Flash Sale:75% Off Hosting + Free DomainEnds in13h47m14sView Plans
Hostvento logoHostvento
Get Started

Set Up Caching for a WordPress Site

This guide shows how to turn on caching, so your WordPress site or blog loads faster.

Speed and Performance2 min read14 steps13 screenshots

What is caching?

When someone opens a WordPress page, the server asks the database for the text and builds the page. A database is the place where your site keeps its content. This takes time. Caching saves a finished copy of the page. The next visitor gets the saved copy at once. Think of a baker who makes bread in the morning and sells it all day.

A plugin is a small add-on for WordPress. Caching plugins do the saving for you. Faster sites keep visitors happier. Search engines also like them.

Before you start

  • Take a backup of your site.
  • Pick only one caching plugin. Two plugins can clash.
  • Ask Hostvento support which web server your plan uses. If it is LiteSpeed, the LiteSpeed Cache plugin is a good fit.
    Screenshot: Ask Hostvento support which web server your plan uses. If it is LiteSpeed, the LiteSpeed C

Steps

  1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard. The address is usually yourdomain.com/wp-admin.
  2. In the left menu, click Plugins and then Add New.
    Screenshot: In the left menu, click Plugins and then Add New .
  3. Type the plugin name in the search box. Good known choices are LiteSpeed Cache, WP Super Cache and W3 Total Cache.
    Screenshot: Type the plugin name in the search box. Good known choices are LiteSpeed Cache, WP Super C
  4. Click Install Now on the plugin you choose.
    Screenshot: Click Install Now on the plugin you choose.
  5. Click Activate.
    Screenshot: Click Activate .
  6. Open the plugin's settings. You will find them in the left menu or under Settings.
    Screenshot: Open the plugin's settings. You will find them in the left menu or under Settings .
    Screenshot: Open the plugin's settings. You will find them in the left menu or under Settings .
    Screenshot: Open the plugin's settings. You will find them in the left menu or under Settings .
  7. Turn on page caching. It may be named Enable Cache, Caching On or similar.
    Screenshot: Turn on page caching. It may be named Enable Cache , Caching On or similar.
  8. Save your settings.
  9. Look for options about browser caching. These tell a visitor's browser to keep files like images for a while. Turn them on.
  10. Save again.

Test your site

  1. Open your site in a private browser window.
  2. Click through a few pages.
  3. Log in as a user, if your site has logins, and test that too.
  4. If something breaks, turn the plugin off and check the settings.
    Screenshot: If something breaks, turn the plugin off and check the settings.

Keep it working

  • Clear the cache after you change your site. Look in the top bar for a purge or clear button.
  • Do not cache shopping carts or checkout pages. Most plugins skip them on their own.
  • Test your speed now and then with a free online speed test.
Tip: Start with default settings. Change only one option at a time, so you know what caused any problem.

Quick recap

  • Caching saves ready pages so your site is faster.
  • Install and activate one caching plugin.
  • Turn on page cache and browser cache, then save.
    Screenshot: Turn on page cache and browser cache, then save.
    Screenshot: Turn on page cache and browser cache, then save.
  • Test as a visitor and as a logged in user.
  • Clear the cache after you edit your site.
    Screenshot: Clear the cache after you edit your site.