We’ve all been there. You click on your own website, and… you wait. And wait.
A slow website is a conversion killer. If your page takes more than 3 seconds to load, half your visitors are already gone.
If you are hosted on Hostinger, your first instinct might be to upgrade to a more expensive plan. Don’t do that yet.
Hostinger’s servers are actually blazing fast, but out of the box, they play it safe. They don’t turn on all the “turbo” features by default because they want to ensure maximum compatibility for everyone.
But you want speed.
If you have 10 minutes, I can show you exactly which buttons to click in hPanel to unlock the full power of your server. No code required.
1. The “Free Speed” Button: Update Your PHP Version
This is the low-hanging fruit. PHP is the code language WordPress runs on. Newer versions of PHP can execute code up to 3x faster than older versions.
Many sites are stuck on old versions (like 7.4) because that was the default when they were created. Updating it is the easiest speed win you will ever get.
How to do it:
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Log in to hPanel.
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Go to Advanced in the left sidebar.
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Click PHP Configuration.
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You will see your current version. If it’s not 8.2 or 8.3 (or whatever the latest “Supported” version is), select the highest number available.
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Click Update.
Note: It takes about 2 minutes to apply. Check your site afterward. If a plugin breaks (rare), you can just switch it back instantly.
2. Enable “Object Cache” (The Secret Weapon)
This used to be a premium feature only available to enterprise companies. Hostinger now includes it on most Business plans, but it is turned off by default.
Object Cache stores the results of complex database queries. Instead of asking the database “Hey, what are the latest 10 posts?” every single time a user visits, the server remembers the answer.
How to do it:
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Go to Websites and click Dashboard (or Manage) on your site.
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In the sidebar (or the main “WordPress Overview”), look for the Core or Speed section.
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Find Object Cache.
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Toggle it ON.
Your WordPress admin dashboard will feel instantly snappier after this.
3. Turn on the Native Hostinger CDN
If you are on a “Business” plan or higher, you don’t need to mess around with third-party CDNs (Content Delivery Networks) like Cloudflare if you don’t want to. Hostinger built their own.
A CDN keeps copies of your images and files on servers all over the world. If a visitor from London visits your site, they download the images from a London server, not your main server in New York.
How to do it:
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In your website Dashboard, look for Performance in the sidebar.
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Click CDN.
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Click the big Enable button.
Pro Tip: While you are in this menu, enable WebP Image Compression. This automatically shrinks your images by up to 30% without losing quality, serving them in the next-gen .webp format that Google loves.
4. Audit Your “LiteSpeed” Settings
Hostinger uses LiteSpeed servers, which are arguably the best for WordPress. They come with a pre-installed plugin called LiteSpeed Cache.
Most people just leave it on default. That’s a mistake.
How to do it:
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Go to your WordPress Dashboard (wp-admin).
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Click LiteSpeed Cache > Presets.
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You will see “Optimization Profiles.”
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Switch from “Basic” to Advanced (Recommended).
This turns on CSS minification, JS combination, and lazy loading for images. It cleans up the code before sending it to the user’s browser.
5. The “Boost” Button (For Emergencies)
Sometimes, your site isn’t slow because of settings—it’s slow because you went viral (congrats!) and you are hitting your plan’s limits.
Hostinger has a hidden “Boost” feature that gives you 24 hours of upgraded CPU and RAM power for free.
How to do it:
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Go to the Hosting tab in hPanel.
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Click on Resource Usage.
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If you are hitting the red line (100% CPU), you will see a button to “Boost” your plan.
Use this to survive a traffic spike without crashing, then figure out a long-term upgrade later.
Conclusion: Speed is a Setting, Not a Price Tag
You don’t always need to pay more to get a faster site. You just need to stop using the “default” settings.
By updating PHP, turning on Object Cache, and activating the CDN, you are letting the server do the heavy lifting so your visitors don’t have to wait.
Go change these 5 settings right now. Your bounce rate will thank you.
Need a Host That Actually Let’s You Optimize?
If your current host hides these settings behind a paywall or a clunky interface, it’s time to move. Switch to Hostinger for full control over your site’s performance.
