Disable CSS JS Cache
Prevent browser caching of CSS and JS files in WordPress and control static asset caching headers.
Solid choice
Disable CSS JS Cache is a solid plugin choice in 2026, with a few things worth checking first. It runs on 400+ sites, is rated 5/5 and was last updated 4 weeks ago, and scores 77/100 on our health check.
- Actively developed — last update 4 weeks ago
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
- Momentum — downloads up 152.3% vs the previous 30 days
- Small user base (400+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
How does it stack up?
Side-by-side on installs, updates, ratings & support
Daily downloads
Download spikes usually follow a new release — each site that auto-updates counts as a download.
Rankings
Where Disable CSS JS Cache stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| browser cache | #17 |
| cache | #43 |
| css | #27 |
| javascript | >100 |
| performance | >100 |
Version adoption
Share of active sites per release.
Rating breakdown
★★★★★★★★★★ 5 from 2 reviews
About Disable CSS JS Cache
From the official readme · v1.2.0Description
Disable CSS JS Cache is a lightweight plugin that helps WordPress developers and site administrators control browser caching for CSS and JavaScript files. Ideal for development, testing, or any time you need browsers to always load the freshest files.
Key Features
- Cache Busting — Appends a dynamic version parameter to CSS/JS URLs so browsers skip the cache
- Two Busting Methods — Force Refresh (timestamp, every page load) or Smart Refresh (file modification time, only when the file actually changes)
- File-Type Control — Apply cache busting to both CSS & JS, CSS only, or JS only
- Strip Existing Version — Remove WordPress’s built-in
?ver=before adding ours, preventing duplicate parameters - Per-Page Override — Disable cache busting on individual pages or posts via a meta box in the editor (new in 1.2.0)
- CDN Support — Optionally apply cache busting to external/CDN-hosted files
- Exclude Paths — Skip specific files or URL fragments
- Browser Caching (.htaccess) — Add long-lived
Cache-Controlheaders for images, CSS, JS, and PDF files - Configurable Cache Duration — 60 seconds up to 1 year
- Admin Bar Quick Toggle — One-click enable/disable from the toolbar
- Statistics Dashboard — See how many CSS and JS files have been processed
- Clear Cache Button — Flush WordPress object cache and compatible caching plugins in one click
- Admin Notice — Optional reminder when cache busting is active (handy for production sites)
- Clean Uninstall — Removes all settings and .htaccess rules when the plugin is deleted
How It Works
When cache busting is enabled, the plugin adds a ?ver= query string to every CSS and JS URL loaded on the frontend. Browsers treat each new URL as a fresh request, ignoring any cached copy. Choose Force Refresh for development (version changes every page load) or Smart Refresh for production (version changes only when the file timestamp changes).
The optional .htaccess browser-caching feature writes Cache-Control headers so returning visitors load static assets straight from their browser cache.
Use Cases
- Development — See theme/plugin changes instantly without clearing your browser cache
- Staging — Verify the latest files are loaded during QA
- Production — Enable browser caching for performance while still being able to bust the cache on demand
- Troubleshooting — Quickly rule out stale-cache issues
Technical Details
Developer Hooks
Action
do_action( ‘disable_css_js_cache_cleared’ ) — fires when the Clear Cache button is clicked.
Filters (WordPress core, used by this plugin)
style_loader_src, script_loader_src
Constants
DISABLE_CSS_JS_CACHE_VERSION — current plugin version string
DISABLE_CSS_JS_CACHE_FILE — absolute path to the main plugin file
DISABLE_CSS_JS_CACHE_DIR — absolute path to the plugin directory (with trailing slash)<h3>Requirements</h3>
* WordPress 5.5 or higher
* PHP 7.4 or higher
* Apache with mod_headers (browser-caching feature only)
* Writable .htaccess (browser-caching feature only)
Installation
Automatic
- Go to Plugins > Add New in your WordPress admin
- Search for Disable CSS JS Cache
- Click Install Now, then Activate
Manual
- Download the plugin ZIP
- Go to Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin
- Upload the ZIP and activate
Configuration
- Go to Settings > Disable CSS JS Cache
- Enable Cache Busting and choose a method
- Optionally configure Browser Caching for production performance
- Click Save Settings
Frequently asked questions
Will this slow down my site?
No. The plugin hooks into WordPress’s existing script/style loader with minimal overhead. When Smart Refresh is used, the overhead is limited to a single filemtime() call per file, only on the frontend.
Does this work with page caching plugins?
Yes. This plugin modifies file URLs, not page output, so it works alongside WP Super Cache, W3 Total Cache, WP Rocket, LiteSpeed Cache, and similar plugins.
What is “Strip Existing Version”?
WordPress adds its own ?ver=X.X to enqueued files. With Force Refresh enabled, that becomes ?ver=6.7&ver=1234567890. Enabling Strip Existing Version removes WordPress’s parameter first, leaving only ours.
