Industry guru Dave Taylor offers tech support on technical and business topics, including iPhone, iPod, Microsoft Windows, Sony PSP, cellphones, online advertising, CSS, Web design, business, Unix, Linux, SEO, Mac OS X, and shell script programming.     


Disable commenting on a Wordpress blog?

I'm about to migrate my blog from one server to another and a wordpress guru friend of mine said it's important that I disable commenting on my blog before I do so. What's he talking about and how do I turn off comments on my site, then turn them back on?


Dave's Answer:

Your timing is impeccable, dear reader! As you sent this in, I was busy migrating my new Wordpress blog -- GoFatherhood -- to a new server so I was able to capture all the steps needed.

Coincidence, or serendipity? You decide.

Anyway!

This example is also taken from Wordpress 3.2, so if you're running an earlier or later version (like 3.3) then it's possible that things will look slightly different. Still, the basic steps should still prove accurate.

Start out by logging in as the admin on your Wordpress blog, then looking on the left side of the admin control area for "Posts". Underneath that heading should be a group of options, including "All Posts". Choose it:

wordpress disable all comments 1

Now click on the box just to the left of the "Title" column heading and it'll automatically select every blog entry on the current page:

wordpress disable all comments 2

Everything checked? Good. Click on "Bulk Actions" and choose "Edit" instead...

wordpress disable all comments 3

Clicking on "Apply" shows you the selected entries and a bunch of things you can do, including apply new categorization, tags, change author, etc:

wordpress disable all comments 4

Most importantly on the right side is a menu "Comments". Click on it:

wordpress disable all comments 5

Choose "Do not allow", click on the "Update" button on the lower right of this section and...

wordpress disable all comments 6

Good job. Now you just need to duplicate that for all the blog entries you have.

Tedious? Yes. In fact, I surmise that there's a way you can really select every single post before you take an action, but I don't know what it is. Perhaps one of you readers can enlighten us? Thanks.

In any case, I hope this helps you migrate your Wordpress blog from one server to another.


More Useful Blogs and Blogging Articles:
✔   Get my shopping cart plugin to work with WordPress?
We've put in a shopping cart for a client that's not working, and we need some help! The cart is currently using the...
✔   Embed an audio player on a blog or web page?
I have some mp3 audio files I've recorded and would like to have people who visit my site be able to listen to...
✔   Can I write a guest review for AskDaveTaylor.com?
Hi Dave. I'm a big fan of your site and love that you're doing so many reviews now. I've noticed, however, that there...
✔   Change author on WordPress blog post?
I have two accounts set up for my WordPress blog and I'd like to be able to have all my posts from a...
✔   How do I restructure my Wordpress blog without losing SEO?
I have a wordpress blog that was using categories in the url structure like this: /category_name/post_name/ Then I had read somewhere that if...

Let's stay in touch!
Sign up for my weekly AskDaveTaylor Newsletter and you'll receive even more tech and gadget help right to your inbox, along with exclusive news and industry updates. It's good stuff. I promise!
    Enter your name: and your email addr:  





Categorized: Blogs and Blogging   (Article 10192, Written by )
Tagged: wordpress admin, wordpress administration, wordpress bulk editing, wordpress comments
Previous: Make a Genius Bar appointment at the Apple Store from my iPhone?
Next: Change Facebook "share" setting for update on iPhone?




Reader Comments To Date: 1

Hatem said, on December 31, 2011 7:51 AM:

Thank you so much, you saved my time :)

Starbucks coffee cup I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you, Dave, for all your helpful information by buying you a cup of coffee!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!











I will never send you any unsolicited email. Ever.






Check This Out Too...

 
Look for Answers
Need Help? Ask Dave Taylor!


Follow Me on Pinterest

Find Me on Google+
ADT on G+
© 2002 - 2013 by Dave Taylor. All Rights Reserved.

Note: This web site is for the purpose of disseminating information for educational purposes, free of charge, for the benefit of all visitors. We take great care to provide quality information. However, we do not guarantee, and accept no legal liability whatsoever arising from or connected to, the accuracy, reliability, currency or completeness of any material contained on this web site or on any linked site. Further, please note that by submitting a question or comment you're agreeing to my terms of service, which are: you relinquish any subsequent rights of ownership to your material by submitting it on this site. My lawyer says "Thanks".
"Ask Dave Taylor®" is a registered trademark of Intuitive Systems, LLC.