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How to Configure WordPress W3 Total Cache
How to Configure WordPress W3 Total Cache

In this KB, we will explain how you can configure the WordPress W3 Total Cache plugin for your website(s) on the Cloudways Platform.

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Written by Cloudways Product
Updated over a week ago

We will explain how you can configure the WordPress W3 Total Cache plugin for your WordPress/ WooCommerce website on the Cloudways Platform.

Tip

Cloudways has launched its own cache plugin called Breeze – WordPress Cache Plugin.

This guide basically relates to the following sections of the W3 Total Cache plugin:

  1. Page Cache

  2. Database cache

  3. Object Cache

  4. Browser Cache

  5. Reverse Proxy (Varnish)

The rest of the available sections will not be modified.

How to Configure WordPress W3 Total Cache

Step 1: Log in to WordPress Admin Area

Log in to the WordPress admin area of the site with your credentials.

Step 2: Get into Plugins Section

On the left bar click on Plugins.

Step 3: Locate W3 Total Cache

Locate the W3 Total Cache plugin and click Settings to start the configuration (if W3 Total Cache isn’t installed, then click Add New at the top and search for W3 Total Cache and install it before proceeding).

Important

These settings are applicable for the latest W3TC version 0.9.5. If you are not running the latest, you can easily update it from the WordPress admin or with the following WP-CLI command wp plugin update w3-total-cache executed in your application webroot.

Step 4: Configuration of Page Cache

Check Enable and then select Disk: Enhanced from the drop-down menu. Click on Save all settings.

Step 5: Configuration of Database Cache

Check the Enable button. Then select Memcached from the drop-down menu and click on Save all settings.

Step 6: Configuration of Object Cache & Browser Cache

1) Object Cache: Check Enable and then select Alternative PHP Cache (APC / APCu) from the drop-down menu. Click on Save all settings.2) Browser Cache: Check Enable and then click on Save all settings.

Step 7: Configuration of Reverse Proxy (Varnish)

Check Enable varnish cache purging.

For non-SSL-protected websites, add your application URL (e.g.:wordpress-1828-XXX-XXXXX.cloudwaysapps.com) under the Varnish servers section and click on the Save all settings button.

Important

These settings will be effective only when Varnish is enabled on your web application in the Cloudways console. (To check Varnish status, navigate to the Application Management area and click on the Application settings section).

If you are using an SSL certificate on your website, you need to append port number 8080 at the end of your application URL (e.g. wordpress-1828-XXX-XXXXX.cloudwaysapps.com:8080) and then save the settings.

The W3 Total Cache is now correctly configured according to Cloudways' recommended settings.

That’s it! We hope this article was helpful. If you need any help, then feel free to search your query on Cloudways Support Center or contact us via chat (Need a Hand > Send us a Message). Alternatively, you can also create a support ticket.

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