In WordPress, users often overlook speed measures in dashboard. In this case – tweaking minor changes helps users quickly improve WordPress page speed.
In this article, you’ll learn about dashboard measures responsible for speed, performance, and page-level stats in WordPress.
You’ll also learn how to fix WordPress dashboard and improve site speed without the developer’s assistance, expertise, or 3rd party plugins.
Factors That are Killing your Site Speed
The following factors need consideration – when it comes to speed improvements in WordPress. We can certainly improve the following measures in a dashboard without prior experience with how WordPress works.
How to Improve WordPress Speed?
Improving page speed in WordPress requires backend’s expertise. If you need more knowledge of WordPress, you should consult WordPress support services for speed optimisation.
Here is, why contacting our plans for WordPress speed optimisation and maintenance is the best option for beginners.
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Note: Before you’re ready, don’t forget to see our plans for WordPress speed optimisation, support, and monthly deals.
Let’s proceed and learn about WordPress factors that affect your site’s speed.
1. Unmanaged Themes and Plugins
Managing WordPress themes and plugins requires no experience. However, if not handled correctly – it can create catastrophic consequences for WordPress maintenance.
As WordPress, by default, is packed with default Themes and Plugins, default assets from WordPress dashboard need removal once you’ve installed your site’s favourite theme.
In the same manner – you should also update WordPress assets on Time. Here – unmanaged assets (Themes and Plugins) cause WordPress to pose in-compatibility issues – resulting in slow speed, errors, and maintenance issues.
Here is the case with page speed – after we’ve updated our site’s Themes and Plugins. The positive effect on speed helps users understand – how updating WordPress assets in the dashboard is essential.
To get started – head over to the Plugins and Themes page in the dashboard and – remove, update, or manage unused, outdated, and old assets with point-and-click options.
2. Unused Documents, Media, and 3rd party Files
Simply put – you shouldn’t host external files, media files, or 3rd party scripts on WordPress dashboard, such as PDFs, non-supported media files, and ZIP packages.
Conversely – uploading 3rd party documents to the Hosting directory is ideal for speed. In this case – access levels, loading resources, and speed measures are handled only – when necessary and don’t cause a slow dashboard speed in WordPress.
For example – a place under (public_html) helps you store, access, and manage files – without loading an extra burden on WordPress dashboard’s speed – as shown in the screenshot below.
Once you’ve created a directory under (public_html), use the Hosting cPanel’s upload option to upload external files. You can also use an FTP program for the said purpose – such as File Zilla.
Similarly, importing pre-made templates in WordPress, such as Themes’ layouts – results in a slow WordPress dashboard speed. If possible, once you’ve stopped using a specific Theme, make sure – you’ve removed media assets left behind in WordPress Media Library.
3. PHP Version
PHP is a scripting language that helps your site efficiently run PHP scripts, programs, and Apps. For example – WordPress is based on PHP and requires PHP installation on a server.
Specific scripts, programs, or 3rd party Apps may fail to achieve results – if your site’s PHP is not fully updated to the latest version.
For example – Divi Builder, a page builder for WordPress, fails to load its Builder if a site is running with an outdated version of PHP. Similarly, PHP needs the latest infrastructure for dashboard speed, WordPress performance, and maintenance.
For beginners – upgrading PHP on a server doesn’t ask for additional measures. Let’s learn how to update PHP’s version to the latest core.
Your site’s Hosting cPanel options include an option to manage PHP versions, as shown in the screenshot below. However, if you lack Technical expertise in how things in cPanel work – you should ask for support from Hosting Support Representatives.
After you’ve completed updating PHP version, you can confirm – if the process went normal. In WordPress dashboard, the Site Health page helps you check PHP version currently in place for your website, as shown in the screenshot below.
4. No Cache plugin installed on a WordPress website
A plugin for Cache helps you speed up WordPress dashboard – no doubt. It also helps you cache site pages, resources, and CSS styles for improved performance, speed, and management.
The consequences of having no plugin installed for WordPress cache can result in poor speed. In this case, let’s learn how to choose and install a cache plugin for WordPress.
You can find many candidates for WordPress cache in the WordPress plugins directory. Once logged into WordPress dashboard, the Add New Plugin page helps you search for plugins, install, and activate a cache plugin with point-and-click options – as shown in the screenshot below.
Here – proceed with a plugin that best suits your WordPress installation. After you’ve installed one, the system, by default, configures basic cache routines for a WordPress website. You can also test your site’s speed after establishing a cache plugin, such as W3 Total Cache.
5. Time to First Byte (TTFB)
Time to First Byte depends solely on a Web Hosting server’s speed and configuration.
It refers to the time a server takes to respond, process, and return output to a user’s request. TTFB is usually measured in milliseconds, as shown in the screenshot below.
Here – a server taking longer to accept and respond to a user’s requests affects site speed measures. However – improving TTFB requires the developer’s assistance.
In this case, if you need more Technical expertise on how TTFB works for speed, you should hire WordPress maintenance services. Such services help you quickly fix speed issues without affecting WordPress infrastructure your site relies on.
6. Screen options in WordPress Dashboard
Screen options section in WordPress dashboard is a native feature and helps you show or hide WordPress widgets on the Home Feed.
For example – as shown in the screenshot below, you can hide WordPress widgets for activity, news, and posts.
As you install more plugins in WordPress, the number of widgets in screen options increases, which affects your dashboard’s speed.
There are two cases.
You should stop using unused plugins, if possible. You can also hide WordPress widgets for unnecessary options, helping you improve your dashboard’s speed in WordPress.
Let’s learn how to show or hide screen options in WordPress dashboard.
Once you’ve logged into WordPress dashboard, you can see the screen options at the top of the page.
For example – once you’ve installed security plugins for WordPress, such as WordFence, you can see its widget on the Home screen.
Similarly, in WordPress dashboard, you can repeat the hiding process on Pages, Posts, and Category pages.
Note: If completing the above measures doesn’t improve your site’s dashboard speed, ensure you’re ready to proceed with a Technical audit of everything – including your site’s web hosting measures, images, and TTFB.
Note 2: After you make changes, make sure you check your site with GT Metrix, the tool for checking site speed measures, such as script loading, TTFB, and images that need optimisation.
Summing up
Assets in WordPress, such as Themes, Plugins, and 3rd party scripts – affect speed performance for pages, resources, and WordPress dashboards.
Installing a cache plugin for speed is undeniable in WordPress. Also – you need to keep your site’s PHP version up-to-date.
If you’d like to improve your site’s speed even more, improving your site’s TTFB is the best way. Keep in mind – enhancing TTFB asks for Technical expertise; proceed with caution.
For more information on improving your dashboard speed, let us help you fix things accordingly, from start to finish, with one-Time fixes, custom plans, or monthly routines for your WordPress website.
