How to fix high server load due to wp-cron.php POST requests via the xneelo Control Panel

The information in this article is related to the new xneelo Control Panel.
If you are still using konsoleH, refer to this article.

If your site or server is struggling with high load and you notice many wp-cron.php POST requests in the www logs, then the solution is simple: replace the virtual wp-cron with a real cron at your selected schedule.

WordPress uses a file called wp-cron.php to handle scheduled tasks. By default, it runs every time someone visits your site, which can put unnecessary strain on your CPU and slow down busy sites. Since these tasks don’t need to run continuously, you can reduce how often they run and free up valuable hosting resources.

Instead of letting wp-cron slow down your site, you can disable it and let your system handle scheduled tasks in the background with a cron job.


  • Disable wp-cron in WordPress

    1. 1
      Use FTP to access your server and navigate to the public_html folder
    2. 2
      Add this line at the bottom of your wp-config.php file, just before the section that says /* That’s all, stop editing! Happy blogging. */:
      define(‘DISABLE_WP_CRON’, true);





  • Enable a real cronjob

    You can now schedule these wp-crons to run once every couple of hours instead, using the Cronjob Manager in the xneelo Control Panel.

    1. 1
      Log in to the xneelo Control Panel.
    2. 2
      Select a Product (e.g. Web Hosting) from the side menu.
    3. 3
      Select or search for the specific domain name.
    4. 4
      Under Hosting tools, select Cronjob Manager.
    5. 5
      Click on + Add Cronjob.
    6. 6
      You can enable or disable the cronjob by selecting the checkbox.
    7. 7
      In the Name of Cronjob field, you may give your cronjob a name e.g. wp-cron.
    8. 8
      In the Command to run field, enter the following:
    /usr/bin/php-wrapper /usr/www/users/ftpuser/wp-cron.php

    where ftpuser is your FTP username.

    1. 9
      Under When to run, set the time(s) when the cronjob needs to execute.
    2. 10
      Click on Add Cronjob.



Assist Note

The Cronjob Manager allows you to execute commands or scripts automatically at set intervals.

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