LiteSpeed Cache is the single biggest performance win available to a WordPress site on smartxhosting.uk, and it is free. Because our servers run LiteSpeed Web Server natively, the plugin communicates directly with the OS-level cache — bypassing PHP entirely for cached page requests. The net result is page loads measured in tens of milliseconds rather than hundreds, Core Web Vitals that sit in the green, and server resource usage dramatically lower than any PHP-based cache plugin can achieve. This guide walks through installation, the essential settings that matter, the cache behaviours you need to understand, and how to test that everything is actually working.
Why LiteSpeed Cache on smartxhosting.uk · Installing LiteSpeed Cache · General settings · Cache settings · TTL and automatic purge · CDN settings · Page optimisation · Image optimisation · Object Cache with Redis · Purging the cache · Testing performance improvements · Frequently asked questions
smartxhosting.uk WordPress hosting runs LiteSpeed Web Server. LiteSpeed Cache is the only WordPress caching plugin that integrates directly with the web server's native cache — genuine server-level integration, not another PHP-based plugin wearing the caching label.
Traditional caching plugins (WP Super Cache, W3 Total Cache, Comet Cache, WP Rocket) still require PHP to execute on every request before they can serve a cached file. LiteSpeed Cache bypasses PHP entirely for cached pages — pages are served straight from shared memory at the web-server layer.
The plugin is completely free and replaces what would otherwise require three or four separate plugins. On a LiteSpeed server, no other caching plugin comes close.
A new LiteSpeed Cache menu item appears in the sidebar. An icon is added to the admin toolbar for quick cache-purge access.
LiteSpeed Cache > General.
The main toggle: Enable Cache — set to ON. This activates the server-level page cache. Without it, other features still work but the biggest performance win is missed.
Also in General: Domain key — free one-click connection to QUIC.cloud for image optimisation and advanced CDN features. Click Request Domain Key if you want those features.
LiteSpeed Cache > Cache.
The Private Cache tab controls caching for logged-in users (if you enabled that). Most sites can leave defaults.
LiteSpeed Cache > Cache > TTL.
TTL (time to live) controls how long cached pages remain valid.
LiteSpeed Cache auto-purges affected pages when you update content, publish a new post, or activate a theme/plugin. You rarely need to manually purge.
LiteSpeed Cache > Cache > Purge. Default purge events cover the common cases (post published, post updated, post deleted, category/tag updated). Leave defaults unless you have specific needs.
smartxhosting.uk plans include a free CDN. Configure in LiteSpeed Cache > CDN.
If your CDN is supplied by smartxhosting.uk, set the CDN URL to the URL provided in your welcome pack. The plugin then rewrites asset URLs (images, CSS, JS) to use the CDN host, reducing origin load.
Alternatively, connect to QUIC.cloud's free CDN (bundled with the plugin's Domain Key) for similar benefits.
Combined CDN approach often works well: image and static CDN via smartxhosting.uk's bundled CDN; full-site reverse proxy via Cloudflare if you need advanced WAF and DDoS protection on top.
LiteSpeed Cache > Page Optimization. These settings reduce size and number of files your site loads.
After changing Page Optimization settings, always purge the cache and check the site's front end on both desktop and mobile. If something looks broken, disable the last setting you changed.
LiteSpeed Cache > Image Optimization.
LiteSpeed Cache can automatically convert your images to WebP format (25–35% smaller than JPEG) via QUIC.cloud's free service.
With image optimisation enabled, new uploads are automatically converted. No manual step.
Lazy loading of images is ON by default. Images below the fold load only when scrolled into view. Reduces initial page weight.
LiteSpeed Cache > Object.
Every smartxhosting.uk plan includes a Redis server. Redis stores database query results in memory, so WordPress does not repeat identical queries on every page load. Enables a large performance win particularly for WooCommerce, membership sites and any dynamic content.
Click Save Changes. The status indicator should show "Object Cache is enabled". If not, check host/port.
See the Redis guide for deeper tuning.
Purging removes cached pages and forces regeneration. LiteSpeed Cache auto-purges on common content events, but sometimes you need to purge manually.
After Page Optimization changes or theme updates, purge CSS/JS cache specifically. After big content changes, Purge All.
Verify the cache is working and measure the impact.
In Chrome DevTools > Network tab, reload the page, click the main HTML request, inspect the Response Headers. Look for x-litespeed-cache: hit. If it says miss, visit the page once more — the first visit populates the cache, subsequent visits are hits.
Test your main pages before and after enabling cache. Expect improvements in:
Both offer more detailed waterfall views showing exactly what loads when. Useful for diagnosing which specific resource is slow.
Lab tools (PageSpeed Insights, GTmetrix) give snapshots. For real visitor data, Google Search Console > Core Web Vitals shows actual UK visitors' experience.
Do I need any other caching plugin if I use LiteSpeed Cache?
No. LiteSpeed Cache replaces page cache, browser cache, object cache, image optimisation, minification and defer-loading plugins. Running multiple caching plugins alongside causes conflicts and does not help performance.
Why does my LiteSpeed Cache status say "Not Cached"?
First, confirm Enable Cache is ON. Second, check that your hosting is actually LiteSpeed (smartxhosting.uk is). If you moved hosts or are on a non-LiteSpeed server, LiteSpeed Cache's page cache does not work — you need a different plugin. On smartxhosting.uk it should just work.
How do I test that Redis object cache is actually working?
LiteSpeed Cache > Object. Status panel shows "Object Cache: Enabled". Alternatively, install Query Monitor plugin — its panel shows cache hit rate.
My site broke after enabling Page Optimization. What do I do?
Purge the cache first (Purge All from the admin toolbar). If still broken, disable Page Optimization settings one at a time, starting with the most invasive (CSS Combine, JS Combine). 90% of breakage comes from those two.
Can I exclude specific pages from caching?
Yes. LiteSpeed Cache > Cache > Excludes. Add URLs, URL patterns, query strings or cookies that should bypass the cache. Useful for cart, checkout, account pages on WooCommerce (already auto-excluded).
Should I enable Crawler?
Crawler proactively generates cache for your site's URLs before visitors request them. Useful on smaller sites (under 1000 URLs); on larger sites it adds server load. Off by default; enable cautiously.
Will LiteSpeed Cache conflict with Cloudflare?
No. They cache at different layers (LiteSpeed at the origin, Cloudflare at the edge). Both can coexist. Configure Cloudflare's cache rules to respect origin cache control headers.
What happens during updates?
LiteSpeed Cache auto-purges affected caches on post update, theme switch, plugin install. Major WordPress core updates may need a manual Purge All afterwards.
Can I use LiteSpeed Cache with WooCommerce?
Yes — full compatibility. WooCommerce-specific pages (cart, checkout, my account) are excluded from caching automatically. Product pages and shop archives are cached normally.
Do I need QUIC.cloud?
Not mandatory. LiteSpeed Cache page, browser and object cache work without it. QUIC.cloud adds free image optimisation (WebP conversion), free CDN, and Critical CSS generation. The Domain Key is free — worth activating for the extras.
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