What is the Per-Page Override?
When enabled, a “Cache Busting” meta box appears on every public post/page in the block editor and classic editor. Checking the box disables cache busting for that specific page — useful for pages where you want the browser to cache assets normally.
Will this affect admin-area scripts?
No. Cache busting only runs on the frontend.
What happens to my .htaccess when I deactivate the plugin?
All browser-caching rules written by this plugin are automatically removed from .htaccess on deactivation.
Does this work on Nginx?
The .htaccess browser-caching feature requires Apache with mod_headers. The cache-busting feature (URL versioning) works on any server.
Is this multisite compatible?
Yes. The uninstall routine cleans up options for every site in the network.
Does this work with CDN?
The cache-busting feature works with CDN-hosted files when the CDN / External Files option is enabled. Note that some CDNs strip query parameters — test before enabling in production.
Changelog
New per-page override and strip-existing-version features. PHP minimum raised to 7.4. Fully backward compatible — no settings migration needed.
1.2.0
- New: Per-Page Override — disable cache busting on individual posts/pages via an editor meta box
- New: Strip Existing Version option — removes WordPress’s built-in
?ver=before adding ours, preventing duplicate parameters - New: PHP 8.0+ union-type return types and
mixedparameter types throughout - New: Defined
DISABLE_CSS_JS_CACHE_FILEandDISABLE_CSS_JS_CACHE_DIRconstants for easier path handling - New:
dcjc_safe_include()helper replaces inline path-traversal checks in the bootstrap file - Improved: Replaced
str_contains/str_starts_withcalls (PHP 8 builtins, safe on PHP 7.4+) - Improved:
.htaccessrules now usesprintffor cleaner, auditable output - Improved: Settings registration refactored — checkboxes registered in a loop to reduce repetition
- Improved: Sanitize callbacks tightened with explicit allowed-value lists for radio/select fields
- Improved: Admin bar handler correctly defaults
_wpnoncewith null-coalescing operator - Updated: Requires PHP 7.4 (was 7.0) — aligns with WordPress’s own minimum for 6.x/7.x
- Updated: Requires at least WordPress 5.5 (was 5.0)
- Updated: Tested up to WordPress 7.1
1.1.0
- New: Admin Bar Quick Toggle
- New: Statistics Dashboard with reset button
- New: Performance Mode (CSS only / JS only / both)
- New: CDN / external file support
- New: Admin notification when cache busting is active
- New: Clear All Cache button (WordPress object cache + WP Super Cache, W3TC, WP Rocket)
- New: Action hook
disable_css_js_cache_clearedfor developers - Improved: Settings page reorganised into sections
- Fixed: Better local-path detection for subdirectory WordPress installs
1.0.9
- Fixed: Deactivate link not showing in the Plugins list
- Fixed: Fatal errors caused by missing class-existence checks
- Improved: Security — all output escaped; WP_Filesystem used for file I/O;
wp_parse_url()replacesparse_url() - Improved: All settings sanitized with proper callbacks
- Improved: Automatic
.htaccesscleanup on deactivation - Added: Complete
uninstall.phpwith multisite support
1.0.7
- Browser caching headers feature added
1.0.0
- Initial release
Screenshots
For developers
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Best Disable CSS JS Cache alternatives
All browser cache plugins →FAQ
Disable CSS JS Cache: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 3, 2026
Is Disable CSS JS Cache free?
Yes. Disable CSS JS Cache is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is Disable CSS JS Cache safe to use in 2026?
Disable CSS JS Cache is a solid plugin choice in 2026, with a few things worth checking first. It runs on 400+ sites, is rated 5/5 and was last updated 4 weeks ago, and scores 77/100 on our health check.
How many websites use Disable CSS JS Cache?
Disable CSS JS Cache is active on 400+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 5,914 times since it launched in May 2023. It was downloaded 555 times in the last 30 days.
Does Disable CSS JS Cache work with WordPress 7.1?
Yes. The developer has tested Disable CSS JS Cache up to WordPress 7.1.2, the latest release. It requires WordPress 5.5 or newer.
What PHP version does Disable CSS JS Cache need?
Disable CSS JS Cache requires PHP 7.4 or higher. Most hosts run PHP 8.x today, so it works on any modern WordPress hosting.
When was Disable CSS JS Cache last updated?
The latest version, 1.2.0, was released on September 5, 2026 (4 weeks ago).
Who makes Disable CSS JS Cache?
Disable CSS JS Cache is developed and maintained by Umang Prajapati.
What are the best alternatives to Disable CSS JS Cache?
The most popular alternatives to Disable CSS JS Cache are Prevent Browser Caching (10K+ installs), reBusted! (6K+ installs) and Disable Version Caching (200+ installs).
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