How do I remove the default post type from the admin toolbar

Question

We're configuring a new WordPress to use custom post types, and we want our editors to log in and only see only the custominzed post types, not the default 'post' post type. We've been able to remove 'post' from the Admin menu using this trick, but that still leaves the "+ New" Admin toolbar button, which contains a post option and defaults to creating a post. Is there an easy and safe way to remove post from the new toolbar button and/or hide the new toolbar button?

Answer 1

You need to hook to 3 different action hooks to fully hide the default post type. However, a direct access to the default post by URL is still possible. So, let's get started.

The Side Menu

add_action( 'admin_menu', 'remove_default_post_type' );

function remove_default_post_type() {
    remove_menu_page( 'edit.php' );
}

The + New > Post link in Admin Bar

add_action( 'admin_bar_menu', 'remove_default_post_type_menu_bar', 999 );

function remove_default_post_type_menu_bar( $wp_admin_bar ) {
    $wp_admin_bar->remove_node( 'new-post' );
}

The + New link in Admin Bar

function remove_add_new_post_href_in_admin_bar() {
    ?>
    <script type="text/javascript">
        function remove_add_new_post_href_in_admin_bar() {
            var add_new = document.getElementById('wp-admin-bar-new-content');
            if(!add_new) return;
            var add_new_a = add_new.getElementsByTagName('a')[0];
            if(add_new_a) add_new_a.setAttribute('href','#!');
        }
        remove_add_new_post_href_in_admin_bar();
    </script>
    <?php
}
add_action( 'admin_footer', 'remove_add_new_post_href_in_admin_bar' );


function remove_frontend_post_href(){
    if( is_user_logged_in() ) {
        add_action( 'wp_footer', 'remove_add_new_post_href_in_admin_bar' );
    }
}
add_action( 'init', 'remove_frontend_post_href' );

The Quick Draft Dashboard Widget

add_action( 'wp_dashboard_setup', 'remove_draft_widget', 999 );

function remove_draft_widget(){
    remove_meta_box( 'dashboard_quick_press', 'dashboard', 'side' );
}

Answer 2

An alternative, but similar solution to Stefan and Rafa's. This does not throw errors, and notice if you navigate directly to /wp-admin/edit.php you will not be able to view the list of posts (default post type), or edit them.

Note this code does not actually disable the default post type, i.e. existing post types will still be published and accessible via public URL. It effectively disables backend access to the default post type for all users.

function remove_default_post_type($args, $postType) {
    if ($postType === 'post') {
        $args['public']                = false;
        $args['show_ui']               = false;
        $args['show_in_menu']          = false;
        $args['show_in_admin_bar']     = false;
        $args['show_in_nav_menus']     = false;
        $args['can_export']            = false;
        $args['has_archive']           = false;
        $args['exclude_from_search']   = true;
        $args['publicly_queryable']    = false;
        $args['show_in_rest']          = false;
    }

    return $args;
}
add_filter('register_post_type_args', 'remove_default_post_type', 0, 2);

Answer 3

In principle it is possible to unregister already registered post types using unregister_post_type(). Unfortunately this is not possible for _builtin post types.

Alternatively it is possible to change the capabilities which are required to edit/create/delete/... posts for a specific post type. You could use the register_post_type_args filter to change the capabilities which are required for the default post post type. Setting all capabilities to false will result in nobody having access to the default post post type. WordPress is smart enough to automatically hide the navigation entries.

add_filter('register_post_type_args', function($args, $postType){
    if ($postType === 'post') {
        $args['capabilities'] = [
            'edit_post' => false,
            'read_post' => false,
            'delete_post' => false,
            'edit_posts' => false,
            'edit_others_posts' => false,
            'publish_posts' => false,
            'read' => false,
            'delete_posts' => false,
            'delete_private_posts' => false,
            'delete_published_posts' => false,
            'delete_others_posts' => false,
            'edit_private_posts' => false,
            'edit_published_posts' => false,
            'create_posts' => false,
        ];
    }

    return $args
}, 0, 2);

Answer 4

Stefan's solution is great, but if you active debug you can see : Undefined offset: 0 in wp-includes/capabilities.php on line 62 plus there is a missing ; after return $args

Exhaustive code should be :

add_filter('register_post_type_args', function($args, $postType){
    if ($postType === 'post' && current_user_can( 'create_posts' ) && current_user_can( 'edit_post' ) ) {
        $args['capabilities'] = [
            'edit_post' => false,
            'read_post' => false,
            'delete_post' => false,
            'edit_posts' => false,
            'edit_others_posts' => false,
            'publish_posts' => false,
            'read' => false,
            'delete_posts' => false,
            'delete_private_posts' => false,
            'delete_published_posts' => false,
            'delete_others_posts' => false,
            'edit_private_posts' => false,
            'edit_published_posts' => false,
            'create_posts' => false,
        ];
    }
    return $args;
}, 0, 2);