Setting up a WordPress cronjob: making WP-Cron reliable

Setup

Step by step

1. Disable WP-Cron in wp-config.php

   Open wp-config.php in the root directory of your WordPress installation and add the following line above the comment /* That’s all, stop editing! */, in any case before the line require_once ABSPATH . 'wp-settings.php';. With our plugin you can skip this step, see the questions below.

   define( 'DISABLE_WP_CRON', true );

2. Check that the address is reachable

   Open https://your-domain.com/wp-cron.php in a browser once. A blank white page is correct. An error message or password prompt means the file is being blocked, usually by a security plugin, directory protection or a rule in .htaccess.

3. Create an account at Cronjob.de

   Registration takes a minute and is free. Five cronjobs stay free forever, the first 14 days run on the Unlimited plan.

   Start for free 14 days of Unlimited included, no payment details

4. Create a cronjob with that address

   Enter the address and choose every 5 minutes in the schedule: by clicking, as a sentence for the AI assistant or as a crontab expression. Leave the method on GET: if a POST with form data arrives, wp-cron.php exits immediately without processing any tasks.

   */5 * * * *

   You can enter this expression at Cronjob.de exactly as it is – the schedule field understands crontab notation. But you do not have to know it: simply click the schedule together instead.

5. Switch on error notifications

   So that you notice when your site stops responding, enter an email address under Notifications. You will then be notified when a call fails. Failure notifications by email are included from the Plus plan, and free during the first 14 days.

What the five fields of an expression like */5 * * * * mean is explained in the crontab reference – with examples and the most common pitfalls. You can build the expression in the crontab generator. Whether you need an outside service at all is shown in the comparison of the three ways.

Verification

Is it actually running?

In the Cronjob.de call log you will see the first calls with status 200 within a few minutes. A very short runtime is normal: on many servers wp-cron.php closes the connection right away and keeps working afterwards. Inside WordPress the free WP Crontrol plugin lists all scheduled events under Tools and when they are next due. Under Tools → Site Health WordPress also reports "A scheduled event is late" or "… has failed" on its own. Scheduling a test post for the next minute is the quickest check.

FAQ

Common questions about WordPress

Which external cron service should I use for WP-Cron?

If your host offers a cron manager with an interval of a few minutes, that is enough. Otherwise use a service that calls wp-cron.php from outside. Look for four things: an interval of five minutes or tighter, a log of the calls, a notification when a call fails, and servers in the EU. Cronjob.de meets all four – five cronjobs at five-minute intervals are free forever, and failure notifications by email come with the Plus plan. Which services can do that and what they cost is in the comparison of cron job services.

Is there a WordPress plugin?

Yes, the free plugin Cronjob.de – Reliable Cron in the WordPress plugin directory. It shows the address of your wp-cron.php and opens a pre-filled cron job at Cronjob.de, you only click save. As soon as external calls arrive, it stops page views from triggering WP-Cron; if they stop, WordPress goes back to the visitor trigger by itself. You then do not need the wp-config.php line from step 1. Under Tools → Cronjob.de you see when WP-Cron last ran and how many tasks are overdue.

Do I really have to disable WP-Cron?

No, but it makes sense. Without disabling it both run in parallel: the call from outside plus the check on every visit. A lock inside WordPress prevents duplicate runs, but the check on every page view remains.

What happens if a call fails once?

Nothing is lost. WordPress remembers due tasks and catches up on the next successful call. A single missed call only delays execution.

How often should wp-cron.php be called?

Every five minutes is enough for most sites, and the free plan covers that. The WordPress handbook leaves the interval to you and shows examples with 15 minutes and daily. For a WooCommerce shop we recommend every minute, because the Action Scheduler there schedules background work at one-minute intervals.

Is calling more often than once a minute worth it?

No. While WP-Cron is running, WordPress holds a lock that lasts 60 seconds by default (WP_CRON_LOCK_TIMEOUT). Another call within that time does not start a second run. One minute is therefore the sensible lower limit.

My call ends with error 403 or 401.

Something is blocking access to wp-cron.php. Common causes are security plugins, directory-level password protection, or a blocking rule in .htaccess. An upstream bot protection, for example at a CDN, can also reject calls from cron services. Exempt wp-cron.php there. For directory protection, store user name and password in the cron job.

Does this work on a site behind maintenance mode?

Usually not, because maintenance mode intercepts every request. Many maintenance plugins let you exempt individual addresses. Add wp-cron.php there.

I run WordPress Multisite. Is one cronjob enough?

No. In a multisite installation every sub-site has its own scheduled events, and a call to wp-cron.php only processes those of the site whose address it comes through. Create a separate cronjob for every sub-site, for example https://your-domain.com/subsite/wp-cron.php or https://subsite.your-domain.com/wp-cron.php.