How to View and Control WordPress Cron Jobs?

Table of Contents

When managing a WordPress website, automation is a game-changer. But, have you ever wondered how WordPress handles tasks like scheduling posts, cleaning up old comments, or checking for plugin updates even when you’re not logged in? It’s all thanks to WordPress Cron Jobs—the unsung hero behind the scenes!

In this guide, we’ll dive deep into how to view and control WordPress Cron Jobs, and I’ll walk you through everything from understanding cron jobs, using them effectively, to controlling them without slowing down your site.

If you’ve been intimidated by the term “cron,” don’t worry! I’ll break it down in easy-to-understand steps, so by the end, you’ll feel confident managing WordPress Cron Jobs like a pro.

What Are WordPress Cron Jobs?

Let’s start with the basics. The term cron refers to scheduled tasks that run on a server at specific intervals. In simpler terms, cron jobs are like an automatic to-do list for your website. They handle everything from publishing scheduled posts, checking for WordPress updates, backing up your website, or even deleting old, unnecessary data.

Imagine this: you’re sleeping soundly, but your website continues to update, publish content, and clean up after itself—like a well-oiled machine. That’s the magic of WordPress Cron Jobs.

So, how does it all work?

How Does WordPress Cron Work?

Unlike traditional cron jobs found on Linux servers that run based on the server’s clock, WordPress Cron Jobs work differently. Instead of running at fixed intervals, WordPress Cron relies on website traffic. This means that each time someone visits your site, WordPress checks if there are any scheduled tasks and then runs them.

But what if your site has low traffic? You guessed it—your cron jobs might not run on time. This can be an issue, especially for important tasks like scheduled posts or backups.

Let’s break it down further:

Every time a visitor lands on your site, WordPress checks if a cron job is due.
If it finds a scheduled task, it runs it at that moment.
If no one visits your site, the task could be delayed.

This is important to know because if you’re running a site with low traffic, tasks might not execute on time. That’s where manual control of WordPress Cron Jobs comes in handy.

Why Should You Control WordPress Cron Jobs?

By default, WordPress handles cron jobs automatically, but sometimes this system isn’t enough. Some plugins or themes might misuse cron jobs, slowing down your site. For instance, a plugin could be running resource-heavy tasks every few minutes, making your website sluggish.

Take this example: Imagine a backup plugin running every 5 minutes to back up your entire website. This would likely overburden your server, slowing down your site significantly—especially if you’re on shared hosting. Controlling how frequently these jobs run is key to keeping your website speedy.

And what about adding your own cron jobs? Maybe you want to schedule a custom task, like sending a weekly email to subscribers. In that case, you’ll need to know how to add and control WordPress Cron Jobs yourself.

How to View and Control WordPress Cron Jobs: Step-by-Step Guide

Now that we understand why controlling cron jobs is essential, let’s dive into the step-by-step process of viewing, controlling, and even creating your own WordPress Cron Jobs.

Step 1: Install the WP Crontrol Plugin

To make managing cron jobs easier, we’ll use the WP Crontrol plugin. This handy tool allows you to view and control WordPress Cron Jobs from your dashboard.

Log into your WordPress admin dashboard.
Navigate to Plugins > Add New.
In the search bar, type “WP Crontrol” and click Install Now.
Once installed, click Activate.

This plugin will now give you access to all the cron events running on your website.

Once the WordPress Plugin activates, then select the schedules to create your cron events.

Step 2: Viewing WordPress Cron Jobs

Once the plugin is activated, head over to Tools > Cron Events. Here, you’ll see a list of all the cron events scheduled to run on your site.

The first column shows the hook name. Each cron job is tied to a hook, which tells WordPress what action to perform.
Next, you’ll see the next run time and the frequency of each job (hourly, daily, etc.).
Finally, the action column lets you edit, delete, or manually run any WordPress Cron Job.

For example, default WordPress cron jobs like wp_update_plugins or wp_update_themes run checks for plugin and theme updates. But if you see an unfamiliar or resource-heavy cron job, you can choose to manage it.

Step 3: How to Edit or Delete WordPress Cron Jobs

Let’s say you spot a WordPress cron job that’s running every 5 minutes. You suspect it’s affecting your site’s performance. Here’s what you do:

In the Cron Events page, locate the job you want to edit.
Click the Edit button next to it.
In the Modify Cron Event section, adjust how often the cron job runs. You might want to switch it to run hourly or twice daily instead of every 5 minutes.
Hit Save Changes to store your settings.

Be careful when editing or deleting WordPress cron jobs, especially the default ones. Removing crucial system cron jobs can cause your website to malfunction.

