Today, humans are used to speed. It's became a part of our daily live. Speed is like a drug. If you see what the absence of speed can do to a person, you'll understand it automatically.
This same principle applies when your WordPress admin is slow. It almost always results in frustration. It can set you back considerably in terms of productivity. And when it comes to running a website or business on WordPress it might fall apart.
In this article, we’ll explore all the reasons why your WordPress admin panel is slow. And I'll try my best to give you working solutions to speed things up.
Why is my WordPress Admin So Slow? (Common Causes)
A slow WordPress admin panel is a major setback to your website management experience. Imagine if you need to fix something urgently and its acting slow. The frustration level goes up. And the desperation of fixing it will flabbergast you.
So, to avoid that, here are the most common factors behind a slow WordPress admin dashboard.
Base Factors
Outdated WordPress Version
In digital platforms, old is not always the gold. New versions always comes with bug fixes and optimizations. So, if you're still using older version of WordPress, there's a high chance of you admin panel to work slow.
It is a must to update WordPress once the stable release appears. But if you're running a business, kindly avoid a few days before updating.
There might be some unseen bugs that might hamper your running website. So, wait for a few days and check what other users are saying. And then update your WordPress version.
Outdated PHP Version
Old versions sometimes have minor bugs which can lead to crashes in future. Because in digital sector everything is updating and upgrading continuously. Old versions were optimized during a specific time and works for a certain period. And this is a major thing for WordPress sites.
Resource Constraints
Insufficient Server RAM
If you're running a WordPress website, you're using multiple plugins. And to run those plugins smoothly, you need sufficient server memory. If your hosting plan offers limited ram, you'll definitely get slow loading and performance issue.
If you're struggling with your hosting speed, switching providers is the real fix. Kinsta can be your next-level hosting provider - managed WordPress hosting with decent uptime and the performance headroom to handle a growing plugin list.
WP Adminify can help you in this. It offers dedicated settings for server performance monitoring. You'll find all the server optimization related settings. And that will help you fix the server and its memory related issues.
Low PHP Memory Limit
Low PHP memory limit is another cause of slow performance. If you're using heavy plugins or themes, increasing it will solve the issue.
Shared Hosting Limitations
Shared hosting can be optimal for starters. But, once the site gain larger traffic, it fails to allocate resources optimally. So, due to high traffic and low available resourced you will see a potential drop on performance.
Plugins and Themes
Now, let's go to the heard of WordPress website. Yes, I'll now talk about themes and plugins. How, they can affect the overall performance might shock you.
Inefficient Plugins
People by instinct use plugins or themes just by face value. They don't have the knowledge to check it thoroughly nor they should. But, it affects the performance without saying.
Poorly coded, unoptimized and outdated plugins and theme are root cause of this. Some plugins might look low in size. But due to there poor optimization, you'll face slow performance as it might create bottleneck in your site.
Theme Bloat
Complex themes are another major reason of bad performance. Themes with extra codes or useless features leads to a slow overall experience. It increases the loading time, or sometimes breaks the site temporarily. And this will hamper the performance without your knowledge.
Plugin and Theme Conflicts
Compatibility is another concern for worse performance. While most plugins/themes claims to be compatible with major plugins, reality is different.
They sometimes conflict with each other due to incompatibility. This might occur during WordPress code update or plugin/theme update. And the reason might code related conflicts or resource management.
Database Issues
Large or Unoptimized Database
Just like humans, WordPress database accumulate junk files. This includes post revisions, spam comments, and temp data. With time, these junk files gets bigger in size. And this causes slower query execution leading poor performance.
Database Corruption
This might be once in a while situation, but database corruption might occur randomly. And this not only breaks the site sometimes it results in just sluggish performance.
External Factors
The overall site performance are not only based on the internals but also some external factors. let's take a look at them.
Slow Web Host
Hosting is one the major reasons your WordPress site is slow. While trying to save money we often look for cheap web hosting. But, they use outdated hardware or low quality servers. And these leads to less to minimum performance on your site.
Large Image Uploads
Uploading large images to your site can significantly slow it down. It increasing the overall loading speed of the site both in frontend and backend. With large number of media files, you'll see a major loading speed issue when trying to enter WordPress media library.
WP Adminify solves this issue with advance media management. You can create folders and subfolders to sort your media items. And doing that will help you avoid duplication. Which will lead to faster loading times
Corrupted WordPress Core Files
Sometimes due to plugin conflicts or update errors the core files WordPress get corrupted. These will lead low low and slow performance. Even in rare cases, the site goes unavailable.
Other Potential Causes
Security Measures
As you know, security plugins are essential for website security. some plugins can hamper your website's performance. It impacts the admin dashboard loading.
No Caching Plugin
Caching plugins act like memory banks for your website. it stores frequently accessed data. Without one, the system has to constantly re-fetch information for each action. This repetitive process can lead to a slow admin experience.
