live.
Unattached media files can be found in the sort filter of your media library.
To uncheck the commenting function, you will need to open each one separately.
You can either use bulk editing via CSV, or this code snippet within your functions.php file.
[sourcecode language=”plain”] function filter_media_comment_status( $open, $post_id ) $post = get_post( $post_id ); if( $post->post_type == ‘attachment’ ) return false; return $open; add_filter( ‘comments_open’, ‘filter_media_comment_status’, 10 , 2 ); [/sourcecode]
You’ve now taken care of both old and new content & media content. Your comments are now off-limits globally
How to Turn Off Comments Per Post
You can disable the comments meta box if you don’t want comments to be displayed on specific pages, posts, or custom post types.
It can be found on any page, post or type editing page. You can find it on any post, page or type editing page.
Comment Regulation
You can mix and match options by going to Discussion Settings under Settings. You can change the appearance of trackbacks and comments.
Make sure you read the definitions in Discussion Settings.
There are many third-party commenting options available, from Facebook to Disqus and LiveFyre. Each has its own pros and cons. Using a third-party tool doesn’t automatically resolve comment issues.
It may actually make commenting more difficult since WordPress no longer has built-in tools for adjusting the appearance and use of comments.
Next Steps, Considerations and Shortcuts
WordPress comments can be disabled, which is a great (and essential) feature. There are some things you should keep in mind.
You can turn off comments on multiple posts but not globally using the bulk editing function within WordPress. Learn more about bulk editing via CSV here.
Some plugins allow comments to be used for key functionality. You should check the use of your comments if you are using any plugin that allows user generated content (e.g. a social network site or appointment site),
Learn what spam is and how to stop it if that’s your problem.
Best of luck in whatever you do!