Step 4: Adding Your Own WordPress Cron Jobs

What if you want to create a custom cron job for a specific task? For example, let’s say you want to send an automatic email every Monday morning to your subscribers. Here’s how you can set that up:

Scroll down to the Add Cron Event section.
Enter a hook name for your event. A good rule of thumb is to use descriptive names, such as weekly_email_notification.
Specify the time when the cron job should run next (e.g., +2 days or tomorrow).
Choose a schedule. For a weekly task, you’d select weekly from the dropdown.
Click Add Cron Event.

Now, you’ll need to add a custom function to tell WordPress what to do when that event triggers. You can do this by adding the following code to your theme’s functions.php file:

add_action( 'weekly_email_notification', 'send_weekly_email' );

function send_weekly_email() {

    wp_mail( 'you@example.com', 'Weekly Email', 'This is your automatic weekly email from WordPress!');

Make sure to replace the email address with your own!

WordPress Add Cron Job Programmatically

If you’re a developer or comfortable with code, you can also add a WordPress cron job programmatically. This gives you more control and flexibility compared to using a plugin. For instance, you might want to create a WordPress cron job without using a plugin to minimize performance overhead.

Here’s how to schedule a cron job directly using code:

if ( ! wp_next_scheduled( 'my_custom_cron_hook' ) ) {

    wp_schedule_event( time(), 'daily', 'my_custom_cron_hook' );

add_action( 'my_custom_cron_hook', 'my_custom_cron_function' );

function my_custom_cron_function() {

This function schedules a WordPress cron job that runs every day. If you need it to run more frequently, you can change the schedule to hourly, or even set a WordPress cron job every 5 minutes.

Disabling WordPress Cron

In some cases, you might want to disable WordPress cron. This is common if you’re using an external service to handle scheduled tasks, or if you want to avoid performance issues on low-traffic sites.

You can disable the default WordPress cron by adding this line to your wp-config.php file:

define('DISABLE_WP_CRON', true);

Remember, you’ll need an alternative method, like server-based cron jobs, to handle your scheduled tasks if you go this route.

Common WordPress Cron Job Examples

Here are some typical use cases for WordPress cron jobs:

WordPress backup plugins scheduling backups.
SEO plugins performing regular SEO audits.
Security plugins checking for malware or vulnerabilities.
Automatic email notifications sent to subscribers.

Each of these uses a cron system to perform tasks without manual intervention, keeping your site running smoothly without constant monitoring.

Final Thoughts

Managing WordPress Cron Jobs is essential for anyone looking to take control of their website’s performance and automation. With the right tools, you can easily view, edit, and even create your own scheduled tasks without needing to touch complex code. By following this guide, you’ll not only understand how to view and control WordPress Cron Jobs but also be able to ensure your site runs efficiently, even while you sleep!

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is WordPress cron?

WordPress cron is part of the core WordPress system and operates in the background. It can be found and managed through plugins like WP Crontrol, which displays all scheduled tasks on your site. Unlike traditional cron systems that are server-based, WordPress Cron Jobs are triggered by page views, meaning they run when someone visits your website.

How do I open a cron job?

To open and view a cron job in WordPress, you can use the WordPress Cron Jobs plugin. After installing and activating the plugin, go to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Tools > Cron Events. Here, you can view all the scheduled cron events, their timing, and related details. You can also edit or manually run them from this interface.

How do I track cron jobs?

You can track cron jobs in WordPress by installing the WP Crontrol plugin, which provides an easy way to monitor scheduled tasks. This plugin shows a list of all cron jobs, including when they last ran and when they are scheduled to run next. If you need more detailed logs, some plugins offer premium features like logging events, which allows you to track cron job history more precisely.

How do I fix cron jobs?

Fixing WordPress cron jobs involves identifying issues such as missed schedules or frequent executions that might be slowing down your site. First, check if the problematic cron job is related to a plugin or theme. You can edit or disable the job through the WP Crontrol plugin. If cron jobs aren’t running, ensure your site is receiving traffic, as WordPress Cron relies on visitors to trigger jobs. You can also disable the built-in cron and set up a server-side cron for more reliable execution.

How do I view WordPress cron jobs?

You can view WordPress cron jobs by installing the WP Crontrol plugin. After activation, go to Tools > Cron Events in your WordPress dashboard. This will show a list of all the cron jobs currently scheduled on your site, including details like hook names, next run time, and frequency. The plugin also allows you to manually trigger or delete cron jobs.

How to manage WordPress cron jobs?

