How to Enable LiteSpeed Web Cache (cPanel + WordPress)

This guide walks you through enabling LiteSpeed caching on your hosting account and configuring the WordPress plugin correctly.

1. Understanding LiteSpeed Cache Components

The LiteSpeed Cache consists of three components:

1. The LiteSpeed Web Server Cache:

   1. Enables caching for your website at the server level. It is enabled per-site.

   2. Stores and serves cached pages

   3. Bypasses WordPress and PHP for faster load times

   4. Required for caching to function

2. WordPress LiteSpeed Cache Plugin:

   1. Requires the LiteSpeed Cache (above) to be enabled to function

   2. Controls how caching behaves within WordPress

   3. Manages cache rules and automatic clearing (purge)

   4. Provides additional optimisation features

3. Redis Object Cache:

   1. Caches database query results (objects), not pages or images

   2. Speeds up dynamic content (e.g. logged-in users, WooCommerce, admin area)

   3. Reduces load on the database

   4. Works alongside page caching (does not replace it)

   5. Due to it's complexity, the Redis object cache has it's own Knowledgebase article here: Enabling the Redis Object Cache

Follow each step below to enabled these caches in order to avoid conflicts.

2. Determine the Current Cache Status

Before making changes, confirm whether LiteSpeed Cache is already active.

In cPanel

1. Log in to cPanel.

2. Scroll down and locate and click on LiteSpeed Web Cache Manager.

3. Locate LiteSpeed Cache Management, and click on WordPress Cache.

4. If no WordPress websites are listed, click on 'SCAN'.

5. Check the "Cache Status" value:

   • Enabled → caching is already active at the server level.

   • Disabled → caching is not active and needs to be enabled.

In WordPress

1. Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard.

2. Go to Plugins → Installed Plugins.

3. Locate and click on the LiteSpeed Cache menu option on the left side menu:

   • If this plugin is not present, then the LiteSpeed Cache plugin will need to be installed.

   • If installed and active, click into LiteSpeed Cache → Dashboard.

   • Check the Cache Status indicator.

3. Enable LiteSpeed Cache in cPanel

If caching is disabled, enable it for your site first.

1. Log in to cPanel.

2. Scroll down and locate and click on LiteSpeed Web Cache Manager.

3. Locate LiteSpeed Cache Management, and click on WordPress Cache.

4. If no WordPress websites are listed, click on 'SCAN'.

5. Select your domain from the list.

6. Click Enable.

4. Remove Conflicting Cache Plugins

LiteSpeed Cache cannot run alongside other caching plugins. Running multiple caching systems will cause performance issues, conflicts and occasionally - worse website performance.

Common Plugins to Remove

Uninstall (not just deactivate) any plugins that run caching systems. The following plugins are common in the hosting industry:

• WP Rocket

• W3 Total Cache

• WP Super Cache

• WP Fastest Cache

• Autoptimize

• SG Optimizer

• Hummingbird

• NitroPack

Steps to Remove

1. Go to Plugins → Installed Plugins.

2. Deactivate the plugin.

3. Click Delete to fully remove it.

Important:

• Leaving old cache plugins installed can still interfere even if inactive.

• After removal, clear your browser cache before continuing.

5. Install and Enable the LiteSpeed Cache Plugin (withing WordPress)

As part of enabling the cache in cPanel (Step 3 of this guide), this normally installs the plugin for you in WordPress. If not already installed:

1. Go to Plugins → Add New.

2. Search for LiteSpeed Cache.

3. Click Install Now, then Activate.

Initial Setup

1. We have found that the LiteSpeed presets are ok for most cases, and follow the recommendations from LiteSpeed that the Advanced preset is a good starting point.

2. We recommend running a Lighthouse test prior to and after making any changes.

3. To activate a preset, navigate to LiteSpeed Cache → General and activate a preset.

4. From here, the recommended practice is to test each setting to determine if it makes an improvement for your site.

6. Verify Cache is Working (Plugin Level)

After setup, confirm everything is functioning correctly.

Method 1: Plugin Dashboard

1. Go to LiteSpeed Cache → Dashboard.

2. Confirm:

   • Cache is enabled

Method 2: Page Source Check

1. Open your website in a browser.

2. Right-click → View Page Source. Or in Chrome, Right-click → Inspect.

3. At the bottom of the page source code, you will either see:

   <!-- Page cached by LiteSpeed Cache
   

   or

   <!-- Page uncached by LiteSpeed Cache
   

• CACHED → cache is working correctly

• UNCACHED → page is exempted from caching

• If neither of these fields is present, then the cache plugin is not installed or not operating correctly

7. Troubleshooting Tips

• If caching does not activate:

  • Confirm it is enabled in cPanel.

  • Ensure no other cache plugins are installed.

• If the plugin shows errors:

  • Purge all cache via LiteSpeed Cache → Toolbox → Purge.

• If changes don’t appear:

  • Clear browser cache and CDN (if used).