how to disable right click in WordPress

Why Disable Right Click in WordPress?

Disabling right-click functionality on a WordPress site is a common tactic used to help protect your content from being copied or to prevent users from saving images from your site. This approach might deter novice users but won’t completely eliminate the possibility of content theft by more determined individuals who can use other means to extract content.

Approaches to Disabling Right Click

1. Using Plugins

Plugins are the easiest method for WordPress users without coding experience. Here are some recommended plugins:

WP Content Copy Protection & No Right Click

This plugin is popular for its simplicity and effectiveness. It helps protect text and images without altering any files, ensuring complete security against content theft.

Installation and Activation:

1. Go to your WordPress dashboard, navigate to ‘Plugins’, and click ‘Add New’.
2. Search for ‘WP Content Copy Protection & No Right Click’.
3. Click ‘Install Now’ and then ‘Activate’.

Configuration:
After activation, it typically doesn’t require configuration but check the settings to customize according to your needs.

No Right Click Images Plugin

Specifically targeting images, this plugin prevents right-clicks only on images, ideal for photographers or visual artists.

Installation and Activation:

1. Navigate to ‘Plugins’, then ‘Add New’.
2. Search for ‘No Right Click Images Plugin’.
3. Install and activate it.

Configuration:
Usually works out-of-the-box but check under settings to ensure it’s configured to your preferences.

2. Custom JavaScript

For those comfortable with coding, adding custom JavaScript offers flexibility without the need for a plugin.

Code Implementation:
Add the following script to your theme’s footer or header section, or better, use a custom JS plugin to keep changes even when switching themes.

function disableRightClick(){
    document.addEventListener('contextmenu', function(e){
      e.preventDefault();
    }, false);
}

window.onload = disableRightClick;

Steps to Implement via Theme Files:

1. Go to Appearance > Theme Editor.
2. Open header.php or footer.php file.
3. Paste the script just before the closing or

tag.

3. Editing .htaccess File

Advanced users can edit the .htaccess file to prevent image theft, which indirectly stops right clicks from saving images.

Code to Add:

# Disable image hotlinking in WordPress
RewriteEngine on
RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} !^$
RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} !^http(s)?://(www.)?yourdomain.com [NC]
RewriteRule .(jpg|jpeg|png|gif)$ – [NC,F,L]

Replace yourdomain.com with your actual domain name.

Steps:

1. Access your site via FTP.
2. Locate the .htaccess file in your root directory.
3. Backup the file before editing.
4. Insert the code above.

4. Using CSS

To disable text selection across your site, you can use CSS:

body {
  -webkit-user-select: none;
  -moz-user-select: none;
  -ms-user-select: none;
  user-select: none;
}

Implementation:

1. Go to Appearance > Customize.
2. Open Additional CSS section.
3. Paste the above CSS.

Precautions and Considerations

Disabling right click can annoy users and potentially decrease the usability of your site. It may also affect the accessibility for users who rely on context menus for navigation. Always weigh the benefits against the potential drawbacks based on your specific website needs.

Disabling right click in WordPress can be implemented in various ways, depending on your technical comfort level and specific needs. Whether through plugins or custom code snippets, protecting your content is crucial but remember it can never be foolproof against content theft.