How to remove 'create new post' entry for a custom post type?

Question

I have a custom post type that is created using a form on the site. I want to disable new post creation from wordpress admin. Is there a way to do that ?

Answer 1

There are several ways (depending on what you're trying to do):

If it's about the "publish" button

You could…

1. …remove the capability from the targeted role with remove_cap()

2. …remove the publish button ¹⁾

   ^{1) see bottom of the answer by @toscho}

3. …or the whole meta box ²⁾

   remove_meta_box( 'submitdiv', 'custom_post_id', 'side' );
   

   ^{2) simplified version}

If it's about the built in `post` post type

You could…

1. …simply hide the menu entry via css or js

2. …unset the menu entry with

   add_action( 'admin_menu', 'myprefix_adjust_the_wp_menu', 999 );
   function myprefix_adjust_the_wp_menu() {
     $page = remove_submenu_page( 'edit.php', 'post-new.php' );
     //or for custom post type 'myposttype'.
     //$page = remove_submenu_page( 'edit.php?post_type=myposttype', 'post-new.php?post_type=myposttype' );
   }
   

3. …prevent saving at all with the per_save_post hook and $_GET['action']

4. …do a redirect when the post-new.php is load

Answer 2

There is a meta capability create_posts that is not documented but is used by WordPress to check before inserting the various 'Add New' buttons and links. In your custom post type declaration, add capabilities (not to be confused with cap) and then set it to false as below.

register_post_type( 'custom_post_type_name', array(
  'capabilities' => array(
    'create_posts' => false,
  )
));