Caching is an important task to optimize WordPress website and increase the loading speed. No one loves a website that requires long time for webpage loading.
There are two great caching plugins available in WordPress plugin repository- WP Super Cache and W3 Total Cache. You can use any of them depending on your needs. In this tutorial we’ll be discussing complete installation and setup of WP Super Cache plugin.
WP Super Cache is very fast and extensive caching tool for WordPress to store cached versions of your dynamic PHP pages. The plugin generates static pages for your dynamic WordPress website.
Once the static files are generated, your web server will serve static files instead of performing database queries.
Features of WP Super Cache
- Allows you to use CDN with the caching system.
- Mobile support feature that enables caching for mobile devices and tablets.
- Compress pages to reduce web page loading time.
- Provides Cache rebuild option that enables you to display cached pages even when new cache pages are created.
- Support for multiple caching types.
Install and Setup WP Super Cache
WP Super Cache plugin is very easy to install and configure. The plugin is the best caching option for newbies who freshly develop a WordPress website.
Step 1: Install WP Super Cache
First thing you need to install and activate the plugin. You’ll find the plugin in WordPress plugin repository. You can check our previous post to install a plugin in WordPress.
Once you’ve installed and activated the plugin, you’ll see the result like below screenshot:
By default, WP Super Cache plugin is disabled. Click on Plugin Admin Page link to enable the plugin.
Step 2: Configure WP Super Cache
Enable caching by clicking on button next to Caching on. Once you’ve enabled the option click on Update Status button.
The generated cache pages by WP Super Cache are stored as HTML or PHP files on your server. You can delete these cached pages from your server by clicking on Delete Cache button.
Step 3: Advanced Settings
In Advanced Settings tab, you’ll find three option:
- Caching
- Miscellaneous
- Advanced
Caching
First enable Cache hits to this website for quick access option to turn on Caching.
Next you’ll find three caching options. By default plugin uses PHP to serve cache file option. This option will serve cached pages that will be processed by PHP engine. This consumes more CPU. Instead of this option enable Use mod_rewrite to serve cache files option.
This is the fastest option and allows WordPress to serve static cached pages without invoking PHP engine.
Miscellaneous
Here enable Compress pages option to sever pages more quickly to your visitors. By default this option is disabled.
Note: If you’re using metered bandwidth then Compress pages is very important for you.
Enable 304 not Modified browser caching. This is a small header that is sent to visiting browsers. This indicates when a page has not been modified since last request.
The cached pages are not fit for the users who comment on your website or regularly login to your site. So enable Don’t Cache pages for known users. This option allows administrator and other user to see actual data without any caching.
Enable Don’t cache with GET parameters. Next enable Cache rebuild option. This option is useful for the site in which there are lot of people logged in and they don’t edit much content on your site.
Advanced
Enable Mobile Device support. This option makes WP Super Cache compatible with other plugin that turn your site into mobile friendly website.
If you have long cache expiration time then enable Clear all cache files when a post or page is published option. Other there is no need to enable this option.
Enable Only refresh current page when comments made option. When any comment is made the article page cache file is deleted. If you’re using WordPress commenting system then enable this option.
Once you’re done with all settings in Advanced tab, click on Update Status button. When you click on update button you’ll see some mode rewrite rules just below advanced settings like this:
Click on Update Mod_Rewrite Rules. Once you updated the rules you’ll see the result like below screenshot:
Next set the time and frequency up to which the cached data on your server will be valid. By default, in terms of garbage collection the Cache timeout is 3600 seconds. If you have large number of article on your site then set lower time.
Step 4: Set CDN with the plugin
Next is your CDN settings. Some websites serves static files with each page request. These static files like JavaScripts, images, and CSS, etc. are served by CDN. So don’t forget to set CDN option.
To set CDN with the plugin, click on CDN tab. Now enable CDN support option. Next enter your local URL or Offsite URL like
If you’ve created other CNAMEs for your pullzone then add them in Additional CNAMES field. Now enable Skip https URLs to avoid “mixed content” errors option.
Now click on Save Changes button. Your website is now ready to serve static content.
Step 5: Preload Settings
This option caches each post and pages on your website and serves static website. This is important to speed up your website. Refresh preloaded cache files is 0 by default. You can’t leave it 0 if you do not want your static files expire ever unless you manually refresh them.
The minimum time required is 30 minutes. Enable all the preloading options in these settings. Now click on Update Settings and wait for the page refresh. After your page refreshes, click on Preload Cache Now button.
You will notice after some time cache will start building for the site. Once its complete you’ll see much improved loading time.
Also Check : 10+ proven methods to Speed up your WordPress website
We hope this article helped you setup WP Super Cache plugin successfully on your WordPress website. Once you completely implement the plugin, your site should be considerably faster than before. If you’ve got any queries then feel free to ask us.