Rename XMLRPC
Make XML-RPC work if you rename the file. Some hosts block access to xmlrpc.php file making it impossible to use
Consider an alternative
Rename XMLRPC shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 1K+ sites, is rated 4.3/5 and was last updated 5 years ago, and scores 36/100 on our health check.
- No update in 5 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 5.7 (latest is 7.1)
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 Rename XMLRPC stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| xmlrpc | #68 |
Version adoption
Share of active sites per release.
Rating breakdown
★★★★★★★★★★ 4.3 from 12 reviews
About Rename XMLRPC
From the official readme · v1.1Description
Make XML-RPC work if you rename the file. Some hosts block access to xmlrpc.php file making it impossible to use
Installation
This section describes how to install the plugin and get it working.
- Upload
rename-xml-rpc.phpto the/wp-content/plugins/directory - Upgrade the filename of the XML-RPC Endpoint in
rename-xml-rpc.php(sorry there is not an option page yet!) - Activate the plugin through the ‘Plugins’ menu in WordPress
- There is no step 4
Changelog
1.1
Fix the RSD document link by using the renamed filepath
For developers
Is this your plugin? Show off the numbers.
Add a live badge to your site, docs or GitHub README. It updates on its own — no account needed.
Best Rename XMLRPC alternatives
All xmlrpc plugins →
FAQ
Rename XMLRPC: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 4, 2026
Is Rename XMLRPC free?
Yes. Rename XMLRPC is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is Rename XMLRPC safe to use in 2026?
Rename XMLRPC shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 1K+ sites, is rated 4.3/5 and was last updated 5 years ago, and scores 36/100 on our health check.
How many websites use Rename XMLRPC?
Rename XMLRPC is active on 1K+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 30,306 times since it launched in September 2011. It was downloaded 196 times in the last 30 days.
Does Rename XMLRPC work with WordPress 7.1?
Rename XMLRPC is officially tested up to WordPress 5.7.19, while the latest release is 7.1.2. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.
When was Rename XMLRPC last updated?
The latest version, 1.1, was released on April 26, 2021 (5 years ago).
Who makes Rename XMLRPC?
Rename XMLRPC is developed and maintained by Jorge Bernal.
What are the best alternatives to Rename XMLRPC?
The most popular alternatives to Rename XMLRPC are Disable XML-RPC (200K+ installs), Disable XML-RPC-API (100K+ installs) and Remove & Disable XML-RPC Pi… (7K+ installs).
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