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To stop WordPress from emailing the site administrator when someone registers, add the wp_send_new_user_notification_to_admin filter. It applies to WordPress 6.1 and later and targets the core administrator notice—not the new user’s separate account email or messages sent by registration plugins.

Identify which notification you want to stop

WordPress registration can involve different emails. The core administrator notice is commonly labeled “New User Registration.” The new user may receive a separate account or password message, and a membership, form, or registration plugin may send its own notifications. WordPress documents separate administrator and user handling in its wp_new_user_notification() reference.

If you are unsure which system sent the unwanted email, check its recipient, subject, and timing, then test the same registration workflow after making a change. Search terms such as “How to disable new user welcome email for admins” may help when looking for support discussions, but they are not official WordPress setting names.

Disable the core administrator email with a filter

WordPress 6.1.0 introduced the wp_send_new_user_notification_to_admin filter. Add this snippet to return false and suppress the core administrator notification:

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add_filter( 'wp_send_new_user_notification_to_admin', '__return_false' );

The filter controls the administrator notice; it does not, by itself, disable the user’s separate account notification. See the WordPress hook reference and the function reference.

Where to put the code

Use a small site-specific plugin or a must-use plugin. This keeps the behavior independent of the active theme, so switching themes will not remove the setting. If you are not comfortable adding PHP code, consider a plugin option instead.

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Apply and verify the change

  1. Check the WordPress version. The documented filter is available in WordPress 6.1.0 and later; the hook reference identifies its introduction in that release.
  2. Add the filter to a site-specific or must-use plugin.
  3. Create a test account using the same form or registration workflow that produced the unwanted email.
  4. Confirm that the administrator notice stopped and that the user still receives any account email you intend to keep.
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Choose the right approach for your setup

Approach Use it when Consideration
Core filter snippet The site runs WordPress 6.1 or later and the unwanted email is the core administrator notice. Requires maintaining a small code snippet; keep it in a site-specific or must-use plugin. See the hook reference.
WordPress.org plugin You prefer installing a plugin rather than adding code. The Disable New User Notification listing describes disabling new-user emails to the site administrator. Check its current compatibility and update information before installing, because listing details can change.
Registration-plugin setting The email is generated by a form, membership, or registration integration. Scope and side effects vary. For example, the WPFrom Email listing describes a registration-notification option tested only with the Gravity Forms User Registration Addon; in that integration, disabling the notice also disables the user’s password-setup email. Check the integration’s current documentation before relying on it.
Multisite Network Settings The site is part of a multisite network and the email concerns user activation. This is a separate network-admin activation notice path, not the standard site administrator registration email. WordPress documents its control as the network registrationnotification setting in the WP_Network reference.

If the email continues

  • Check whether the message is actually from a registration, membership, or form plugin; its notification settings may be independent of the core filter.
  • On multisite, determine whether the message is a network-admin activation notice and review the network’s registrationnotification setting. The WP_Network reference describes this distinct path.
  • Run another test using the exact workflow that triggers registration. A successful test should verify both the administrator’s inbox and any user email you need to preserve.

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