Brute force attacks on WP login page
A bot attack or brute force attacks on your login page can slow down overall site speed. And sometimes DDOS might be the reason.
Multiple failed login attempts overloads the server with extreme processing. It uses resources heavily casing bottleneck to the site performance.
These are all the common causes of a slow WordPress site and admin dashboard. Now, let's move forwards with the solution to speed up your WordPress admin dashboard.
How to Speed Up Your WordPress Admin Panel
There are many different kind of diagnoses when it comes to fixing a slow WordPress dashboard. Let's look at the different lines of troubleshooting that can resolve this nagging issue.
First things first, we have to check if we have all our bases covered which means checking if everything is running on its latest version.
WordPress Core Updates
WordPress release updates at a regular interval. These update contains security issue fixes, performance improvements and new features.
WordPress 6.5 came with 110+ performance updates. It increased about 25% loading speeds overall.
This means is you must update the core WordPress once it drops. This will help you maintain a healthy and optimized website.
So, if you don't know how to update the WordPress here's how you can do it.
The Easy Way: One-Click Update
Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard. Then navigate to Dashboard > Updates.
If an update is available, you'll see a notification of "Update Now". Click on it and WordPress will start updating.
Some plugins/themes might get deactivated during the upgrade. Reactivate them to keep your site up and running.
For Advanced Users: Manual Update
You can update WordPress manually using FTP. This method requires some technical knowledge.
But here's a easy guide of doing it:
Important Note: Backup the wp-config.php file before trying this.
Go to WordPress.org website and download the latest version.
Extract the downloaded zip file. You'll find a folder named "WordPress".
Connect to your website using an FTP client. Then upload all the extracted files (except the "readme.html" and "wp-content" folders). You need to upload them in your root directory. Also, you'll need to overwrite existing files.
Sometimes you have to do a manual database upgrade. You can do it by accessing a specific URL provided on-screen.
Plugin and Theme Performance
Let's check out how to identify and address performance issues caused by plugins and themes:
Inefficient Plugins
Low quality plugins might hamper the performance. So finding them is important. Here's how to find them:
Use a Performance Plugin: Use plugin like Query Monitor or P3 Plugin Performance Profiler. These plugins shows the low quality plugins causing performance issue.
Deactivate Suspects: If you think of a plugin causing slow performance, temporarily deactivate it. If your site and dashboard feels faster, try changing the culprit with another solution.
Keep Plugins Updated: Regularly update all your plugins to their latest versions. This will keep your site and performance fast.
Theme and Admin Bloat
First, you need to take a critical look at all the features your theme offers. Are you really using everything? Are you really using the quick draft widget to breathe life into your "spontaneous content ideas"?
The answer will usually be no. If it is a no, consider deactivating unused widgets from the screen options at the top of the dashboard. This will remove the widget for your specific account.
But what if you want to remove the widget or better yet stop it loading entirely for all the users across your website?
WP Adminify has you covered. Download and activate the plugin and navigate to Widget settings ==> Dashboard Widgets. Here you can:
- Disable Widgets: Pick which widget you want to fully disable.
- Set Visibility: Selectively apply these changes for all or specific users.
It’s a similar approach for themes as well. Switch to a more lightweight theme that serves your needs without increasing CPU usage.
Do keep in mind to test the changes on a test site rather than your live site. Sudden theme changes on your live site can cause issues for your customers.
Plugin and Theme Conflicts
Incompatible plugins/themes conflicts with each other. This leads to performance issues like a slow admin dashboard. Here's how to fix these conflicts:
- Deactivate and Reactivate: Try deactivating all your plugins and then reactivating them one by one. This can help you identify the problematic plugin.
- Check Plugin Compatibility: Before installing a new plugin, check if its compatible with your current system.
- Update for Harmony: Regularly update your plugins and themes. Updates often address compatibility issues and improve overall performance.
Even though we’ve already mentioned this once. Do keep in mind to experiment with these changes on a test site as opposed to your live site.
Checking and Updating Your Current PHP Version
PHP is the programming language that powers WordPress. So consequentially, it is the 2nd most important base that needs covering.
PHP releases regular updates that improve performance, address security vulnerabilities, and introduce new features. Keep your PHP version up to date to ensure a smooth dashboard experience.
To check the PHP version history, go to the WordPress dashboard. Then navigate to Tools > Site Health. Under the Info tab, look for the PHP Version entry.
Here's how to update PHP from cPanel:
Most hosting providers offer a way to update your PHP version through their cPanel. Login to your hosting provider's dashboard. Select the site you want to update. Get to the cPanel. Click on the "MultiPHP Manager". Now select the version you want to use.
Low PHP memory limit
Before addressing the PHP memory limit it’s important that you know where to find it.
To locate the PHP memory limit for your website just go to your WordPress dashboard, go to Tools ===> Site health.
