Overview
If you are using DreamPress (DreamHost's managed WordPress hosting service), caching plugins and optimizations come preinstalled and preconfigured by default. Because of this, DreamPress sites do not need to install WP Super Cache.
Though WordPress is extremely versatile, your site may run less efficiently when it begins to receive more traffic. Since every WordPress page is processed by PHP, it can consume large amounts of memory on your web server when you experience even a moderate amount of traffic. Because WP-Super Cache creates a static file cache of your site and loads that instead of using PHP to generate a page (thus reducing memory usage on your server), it's an outstanding plugin to help improve your site's load time and overall performance.
If you wish to learn more about other WordPress caching plugin options, please see the following article:
The following describes how to set up and use WP Super Cache.
Installing WP Super Cache to an existing WordPress site
WP Super Cache is installed automatically when you install WordPress in the panel (if you left the checkbox selected during the installation process). You may see an Activate button when you initially launch your WordPress Install, in which case you should click it and then continue to the settings page.
Use the following instructions only if WP Super Cache was not previously installed.
Before you install WP Super Cache
If you have previously installed any other caching plugin, you should disable and remove it before installing WP Super Cache. In general, double caching is not recommended and can create conflicts that could slow down your WordPress site. Known plugins that conflict with each other are WP Cache and W3 Total Cache.
To remove previously installed caching plugins, log into WordPress and click Plugins in the left menu to view and edit your list of plugins.
Installing WP Super Cache
To download and install the WP Super Cache plugin:
- Log into the WordPress admin dashboard.
- Navigate to Plugins > Add New.
- Towards the top right of the screen, search for 'WP Super Cache' (or, wp-super-cache).
- Once located, click the Install Now button.
- WP Super Cache installs and allows you to immediately activate it.
Installing WP Super Cache to a new WordPress site
To install WP Super Cache via the WordPress installer in the panel:
- Navigate to the Install WordPress page.
- Use the WordPress installer to create a new WordPress site.
- When the Recommended Plugins page appears, make sure the checkbox for WP Super Cache is checked. You may need to click the Show All link at the bottom to view all of the available plugins.
- Continue with the WordPress installation process and then use the steps in the following section to activate the WP Super Cache plugin.
Activating WP Super Cache
After installing WP Super Cache, activate it by navigating to Plugins > Installed Plugins and clicking the Activate link.
If WP Super Cache fails to install, WordPress will provide links to its own troubleshooting documents.
Deleting the cache
To delete your stored cache:
- Log into the WordPress admin dashboard.
- Navigate to the Settings > WP Super Cache section.
- Scroll down and click the Delete Cache button.
