The slow speed of the WordPress dashboard (admin area) is one of the common issues faced by users, but it can be significantly improved by implementing several optimizations. Below are some practical solutions to increase the speed of the WordPress dashboard:
1. Checking Server Resources
The speed of the WordPress dashboard largely depends on server resources. If you are using shared hosting and experiencing slowness, it is better to switch to a Virtual Private Server (VPS) or Cloud Server.
Suggestion: The virtual and cloud servers from Radib are excellent options for improving WordPress speed.
2. Disabling Unnecessary Plugins
Some WordPress plugins consume a lot of resources and slow down the dashboard. To identify resource-heavy plugins:
- Deactivate all plugins.
- Activate them one by one and test the dashboard speed.
Suggestion: Use heavy plugins like Wordfence, WPML, Jetpack, Broken Link Checker, etc., only when necessary.
3. Optimizing the WordPress Database
Over time, the WordPress database becomes bloated with unnecessary data such as revisions, temporary data, spam comments, etc.. To clean it up:
- Use plugins like WP-Optimize or Advanced Database Cleaner.
- Or optimize unnecessary tables using phpMyAdmin.
4. Using Object Cache (Database Cache)
WordPress retrieves data from the database every time it loads. Object Cache stores data in temporary memory (such as Redis or Memcached), increasing the dashboard speed.
Suggestion: If you are using Radib servers, you can enable Redis or Memcached on them.
5. Disabling Heartbeat API
The Heartbeat API is responsible for executing AJAX requests for automatic updates, but it can consume a lot of resources.
Solution: Use the Heartbeat Control plugin and reduce the heartbeat frequency on the admin page.
6. Enabling OPcache and PHP 8+
- OPcache stores compiled PHP code, improving performance.
- WordPress runs faster on newer versions like PHP 8.0 or 8.1.
If you are using Radib hosting, you can enable OPcache and the latest PHP version.
7. Using Cache Plugins
Cache plugins reduce server requests, increasing speed. The best plugins are:
- WP Rocket (Paid but extremely fast)
- LiteSpeed Cache (For hosts with LiteSpeed web servers)
- W3 Total Cache (A free and suitable option)
8. Using a CDN
Using a CDN (Content Delivery Network) like Cloudflare improves WordPress loading speed.
Note: Some CDNs, like Cloudflare APO, have dedicated WordPress caching, which also improves dashboard speed.
9. Switching from Gutenberg to Classic Editor
Some users have reported that the Gutenberg editor slows down the dashboard. If you face this issue, you can revert to the old editor using the Classic Editor plugin.
10. Changing the Admin Theme
Some custom admin themes reduce speed. If you are using custom themes like Admin Theme, it is better to remove them.
11. Checking Log Errors and Resource Usage
- Check CPU and RAM usage in the hosting control panel (cPanel or DirectAdmin).
- Review the error_log file in the WordPress root directory.
- Use Query Monitor to identify heavy requests.
Conclusion
By combining these methods, the speed of the WordPress dashboard can be significantly improved. The most important steps are: using a fast hosting and server
disabling unnecessary plugins
optimizing the database and enabling Redis or Memcached cache
adjusting Heartbeat API and using PHP 8+
enabling CDN and cache plugins
If you need a fast server or hosting, I recommend using Radib servers, which provide better speed and resources for WordPress.
