WordPress uses the wp-cron.php file for running many features in WordPress that required scheduled task to be completed automatically. The examples of these tasks basically include: posting a scheduled post in WordPress, checking for the updates of the plugins and themes, automatic trackbacks and generating automatic notifications. The wp-cron works as a virtual cron, which used to run after regular time interval.
But wp-cron can cause high resource usage in WordPress many times. And you can replace it with actual cron to fix this.
For that you need to do the following:
1) Disable wp-cron in WordPress
2) Setup manual cron for disabled wp-cron
Disable wp-cron in WordPress
You can easily disable the execution of default wp-cron.php file in WordPress by following the below steps:
2) Scroll down to Files section and click on “File Manager” icon.
3) Now you need to navigate to public_html > wp-config.php file.
4) Right click on wp-config file and click on edit as shown in the screenshot.
5) In Text Editor pop-up window press Edit button to edit this wp-config file.
Now wp-config file is opened in cPanel File Manager Code Editor.
6) Scroll down to line number 37 in the code. The line will look like following:
7) Now you need to enter the following code just below the above code in wp-config file:
8) Click Save button.
Now automatic execution wp-cron.php has been disabled from your WordPress.
Setup manual cron for disabled wp-cron
As we have disable the execution of wp-cron.php file so we need to manually setup of Cron job. You can setup the cron job manually by follow the following steps:
1) Login to cPanel.
2) Scroll down to Advance section and click on Cron Jobs icon.
3) Scroll down to Add a New Cron Job section and enter the following:
Common Settings: Select Twice Per Day (0 0, 12 ***) from the drop down menu.
Now the remaining fields are filled accordingly automatically.
Command: In this field you need to enter- cd /home/username/public_html; php -q wp-cron.php
Note: Replace username with cPanel User Name.
4) Click on Add New Cron Job button