Remove an unused JavaScript file from your WordPress site

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To remove an unused JavaScript file from your WordPress site using the functions.php file, you can follow these steps:

  1. Identify the Handle or URL of the JavaScript file:
  • Find the handle or URL of the JavaScript file that you want to remove. You can usually find this information by inspecting the source code of your site or by checking the theme or plugin files that might be enqueuing the script. Open the functions.php file:
  • Inside the functions.php file, add the following code snippet:
/**
 * Snippet Name:  To Remove an unused JavaScript file from your WordPress site
 * Snippet Author:  https://wpproblog.com
 */

//Remove an unused JavaScript file from your WordPress site
function wpproblog_remove_unused_js() {
    wp_dequeue_script('handle'); // Replace 'handle' with the actual handle or URL of the JavaScript file
    wp_deregister_script('handle');
}
add_action('wp_enqueue_scripts', 'wpproblog_remove_unused_js', 100);

Save the functions.php file.

Clear cache (if applicable):

  • If you have caching plugins or server-level caching enabled, clear the cache to ensure that the removed JavaScript file is no longer served to visitors.

Test your site:

  • After removing the JavaScript file, test your WordPress site to ensure that it functions properly and that the removal did not introduce any errors or issues.

Make sure to replace 'handle' in the code snippet with the actual handle or URL of the JavaScript file that you want to remove. This code snippet will deregister and dequeue the JavaScript file, preventing it from being loaded on your site.

Note: Modifying the functions.php file directly is only recommended if you are familiar with WordPress development and have access to your theme files. It’s always a good practice to use a child theme to make modifications to your theme’s files to prevent them from being overwritten during theme updates.

If you’re unsure about modifying the functions.php file, consider consulting with a developer or utilizing a plugin specifically designed for managing scripts and enqueued assets in WordPress.