Then navigate to ===> Info tab. Here you’ll find the PHP memory limit if you scroll down a little a click on Server.
You can update the PHP memory limit from your web hosting provider's control panel. Increase the PHP memory limit to 256MB. If you face any trouble please contact your hosting provider for guidance.
However if you want to adjust the value yourself, here's what to do.
Navigate to your hosting account dashboard and locate the MultiPHP INI Editor under "Software".
Now, choose your website from the top menu and then set the PHP memory limit 256MB.
Insufficient Server Ram & Shared Hosting
There are two pretty straightforward solutions to fixing an insufficient server RAM issue. Either you reduce your CPU usage or upgrade your hosting to a plan with greater server resources. Try to host your website with the best provider like Hostinger.
Shared hosting plans are often the go-to choice for smaller businesses or ones that are just starting to keep their overheads low but sadly, running out of server resources is quite common for those using shared hosting plans; upgrading is usually the only way to solve this.
Optimizing Your WordPress Database
Here's how to optimized you WordPress database:
Use a Database Optimization Plugin: Install a plugin i.e., WP-Optimize or Advanced Database Cleaner. These will help you to:
- Remove old post revisions
- Delete spam and trashed comments
- Clear temporary data
- Remove unused tags and categories
Limit Post Revisions: WordPress saves multiple versions of your posts. This is helpful, but it can slow your database. Add this following line to your wp-config.php file to limit revisions:
This keeps only the last 5 revisions of each post.
Keeping your database clean is an ongoing task. Set a reminder to check and optimize it every few months to keep your WordPress admin speedy.
Dealing with Database Corruption
Database corruption is a rare yet major issues some users face. Let's look at how to fix this problem.
Signs of Database Corruption: You might have a corrupted database if you notice:
- Error messages when trying to access certain pages
- Missing content or scrambled text on your site
- Inability to log in to your admin area
- Extremely slow loading times across your site
How to Fix It?
Important Note: back up your entire site.
Use WordPress's Built-in Repair Tool: WordPress provides a default repair tool. To use it:
- Open your wp-config.php file
- Add this line: define('WP_ALLOW_REPAIR', true);
- Save the file and upload it back to your server
- Visit [yoursite].com/wp-admin/maint/repair.php
- Choose "Repair Database" or "Repair and Optimize Database"
Check If It Worked: After running the repair, see if your admin area is faster.
Try a Database Plugin: Plugins like WP-DBManager can help repair and optimize your database.
Restore from a Backup: You might need to restore your site from a backup. This is why regular backups are so important!
Get Professional Help: Having trouble? Contact your hosting provider or a WordPress professional to diagnose and fix tricky database issues.
Hide Your Login Page or Redirect the URL
WordPress being a premier CMS faces up to 90,000 attacks per day.
Brute force attacks on your website login page can severely paralyze your server resources. Every login attempt ties up a little bit of the CPU.
Now imagine hundreds of login attempts coming into your server every second concurrently. It WILL take up all your server resources. The solution is a two pronged approach:
- Hiding the Login URL: Edit the core files or using a security plugin.
- Redirecting Login Attempts: Change the login page URL to avoid unrecognized login attempts.
This is where a plugin like WP Adminify comes in handy again. As it handles both.
WP Adminify's Redirect URLs Module
WP Adminify allows you to easily set up a custom login URL. You can choose to redirect login attempts to a specific page (like a 404 page). This can create a more secure admin experience.
Use Caching Plugins
Caching plugins store frequently accessed data, reducing the strain on your server. This translates to quicker page loads, and that benefit extends to the admin area as well.
These plugins can minimize database queries and page refreshes by caching frequently used elements within the dashboard (without compromising security). The result? A some what smoother and more responsive admin experience.
Disable or Customize The WordPress Admin Bar
The WordPress admin bar offers a easy way to access essential features It comes with important links and settings.
However for larger sites it becomes messy very quickly. But WP Adminify gives you an easy workaround.
Disabling vs Customization
Disabling the Admin Bar is a pretty straightforward process. Just navigate the Users. Select "Edit" for the user you want to disable the admin bar for. Uncheck the "Show Toolbar when viewing site" option. Update profile settings.
Introducing the Admin Bar Editor Plugin
The Admin Bar Editor plugin lets you to customize the admin bar for a more hands on approach. You can even completely disable the admin bar on the front end.
Related Reading
Final Thoughts
Slow and steady wins the race was a myth for todays world. And, speed is the new champ. The speedier you are the more chance you'll get. It's true for real life as well as in WordPress.
So, I've tried to handle all the mishaps that makes your WordPress admin panel slow. And tried to give you solution to avoid or completely mitigate the reasons of being slow.
Regular maintenance is a must for any case. But with advanced optimization techniques I shared today will surely help you get rid of the slow speed of your WordPress admin panel.
So, give this article a through read again if you've skipped some part! Best of luck!
