WP Core Update Cleaner
When WordPress is updated, it re-installs wp-config-sample.php, readme files, and license files even though you may have deleted them before. This plugin automatically removes these files when WordPress is manually or…
Consider an alternative
WP Core Update Cleaner shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 800+ sites, is rated 4.5/5 and was last updated 3 years ago, and scores 33/100 on our health check.
- Small user base (800+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 2 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.5 (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 WP Core Update Cleaner stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| core | >100 |
| update | >100 |
| upgrade | >100 |
Version adoption
Share of active sites per release.
Rating breakdown
★★★★★★★★★★ 4.5 from 4 reviews
About WP Core Update Cleaner
From the official readme · v1.2.0Description
When WordPress is updated, it re-installs wp-config-sample.php, readme files, and license files even though you may have deleted them before. This plugin automatically removes these files when WordPress is manually or automatically updated. It also removes these files when activating the plugin for the first time. Removing these files is not mandatory, but you may want to if you don’t want them to expose your WordPress version or if you just like to keep things neat and clean.
Files that are removed:
- License files, both default and localized
- Readme files, both default and localized
- wp-config-sample.php
- wp-admin/install.php
You may not want to install this plugin if you’re using a plugin or service to scans your site to verify checksums on the core files. When the removed files are missing it might result in warnings.
Manual installation
- Upload the
wp-core-update-cleanerdirectory to the/wp-content/plugins/directory. - Activate the plugin through the ‘Plugins’ menu in WordPress.
Frequently asked questions
Why does this plugin exist?
We found ourselves manually deleting wp-config-sample.php, readme.html, and license.txt every time we updated a WordPress site. If you’re maintaining multiple WordPress sites like us, this can get tedious. So instead, we developed this plugin to take care of deleting these files for us.
Why should I delete these files?
You don’t have to delete these files if you want to keep them for some reason. However, the readme file contains the version number of the WordPress version you’re running. This may be used by bots or evil people trying to hurt your site by taking advantage of security exploits in your version if you’ve not installed security patches. Also, there’s no reason to have wp-config-sample.php and the license files just laying around.
Changelog
1.2.0 (2018-10-27)
- Remove files when plugin is activated so site admins don’t have to wait for the next core update for the files to be removed.
1.1.0 (2018-10-22)
- Add wp-admin/install.php to the list of files to remove.
- Add support for running the plugin on automatic core updates.
- Enable installation with Composer.
1.0
- Initial release.
Screenshots
For developers
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Best WP Core Update Cleaner alternatives
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FAQ
WP Core Update Cleaner: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 1, 2026
Is WP Core Update Cleaner free?
Yes. WP Core Update Cleaner is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is WP Core Update Cleaner safe to use in 2026?
WP Core Update Cleaner shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 800+ sites, is rated 4.5/5 and was last updated 3 years ago, and scores 33/100 on our health check.
How many websites use WP Core Update Cleaner?
WP Core Update Cleaner is active on 800+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 9,915 times since it launched in December 2014. It was downloaded 130 times in the last 30 days.
Does WP Core Update Cleaner work with WordPress 7.1?
WP Core Update Cleaner is officially tested up to WordPress 6.5.12, while the latest release is 7.1.2. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.
When was WP Core Update Cleaner last updated?
The latest version, 1.2.0, was released on March 19, 2024 (3 years ago).
Who makes WP Core Update Cleaner?
WP Core Update Cleaner is developed and maintained by Upperdog.
What are the best alternatives to WP Core Update Cleaner?
The most popular alternatives to WP Core Update Cleaner are WP Downgrade (100K+ installs), Advanced Automatic Updates (20K+ installs) and Core Rollback (20K+ installs).
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