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Page Cache troubleshooting

Symptom​

Page Cache is enabled but visitors still see slow pages, hit rate stays at 0%, content looks wrong across products/posts, or Nitro shows a warning about WP_CACHE / early serving.

Applies To​

  • Page Cache (Smart or Full)
  • Sites that also run another page cache plugin

Likely Causes​

  1. Another page cache is active — LiteSpeed, WP Rocket, WP-Optimize, and similar.
  2. WP_CACHE or advanced-cache.php issue — Early HITs cannot run.
  3. Smart vs Full mode — Rare layout issues; Full page is the fallback.
  4. Testing while logged in — Anonymous cache is skipped for logged-in users unless logged-in variants are enabled.
  5. Dynamic or excluded URLs — Cart, checkout, account, REST, Visual Builder, membership, or Protect unlock cookies correctly bypass cache.

Fix​

Step 1: Rule out competing caches​

Follow Working with other performance plugins. Leave only one HTML page cache on.

Step 2: Check early serving status​

  1. Open Divi Engine → Nitro Settings → Page Cache.
  2. Read any red/amber warnings about WP_CACHE or advanced-cache.php.
  3. Save permalinks once (Settings → Permalinks → Save) after fixing host/wp-config issues if instructed by the warning.
  4. Purge Page Cache and warm the homepage.

Step 3: Test logged out​

  1. Open an incognito window.
  2. Load the same URL twice.
  3. Refresh Page Cache stats — you should see hits after the second visit on a cacheable URL.

Step 4: Switch cache mode if content looks wrong​

  1. Try Full page instead of Smart (or the reverse) under Page Cache mode.
  2. Purge Page Cache after switching modes.
  3. Re-test Theme Builder pages and product/post singles.

Step 5: Confirm exclusions and Divi Engine behavior​

  • Cart, checkout, account, admin, REST, and Visual Builder are always skipped.
  • Protect unlock cookies and membership paths may bypass correctly.
  • Ajax Filter filtered URLs can cache separately (or be skipped if you enable that toggle).

Step 6: Enable Page Cache debug logging​

Use Debug Tools Page Cache logging, reproduce a visit, then copy/export the log for support.

Verify​

  • Cacheable pages show improving hit rate in Page Cache stats.
  • Product/post content matches the URL (no swapped Theme Builder body content).
  • Dynamic pieces like mini cart still update when dynamic regions are enabled.

Collect for Support​

  • Competing cache plugins (if any)
  • Smart or Full mode
  • Early-serve warning text (exact message)
  • Page Cache debug log export
  • Example URL that fails

What's Next​