Description
At a glance
Looking for Disable REST API v1.8? It is available here as a free GPL download for WordPress — 80K+ active installs · 4.8/5 rating from 38 reviews · updated September 14, 2023 · requires WordPress 4.9+ & PHP 5.6+.
The most comprehensive plugin for controlling access to the WordPress REST API!
Works as a “set it and forget it” install. Just upload and activate, and the entire REST API will be inaccessible to your general site visitors.
But if you do need to grant access to some endpoints, you can do that too. Go to the Settings page and you can quickly whitelist individual endpoints (or entire branches of endpoints) in the REST API.
You can even do this on a per-user-role basis, so your unauthenticated users have one set of rules while WooCommerce customers have another while Subscribers and Editors and Admins all have their own. NOTE: Out of the box, all defined user roles will still be granted full access to the REST API until you choose to manage those settings.
For most versions of WordPress, this plugin will return an authentication error if a user is not allowed to access an endpoint. For legacy support, WordPress 4.4, 4.5, and 4.6 use the provided rest_enabled filter to disable the entire REST API.
Frequently asked questions
What is Disable REST API?
Disable REST API is a free WordPress plugin available under the GPL license. The current version is 1.8. It is active on over 80K websites.
Is Disable REST API free to download?
Yes — Disable REST API 1.8 is a free GPL download with no hidden fees, no account needed, and no feature locked behind a paywall in this package. Users rate it 4.8 out of 5 based on 38 reviews.
How do I install Disable REST API 1.8?
Download the ZIP file from this page, then in your WordPress dashboard go to Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin, choose the file, click Install Now, then Activate. The plugin works immediately after activation — no license key or extra setup is required for the core features.
What are the requirements for Disable REST API?
Disable REST API 1.8 requires WordPress 4.9 or higher and PHP 5.6 or higher. Most modern WordPress hosts already meet these versions. Running older versions may cause features to break, so update WordPress and PHP first if your site is behind.
When was Disable REST API last updated?
Version 1.8 was last updated on September 14, 2023. This page is refreshed automatically, so the download here always matches the newest version we have verified.
Is the Disable REST API download safe?
The file is sourced directly from the official WordPress.org repository — the same file the developer published. It is served unmodified, so what you install here is byte-identical to the official release.
Version: 1.8
Updated: October 1, 2026
Technical details
| Version | 1.8 |
|---|---|
| Last updated | September 14, 2023 |
| Active installs | 80,000+ |
| Rating | ★★★★★ 4.8/5 (38 reviews) |
| Requires WordPress | 4.9 or higher |
| Requires PHP | 5.6 or higher |
| Author | Dave McHale |
| Tags | admin, api, json, rest, rest-api |
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