Turn Off REST API

Turn Off REST API is a lightweight WordPress security plugin that disables the WordPress REST API for visitors who are not logged in. Anonymous requests to your /wp-json endpoints receive an authentication error instead of your site data, while logged in users, the block editor, and your admin area keep working normally. Because every route is blocked for logged out visitors by default, features that call the REST API on behalf of visitors stop working for them until you allow their routes. This includes the WooCommerce Cart and Checkout blocks and Contact Form 7 form submissions. The FAQ below shows exactly which routes to allow. By default WordPress exposes a large amount of information through the REST API, including your list of user accounts and usernames, published content, and details about your site. For most sites that open, unauthenticated access is unnecessary and only widens the attack surface for user enumeration and content scraping. Turn Off REST API closes the WordPress REST API to the public in one click, then gives you a clear settings screen to reopen only the specific REST API routes you actually need. Why turn off the WordPress REST API?

• Stop anonymous user enumeration through /wp-json/wp/v2/users.
• Reduce your attack surface against REST API based exploits and bots.
• Keep your content and site data from being scraped through the public API.
• Stay in control with a per route allow list instead of an all or nothing switch.

What it does

• Returns an authentication error for unauthenticated REST API requests.
• Optionally removes the REST API discovery links and headers from your page source.
• Lets you build an allow list of routes that should stay public (for example a contact form or a specific integration).
• Adds a Site Health check so the restriction is clearly explained and never mistaken for a fault.
• Keeps the admin area, the block editor, and logged in functionality fully working.

Built for control, not breakage Some security plugins disable the REST API completely and break the block editor or third party integrations in the process. Turn Off REST API only blocks unauthenticated access, and the per route allow list means you can whitelist exactly the endpoints a service needs without opening the whole API back up. Developer friendly The access decision runs through the tora_grant_rest_api filter, so developers can extend or override the logic for custom roles, application passwords, or trusted requests.

1. In your WordPress admin, go to Plugins, then Add New.
2. Search for "Turn Off REST API".
3. Click Install Now, then Activate.
4. Go to Settings, then Turn Off REST API to review the route allow list. Unauthenticated access is disabled by default. If your site uses the WooCommerce Cart or Checkout blocks or Contact Form 7, allow their routes as described in the FAQ.

Manual installation:

1. Download the plugin zip from WordPress.org.
2. Upload the turn-off-rest-api folder to /wp-content/plugins/.
3. Activate the plugin through the Plugins menu in WordPress.

1.1.4

• Tested with WordPress 7.1.2.
• Fixed - security: when another security plugin or your own code had already blocked a REST API request from a logged out visitor, this plugin could lift that block and let the request through. The earlier block is now always kept.
• Fixed - the option to hide REST API discovery links and headers now also removes the REST API link that WordPress sends in the headers of every page. Before, only the links in the page source were removed.
• Fixed - the settings screen no longer stops with an error when a save request contains malformed route data. Such a request is treated like one with no routes ticked.
• Tweak - removed support code for WordPress versions older than 4.7, which the plugin already required.

1.1.3

• Fixed - WordPress 6.7 and newer logged a "translation loading was triggered too early" notice for this plugin on sites with debugging enabled. The plugin name was being translated while the plugin loaded, before WordPress is ready to serve translations.
• Tweak - the version used to cache bust the settings screen assets now comes from a single source, so it can never fall out of step with the plugin version again.
• No change to how the REST API is protected.

1.1.2

• Tested with WordPress 7.1.
• Fixed - a PHP notice on PHP 8.2 and newer, caused by a plugin property being created on the fly instead of being declared. On a future PHP 9 this would have stopped the plugin from loading.
• Fixed - the settings screen stylesheet and script were still labelled with the previous version number, so browsers could keep serving the old cached files after an update.
• No change to how the REST API is protected.

1.1.1

• New - A "More on DopeThemes" panel on the settings screen with free plugins, code snippets, themes, and tutorials. No change to how the REST API is protected.

1.1.0

• New - Site Health check that confirms the REST API is intentionally restricted, so it is never mistaken for an error.
• New - Option to show or hide the REST API discovery links and headers in your page source.
• Tweak - Clearer settings screen with a protection status and a dedicated options section.

1.0.5

• Tweak - Confirmed compatibility with WordPress 7.0.
• Fix - PHP 8 compatibility: resolved an undefined array key warning during REST route detection.
• Fix - Hardened output escaping on the settings screen.
• Fix - Corrected the internationalization of the authentication error message.
• Tweak - Added Requires PHP header and refreshed the plugin documentation.

1.0.4

• New - Update license to GPLv3
• Tweak - Compatibility with WP 5+
• Tweak - Update language file
• Tweak - Minor improvements

1.0.3

• Tweak - Added en_US language file
• Tweak - Added license file
• Tweak - Minor code clean up

1.0.2

• Tweak - Added endpoints admin page
• Tweak - Minor improvements

1.0.1

• Tweak - Minor improvements
• Tweak - Optimized filter implementation

1.0.0

• Initial Release