Disable ACF on Frontend

On many sites I’ve tested, Advanced Custom Fields is the largest drag on frontend pageload time, even when you aren’t using the ACF functions (see Using ACF without Frontend Dependency).

Add the following file to wp-content/mu-plugins and it will prevent ACF from loading on the frontend.

<?php
/**
 * Plugin Name: Disable ACF on Frontend
 * Description: Provides a performance boost if ACF frontend functions aren't being used
 * Version:     1.0
 * Author:      Bill Erickson
 * Author URI:  http://www.billerickson.net
 * License:     MIT
 * License URI: http://www.opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.php
 */
 
/**
 * Disable ACF on Frontend
 *
 */
function ea_disable_acf_on_frontend( $plugins ) {

	if( is_admin() )
		return $plugins;

	foreach( $plugins as $i => $plugin )
		if( 'advanced-custom-fields-pro/acf.php' == $plugin )
			unset( $plugins[$i] );
	return $plugins;
}
add_filter( 'option_active_plugins', 'ea_disable_acf_on_frontend' );