How to Disable the Elementor Pro Templates Library Feature

Elementor Pro’s templates library offers pre-designed layouts for faster website building. However, you might want to disable it if you prefer a fully custom design workflow or for performance reasons. Here’s how you can turn off the Elementor Pro templates library step by step.

Step 1: Understand Why You Might Want to Disable the Templates Library

The Elementor Pro templates library can be a powerful tool, but it’s not always necessary for every project. Common reasons to disable it include:

• Minimalist Design Preferences: If you prefer creating custom layouts from scratch without pre-built templates.
• Performance Optimization: Reducing plugin features can lower server resource usage.
• Limiting Access for Clients: Preventing clients from accidentally applying pre-built templates and breaking the site design.
• Security Considerations: Fewer features mean fewer points of potential vulnerability.

✅ Best Practice: Only disable the templates library if you’re sure you won’t need it in the future.

Step 2: Disable the Elementor Pro Templates Library Using the Settings Panel

Elementor Pro doesn’t offer a direct toggle to disable the templates library, but you can restrict its usage through settings.

How to Restrict Template Access:

1. Go to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Navigate to Elementor > Settings.
3. Under the Advanced tab, look for Template Library settings.
4. Disable access to remote templates by toggling the relevant setting.

✅ This method works for basic restriction but may not fully disable the feature for all users.

Step 3: Disable the Templates Library Using Custom Code (Recommended)

For a more permanent solution, you can disable the Elementor Pro templates library using a small code snippet.

How to Disable Templates Library with Code:

1. Go to Appearance > Theme File Editor.
2. Open your functions.php file (or use a code snippet plugin like Code Snippets).
3. Add the following code:

add_filter('elementor/editor/show_templates', '__return_false');

4. Save the changes and refresh your Elementor editor.

✅ This completely removes the Templates Library button from the Elementor editor.

Step 4: Disable Elementor Pro Templates with a Plugin (No Coding)

If you prefer a plugin-based solution instead of editing code manually, you can use a lightweight plugin to restrict access.

Recommended Plugin:

• Disable Elementor Templates Library (if available in the plugin directory)
• Code Snippets Plugin (for non-technical users who want to add the code safely)

How to Use the Plugin:

1. Go to Plugins > Add New.
2. Search for Code Snippets.
3. Install and activate the plugin.
4. Add the code snippet mentioned in Step 3 inside the plugin interface.

✅ Using a plugin keeps the core files untouched and is easier for beginners.

Step 5: Restrict Elementor Templates Library for User Roles

If you’re working with multiple users on your site, you can disable the templates library only for specific roles using custom capabilities.

How to Disable Based on User Role:

1. Install the User Role Editor plugin.
2. Go to Users > User Role Editor.
3. Select the role you want to restrict (e.g., Editor or Author).
4. Uncheck Access Elementor Templates Library permission.

✅ This method is useful for client sites where you want to limit design changes by non-admin users.

Step 6: Disable Elementor Pro Updates for Templates Library

If you want to disable template updates while keeping Elementor Pro active, you can block remote requests.

How to Block Remote Updates:

1. Add the following code to your functions.php file:

add_filter('elementor/template_library/sources/remote', '__return_empty_array');

2. Save the file and refresh your dashboard.

✅ This prevents Elementor Pro from fetching new templates from their cloud service.

Step 7: Test If the Templates Library Is Fully Disabled

After making the changes, you need to verify whether the templates library is indeed disabled.

How to Test:

• Open any page in the Elementor Editor.
• Confirm the Templates Library button is no longer visible.
• Check different user roles to ensure restrictions apply correctly.

✅ If the button is still visible, double-check the code snippets for accuracy.

Step 8: Re-Enable the Elementor Pro Templates Library (If Needed)

If you change your mind and want to bring back the templates library, it’s easy to reverse the changes.

To Re-Enable the Templates Library:

• If you used code snippets: Remove the code added in the functions.php file.
• If you used a plugin: Disable the plugin or delete the code snippet entry.
• For role-based restrictions: Re-enable the Access Elementor Templates Library permission.

✅ Elementor templates can be helpful for rapid design, so only disable them if necessary.

Step 9: Consider Alternative Design Strategies Without Templates

Disabling the templates library means you need a more manual design approach. Here are a few alternatives:

• Create Your Own Templates: Design your layouts and save them as reusable templates under My Templates in Elementor.
• Use Theme Builder: Elementor’s Theme Builder can help you create custom page layouts without relying on templates.
• Use Wireframes: Consider using Elementor Wireframes for a minimalist, template-free design approach.

✅ This way, you maintain full design control without pre-built templates.

Step 10: Hire an Elementor Expert for Custom Configurations

If you’re managing a client site or want to ensure the templates library is disabled without affecting site functionality, hiring a professional can save you time and headaches.

FAQs About Disabling Elementor Pro Templates Library

Why Should I Disable the Elementor Pro Templates Library?

Disabling the templates library is useful when:

• You want complete design control without pre-built elements.
• To prevent clients from applying templates that break the design.
• To reduce unnecessary server resource usage.

Can I Disable the Templates Library for Specific Users Only?

Yes, you can disable the library for certain user roles by using the User Role Editor plugin or custom capabilities management in WordPress.

Will Disabling the Templates Library Affect My Current Designs?

No, disabling the library only prevents access to new templates. Existing templates already applied to your pages will remain unaffected.

Is There a Plugin to Disable the Templates Library?

While there isn’t a dedicated plugin for this task, the Code Snippets plugin can be used to safely add the necessary code to disable the feature.

How Do I Re-Enable the Elementor Pro Templates Library?

Simply remove the code snippet you added or re-enable the Access Elementor Templates Library permission for the user roles you previously restricted.

Does Disabling Templates Improve Website Speed?

Yes, disabling unused features can reduce server requests and improve loading times slightly. However, performance gains may be minimal unless combined with broader optimization steps.

Can I Still Use My Custom Templates After Disabling the Library?

Yes! Disabling the templates library only affects Elementor’s pre-built templates, not your saved templates stored under My Templates.

By following these steps, you can effectively disable the Elementor Pro templates library while keeping your design workflow smooth and secure. If you’re unsure or managing multiple sites, hiring a professional can ensure the task is done correctly.