Today in this article we will share with you the best W3 Total Cache settings. This is a speed optimization plugin. It helps in improving the loading speed of the website.
There are several WordPress cache plugins in the WordPress repository, including WP Super Cache, WP Fastest Cache, and W3 Total Cache plugins. Here we will show you w3 total cache ocumentation on how to install and configure the W3 Total Cache Plugin.
Website loading speed is considered to be an important SEO ranking factor. If your website takes longer to load, then your site will not be able to rank in search engine and visitors will not like to visit your site and it does not matter how well you wrote the article.
Even Google has said that Faster loading site receives higher rank in search engines.
Therefore, we use many techniques to improve the loading speed of our WordPress website – Best hosting, image optimization, CDN and cache plugins etc.
Two plugins for cache in WordPress repository are very popular and these are my favorite plugin – Wp Super Cache and W3 Total Cache.
These WordPress plugins help speed up your site and improve website performance. So here we have shared the best settings of W3 Total Cache configuration with you so that you can improve the loading speed of your website and get a good rank in search engines.
What is W3 Total Caches Plugin
W3 Total Cache enhances the user experience by improving your website loading speed, as well as helps in improving SEO. W3 total cache CDN( content delivery network ) includes integration features which reduce download times.
Apart from this, it also provides minification and
There are tons of customization options in the W3 Total Cache. W3 Total Cache is available in both free and paid version. W3 total cache pro have some additional features.
You can also fasten your site’s loading speed by using its free version.
So let’s start W3 total cache documentation … ..
How to Install and Configure W3 Total Cache WordPress Plugin
You can download the W3 Total Cache plugin from WordPress.org for free. If you want, then you can upgrade it to premium version but the free version is enough.
Before installing W3 Total Cache, you have to take care of one thing. There should be no other cache plugin installed in your site. If another cache plugin is installed, then delete it or Deactivate it first.
To install it, click on the WP Dashboard >> plugins >> Add New. After that search the W3 Total Cache and then install it in your blog or website. The plugin is installed now, you will see a Performance option on your Dashboard panel.
W3 Total Cache Settings
W3 Total Cache is a very advanced cache plugin and there are so many options that can confuse you, but, do not worry, here we will provide you the best w3 total cache configuration. So let’s start ……
Plugin Dashboard
PLUGIN MENU: After installing W3 Total Cache plugin, a new item performance is added to your WordPress toolbar and in the menus of your WordPress site.
Now click on the performance tab and take a look at the different features which are available to you.
Compatibility check, empty all caches: The dashboard is the place to clear caching modules and check plugin-server compatibility.
To begin with, click Check Compatibility. The results reveal what the plugin can or cannot do with your current server configuration. Based on the results, you can enable plugin options and see if you need additional server support for some settings.
With shared hosting, you’re unlikely to be able to fix any of the compatibility issues. That’s fine – don’t stress!
Let’s get configuring now…
W3 Total Cache Settings – General Settings
This section of W3 Total Cache Settings is where you get to enable/disable the plugin’s individual functions. Thereafter, you can refine each function under the respective menu item.
Here’s a quick overview:
First of all, you have to click the General Settings option, here you will see many options.
1. General
Preview mode helps you try out changes before going live with them. You can view the changes in a separate browser and they won’t take effect until you deploy them.
2. The Page Cache
- Page cache: Enable this option. Page cache generates static HTML files from your WordPress blog, and when a visitor visits your site, it serves the static HTML files generated in place of heavier WordPress PHP scripts in front of visitors. This means that your site visitors have super fast load in the browser and the load on the server is reduced.
- Page cache Method: If you are using Shared Hosting, in this option, select Disk: Enhanced option. Then click Save all settings.
3. Minify
It Reduces server load by compressing javascript and CSS files in your site. So enable this option and leave other settings default.
After activating the Minify setting, visit your site, if there is no problem, keep it enabled, if the site is experiencing problems, then you disable it.
If you are using Cloudflare minification to Minify Javascript and CSS in your site, then you disable it.
4. Database Cache
In both of these options you have to choose Disable. Bluehost and Hostgator recommend to disable database cache and object cache.
- Database Cache: Disabled
- Object Cache: Disabled
5. Object Cache
Object cache too can draw heavily on server resources so it’s better to keep it disabled on most shared hosting plans.
6. Browser Cache
In the browser cache settings, you have to select enabled. This reduces your server load and also reduces Response Time.
7. Content Delivery Network
If you’re using a content delivery network (CDN), enable this one. Consult your CDN’s support for how to actually input the information, as the process depends on the exact CDN. W3 total cache with Cloudflare also works great for your site.
Just click on Save all setting and leave all other settings default.
W3 Total Cache Settings – Fine-Tuning the General Settings
After completing the General Settings tab, you can configure advanced settings for the plugin. This will make your page load speed even faster.
1. Page Cache
General: Configure it according to the screenshot below:
Enable SSL cache only if you’ve implemented SSL on your site.
Aliases: This is not useful to most websites, so skip this one.
Cache preload: enabling it builds a cache automatically even before a visitor requests the page. You’ll need to type in the XML sitemap file of your website.
Preload the post cache upon publishing events ensures that the cached version is updated each time you publish.
PURGE POLICY:
Advanced:
2. Minify
Since we have enabled the auto option for Minify under General settings, there’s not much to do here.
General: The plugin author recommends that you go with the default settings, though you could enable notification for Minify W3 total cache error.
HTML & XML: Enable all checkboxes, except Don’t minify feeds.
JS And CSS:
Advanced:
3. Browser Cache
General:
Also, enable gzip compression to compress text files, as well as Prevent caching of objects after settings change so browsers can identify newly cached files.
Leave the rest as the defaults.
You’ll find similar options in the CSS and JS section, the HTML & XML sections and the Media section, and you can leave them as the defaults.
Extensions
W3 Total Cache supports some popular extensions (AMP, Yoast SEO, Genesis Framework, CloudFlare, and Feedburner). Enable the extension you are using.
I hope, by following this w3 total cache tutorial, you have easily configured w3 total cache settings on your site.
Enjoy your faster WordPress site
That covers most of the basic settings for W3 Total Cache. After configuring your site like this, you should be set up to enjoy significantly faster page load times.