What Is the Disable Theme Auto-Update Emails feature?
WordPress’s background update system can auto-update installed themes (when enabled). When themes auto-update, WordPress sends a notification email to the site admin listing the updated themes.
The Disable Theme Auto-Update Emails feature suppresses this email. The auto-updates still happen; only the notification is removed.
Why You Need It
For sites with multiple themes installed (common for staging environments, multi-brand deployments, or theme testing workflows), the email can be a constant stream:
- A site with 5 themes and auto-updates enabled might receive 5-10 theme update emails per month
- Most sites only actively use one theme; the other themes are dormant
- The email doesn’t require action; the updates are already done
The trade-off: if a theme auto-update introduces a bug or breaks the design, the email is the admin’s signal to test the site. Disabling the email removes that signal. For high-stakes sites, leave it enabled.
How to Use Disable Theme Auto-Update Emails in Classic Monks
Step 1: Navigate to Settings
Click into the Classic Monks plugin settings in your WordPress dashboard.
Step 2: Go to the Email Tab
Click on the Email menu, then click the Notifications subtab.
Step 3: Enable Disable Theme Auto-Update Emails
Scroll to the Email Notifications section and toggle on Disable Auto Update Notification Emails for Themes.
Step 4: Save Changes
Click Save Changes.
Configuration Options
| Option | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Disable Auto Update Notification Emails for Themes | Master toggle. | Off |
No nested options.
What Gets Suppressed
| Sent when feature off | Sent when feature on | |
|---|---|---|
| “Some themes have been updated” (after auto-update) | Yes | No |
| Manual theme update email (from clicking “Update”) | Yes | Yes (separate flow) |
| Theme activation/switch emails | Yes | Yes (separate flow) |
The feature only suppresses the auto-update-specific email. Manual updates and theme switching notifications are unaffected.
What Does NOT Get Affected
- Theme auto-update itself: Still happens (controlled by each theme’s “auto-update” setting)
- WordPress core auto-update emails: Separate feature (Disable Core Auto-Update Emails)
- Plugin auto-update emails: Separate feature (Disable Plugin Auto-Update Emails)
- Manual theme update emails: Sent when an admin clicks “Update” on a theme
- Theme switch emails: Different email flow (when an admin switches the active theme)
Advanced Options (Developers)
This feature registers 2 WordPress hooks in disable-update-emails.php:
Filters:
auto_theme_update_send_emailcallsdisable_theme_update_emails()(Disables theme auto-update notification emails)auto_theme_update_send_emailcallsapply_filters()(Customizable filter)
// Hooked in disable-update-emails.php
add_filter( 'auto_theme_update_send_email', 'disable_theme_update_emails' );The feature modifies WordPress behavior by registering or removing hooks. Disabling it reverses those changes.