# Slow Down the Heartbeat API

> Reduces admin AJAX traffic by running the Heartbeat API every 60 seconds instead of every 15 to 60, and turns it off on the front end.

- Type: PHP
- Runs: Run everywhere
- Category: [Performance](https://wpide.com/library/category/performance/)
- Tags: performance, heartbeat, ajax
- Author: WPIDE Team
- Installs: 0
- Updated: 2026-10-28
- Page: https://wpide.com/library/control-heartbeat/

## Code

```php
add_filter( 'heartbeat_settings', function ( $settings ) {
    $settings['interval'] = 60;

    return $settings;
} );

add_action( 'wp_enqueue_scripts', function () {
    wp_deregister_script( 'heartbeat' );
}, 100 );
```

## Notes

Post locking and login expiry warnings still work, just with slower updates. Remove the wp_enqueue_scripts part if a front-end editor needs Heartbeat.

## How to use it

Install the free WPIDE plugin (https://wordpress.org/plugins/wpide/), find "Slow Down the Heartbeat API" in its snippet library and add it in one click; or create a new PHP snippet in WPIDE (or any code snippets plugin) and paste the code above. More snippets: https://wpide.com/library/