Knowledgebase

Disabling LiteSpeed Cache (Firstserv Guide)

All Firstserv shared hosting servers use LiteSpeed Web Server, which includes built-in caching to improve website performance. While this generally speeds up your site, there may be situations where you want to disable LiteSpeed caching—for example, if you’re using an alternative caching solution or need dynamic content to update instantly.

For WordPress Sites

If you’re running WordPress:

• ✅ We recommend using the LiteSpeed Cache plugin
• Once installed, you can disable caching directly within the plugin settings

This is the safest and most flexible way to manage LiteSpeed cache for WordPress.

For Other CMS Platforms

LiteSpeed provides official plugins for several popular platforms, including:

• Drupal
• Joomla
• Magento
• OpenCart
• PrestaShop

What to do:

• Install the appropriate LiteSpeed plugin for your CMS
• Use the plugin settings to disable or adjust caching behaviour

✅ This allows you to control caching without modifying server configuration files.

For Custom or Unsupported Applications

If you’re not using a supported CMS, you can disable LiteSpeed cache via your .htaccess file.

Step 1: Locate or Create .htaccess

• Log in to cPanel → File Manager
• Navigate to your website directory (usually /public_html)
• Locate or create a file named .htaccess

Step 2: Add Cache Disable Rules

Insert the following code:

Save the file.

Step 3: Allow Changes to Take Effect

• Wait a few minutes for changes to propagate
• LiteSpeed caching will now be disabled for your site

Important Notes

• ⚠️ This method disables LiteSpeed cache for the entire directory (e.g. /public_html)
• Any addon domains or subdirectories within that folder will also have caching disabled
• Disabling cache may reduce performance, so only do so if necessary

Best Practices

• ✅ Use CMS plugins where available for better control
• ✅ Only disable caching temporarily when troubleshooting
• ✅ Test your site after making changes
• ✅ Re-enable caching once no longer needed for optimal performance

Summary

You can disable LiteSpeed cache in three ways:

• WordPress: via LiteSpeed Cache plugin
• Other CMS platforms: via official LiteSpeed plugins
• Custom setups: via .htaccess rules

If you need help managing or troubleshooting LiteSpeed caching on your Firstserv hosting, the Firstserv support team is always available to assist.