How to Resolve Site Health Performance Issues

With the WordPress 5.2 release comes the new Site Health feature to help website owners improve performance in any WordPress website

Below we cover how to resolve Site Health performance issues.

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Performance Checks

Performance tests check that background tasks are stable and fully-functional.

PHP

An updated PHP version improves security within the code and speed of the overall website.

Update your PHP version in cPanel. VPS/Dedicated server customers can update the
default PHP version in WebHost Manager (WHM).

Want more? VPS / Dedicated users should remove old PHP versions for improved security and enable PHP-FPM in WHM for improved performance.

Recommended Modules

WordPress recommends you install and enable a list of PHP extensions for top performance. Such PHP changes must be made via
cPanel or your
php.ini file.

Want more? View your PHP settings and more using the Site Health Info tab.

WordPress Version up to date

Along with plugins and themes, you should always ensure WordPress Core is updated. Update WordPress via the dashboard or WP-CLI.

SQL Server

WordPress recommends having the latest stable version of MySQL or MariaDB. Check your server type and version in cPanel.

Want more? VPS / Dedicated users can install MariaDB in WHM.

UTF8MB4

The UTF8MB4 database storage attribute depends on your database version and ensures your website can store non-English text. Check your database character sets in cPanel phpMyAdmin within the Charsets tab.

Want more? Optimize your WordPress database in phpMyAdmin for a faster website.

Scheduled Events

This test ensures wp-cron.php can check for core, plugin, and theme updates regularly.

Want more? Some WordPress websites may benefit from disabling wp-cron.php.

HTTP requests

This test ensures WordPress is able to communicate with other sites and services as this can negatively affect plugin or theme functionality.

Want more? VPS/Dedicated users can use ConfigServer Security & Firewall (CSF) to easily close unneeded open ports for better security.

REST API

The REST API communicates with your server for common functions such as the Gutenberg block-based editor.

Want more? Install the Heartbeat Control plugin to reduce AJAX requests and improve performance.

Loopback requests

This test along with the Scheduled Events ensures themes and plugins can verify code.

Want more? When you manually install a WordPress plugin or theme, verify file checksums with SSH or VirusTotal.com to ensure it’s not corrupt or malicious.

Learn more from our WordPress Education Center.