To manage WordPress cron jobs, use the WP Crontrol plugin, which provides a user-friendly interface for handling all cron events. You can edit existing jobs, adjust their frequency, delete unnecessary tasks, or add new cron events. Additionally, you can use PHP code to programmatically add or modify cron jobs, giving you greater control over your site’s scheduled tasks.

How do I edit cron in WordPress?

Editing cron jobs in WordPress is easy with the WP Crontrol plugin. Once you’ve installed the plugin, go to Tools > Cron Events. From there, locate the cron job you wish to edit and click on the Edit button next to it. You can change the job’s schedule, update the hook, or modify any arguments associated with the job. After making the changes, click Save.

How do I debug WordPress cron?

To debug WordPress cron, first, check if the cron jobs are running on time. Use the WP Crontrol plugin to view the list of cron events. If some jobs are missed or delayed, it could be due to low site traffic (since WordPress Cron depends on visits to run). You can enable logging features provided by plugins or temporarily disable WordPress Cron and use a server-side cron for more reliable results. Error messages from plugins that use cron jobs may also offer clues for debugging.

How do I use crontab in WordPress?

Using crontab in WordPress involves setting up a server-side cron to trigger WordPress tasks. To do this, disable WordPress’s internal cron by adding the following line to your wp-config.php file:
define(‘DISABLE_WP_CRON’, true);
Then, set up a crontab on your web server to ping your site’s WordPress cron URL regularly. A common command might look like this:
*/15 * * * * wget -q -O – http://yourwebsite.com/wp-cron.php?doing_wp_cron > /dev/null 2>&1
This example runs the cron job every 15 minutes, ensuring scheduled tasks on your WordPress site are executed on time.

How do I see all cron jobs in WordPress?

To see all cron jobs in WordPress, the easiest method is using the WP Crontrol plugin. Once installed, go to Tools > Cron Events, where you’ll find a complete list of scheduled tasks on your site. This list includes default WordPress cron jobs like wp_update_plugins and custom jobs added by themes or plugins. The plugin lets you view the next scheduled run time, frequency, and hook name for each job.

How do I check my WordPress cron status?

To check the status of WordPress cron, you can use the WP Crontrol plugin. This tool shows whether your scheduled tasks are running as expected and when they’re set to execute next. If you notice that cron jobs aren’t running or are being missed, it might indicate a problem with low traffic or conflicts with plugins. In such cases, you may want to disable the WordPress cron and set up a server-based cron for more reliability.

How do I run a cron job automatically?

In WordPress, cron jobs run automatically when visitors access your site. If you want more control over when cron jobs execute, you can set up a server-side cron. This method involves disabling the default WordPress cron in the wp-config.php file and creating a crontab entry on your server that hits the WordPress cron URL at regular intervals. This ensures cron jobs run automatically, even if your site doesn’t receive regular traffic.

How do I manually run a cron job in WordPress?

To manually run a cron job in WordPress, install the WP Crontrol plugin. Once activated, go to Tools > Cron Events. Find the cron event you want to run, and next to it, you’ll see a Run Now link. Clicking this will execute the cron job immediately. This feature is particularly helpful if you need to test or troubleshoot cron tasks on your site.

How do I check if cron is working on WordPress?

To check if WordPress cron is working, install the WP Crontrol plugin and navigate to Tools > Cron Events. There, you can see all scheduled cron jobs and when they’re set to run next. If no jobs are running on schedule, it could be due to low traffic or a conflict with a plugin. You can also use the Run Now button to manually trigger a job and confirm that the cron system is functioning.

How to run cron job in WordPress without plugin?

To run a WordPress cron job without a plugin, you can add custom code to your functions.php file. For example, use the following code to schedule a custom cron job:
if ( ! wp_next_scheduled( ‘my_custom_cron_hook’ ) ) {
wp_schedule_event( time(), ‘hourly’, ‘my_custom_cron_hook’ );
}

add_action( ‘my_custom_cron_hook’, ‘my_custom_cron_function’ );

function my_custom_cron_function() {
// Your custom code here
}
This will run your custom cron task hourly without the need for any plugins. Additionally, you can set up a server-based cron using crontab for even more control.

Here are some more articles recommended for you:

How To Speed Up Your WordPress Admin Dashboard

7 Things Google Can Measure That Might Affect Your SEO

Jennifer Thompson

Jennifer Lynn Thompson, Business Manager (USA & Canada) and our esteemed content writing author at Beyond SEO. With over nine years of experience in crafting compelling and SEO-friendly content writing skills and in-depth knowledge of digital marketing allow her to create engaging and SEO-optimized content that resonates with audiences and drives results.