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How to Disable WordPress Emojis to Improve Website Performance

WordPress is a popular platform that enables website owners to create stunning websites without much technical knowledge. However, it comes with a lot of features and functionalities that may not be required by all website owners. One of these features is the Emojis, which are enabled by default in WordPress. Emojis are fun, but they can also slow down your website and increase the load time. This article will show you how to disable WordPress Emojis and improve the performance of your website.

Understanding WordPress Emojis

Emojis are small icons used to express emotions or ideas in a graphical way. They were introduced in WordPress version 4.2 to make it easy for users to add emojis to their posts and comments. While Emojis are fun and add a personal touch to your content, they can also increase the size of your website and slow down the load time. This is because every time a user loads your website, WordPress loads the code for Emojis, even if they are not used on your website.

Why Disable WordPress Emojis?

There are several reasons why you may want to disable WordPress Emojis on your website:

  • They can slow down the load time of your website, especially on mobile devices with slow internet connections.
  • They can increase the size of your website, which can affect your website’s SEO and ranking on search engines.
  • If you’re not using Emojis on your website, there’s no need to load the code for them, which can save resources and improve the performance of your website.

How to Disable WordPress Emojis

To disable WordPress Emojis, you can add the following code to your functions.php file:

// Disable Emojis
function disable_wp_emojis() {
  remove_action( 'wp_head', 'print_emoji_detection_script', 7 );
  remove_action( 'admin_print_scripts', 'print_emoji_detection_script' );
  remove_action( 'wp_print_styles', 'print_emoji_styles' );
  remove_action( 'admin_print_styles', 'print_emoji_styles' );  
  remove_filter( 'the_content_feed', 'wp_staticize_emoji' );
  remove_filter( 'comment_text_rss', 'wp_staticize_emoji' );  
  remove_filter( 'wp_mail', 'wp_staticize_emoji_for_email' );
  add_filter( 'tiny_mce_plugins', 'disable_emojis_tinymce' );
}
add_action( 'init', 'disable_wp_emojis' );

// Disable Emojis on TinyMCE
function disable_emojis_tinymce( $plugins ) {
  if ( is_array( $plugins ) ) {
    return array_diff( $plugins, array( 'wpemoji' ) );
  } else {
    return array();
  }
}

This code will remove all references to Emojis from your website. It will disable the Emoji detection script, Emoji styles, and all filters that add Emojis to your content. It will also remove Emojis from your RSS feed and email content.

How to Verify That Emojis are Disabled

To verify that Emojis are disabled on your website, you can use the following methods:

  1. View the source code of your website and search for any references to Emojis. If Emojis are disabled, you should not see any code related to Emojis.
  2. Use a web page speed test tool to analyze the load time of your website. If Emojis are disabled, your website should load faster.

Emojis can add a personal touch to your content, but they can also slow down your website and increase the load time. If you’re not using Emojis on your website, it’s best to disable them to improve the performance of your website. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily disable WordPress Emojis and improve your website’s performance.

Always backup your site before making any code changes or changes to functions.php.

Frequently asked questions

Will disabling Emojis affect my website’s SEO?

Disabling Emojis will not directly affect your website’s SEO. However, if your website is slow due to the loading of unnecessary code, it can affect your SEO negatively.

What other WordPress features can I disable to improve my website’s performance?

There are several features in WordPress that you can disable to improve your website’s performance, such as pingbacks, trackbacks, and post revisions.

Can I still use Emojis on my website after disabling them in WordPress?

Yes, you can still use Emojis on your website by using external libraries or plugins that do not rely on the WordPress code.

Can I remove the code to disable Emojis if I decide to use them later?

Yes, you can remove the code to disable Emojis from your functions.php file if you decide to use them later.

Do I need to have technical knowledge to disable Emojis in WordPress?

No, you don’t need to have technical knowledge to disable Emojis in WordPress. You can simply copy and paste the code provided in this article to your functions.php file. However, it’s always recommended to have a backup of your website before making any changes to the code.

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Matt

Matt has been working in the web industry for over 15 years, he is also an avid mountain biker. He discovered his love for the internet years ago and has since honed his skills to keep up with the latest trends and technologies in the industry. Matt has worked with a diverse range of clients, including small businesses, non-profits, and large corporations, delivering high-quality websites. Apart from his work, Matt loves to explore the outdoors and takes every opportunity to hit the trails on his mountain bike. His commitment to his work and passion for mountain biking have earned him a reputation as a talented and well-rounded individual. If you're in need of a skilled web developer or an adventure-seeking mountain biker, Matt is the perfect fit.