The issue where the Slider Revolution plugin doesn’t work properly when the LiteSpeed Cache plugin is enabled in WordPress often stems from conflicts caused by LiteSpeed Cache’s optimization features, such as CSS/JS minification, combination, or deferred loading. These optimizations can interfere with Slider Revolution’s scripts or styles, leading to sliders not appearing or displaying incorrectly (e.g., showing a blank white area). Below, I’ll explain the likely reasons and provide solutions based on available information.
Why This Happens
- CSS Minification/Combination Issues:
- LiteSpeed Cache’s CSS Minify or CSS Combine features can break Slider Revolution’s styling. For instance, a known bug in LiteSpeed Cache (noted around December 2021) caused issues like Google Fonts not loading or unwanted padding being added to the <body> element, which can disrupt slider display.
- JavaScript Optimization Conflicts:
- Features like “Load JS Deferred” or JavaScript minification/combination can delay or break Slider Revolution’s JavaScript, which is critical for rendering sliders. If the slider’s scripts are deferred or improperly combined, it may not load until a page interaction occurs or may fail entirely.
- Critical CSS Incompatibility:
- LiteSpeed Cache’s Critical CSS feature is not fully compatible with Slider Revolution, as it may prioritize certain CSS incorrectly, causing the slider to fail to render properly.
- Caching Conflicts:
- LiteSpeed Cache’s aggressive caching settings (e.g., public cache with long TTL or improper nonce handling) can serve cached pages that don’t properly initialize dynamic content like sliders, especially if Slider Revolution relies on specific JavaScript triggers or dynamic loading.
- General Plugin Incompatibility:
- While LiteSpeed Cache is compatible with many plugins, certain dynamic plugins like Slider Revolution may require specific exclusions to avoid conflicts, as noted in LiteSpeed’s documentation. If not configured properly, optimizations can disrupt Slider Revolution’s functionality.
Solutions to Fix Slider Revolution with LiteSpeed Cache
Here are actionable steps to resolve the conflict, starting with the most likely fixes:
- Disable CSS Minify/Combine:
- Navigate to LiteSpeed Cache > Page Optimization > CSS Settings.
- Turn off CSS Minify and CSS Combine.
- Alternatively, exclude Slider Revolution’s CSS files by adding smart-slider to the CSS Excludes field under LiteSpeed Cache > Page Optimization > Tuning > CSS Excludes. This prevents Slider Revolution’s CSS from being optimized.
- Purge the cache: Go to LiteSpeed Cache > Toolbox > Purge and click Purge All.
- Disable JavaScript Deferred Loading:
- Go to LiteSpeed Cache > Page Optimization > JS Settings.
- Turn off Load JS Deferred.
- If you want to keep this feature enabled, add smart-slider to the JS Deferred Excludes field under LiteSpeed Cache > Page Optimization > Tuning > JS Excludes to exclude Slider Revolution’s JavaScript files.
- Purge the cache after making changes.
- Disable Critical CSS:
- Navigate to LiteSpeed Cache > Page Optimization > CSS Settings.
- Turn off Generate Critical CSS.
- This prevents conflicts with Slider Revolution’s CSS loading requirements.
- Purge the cache.
- Exclude Slider Revolution Pages from Caching:
- If the slider is on specific pages (e.g., the homepage), exclude those pages from caching.
- Go to LiteSpeed Cache > Cache > Excludes.
- Add the URI of the page (e.g., / for the homepage) to the Do Not Cache URIs field.
- This ensures dynamic content like sliders isn’t cached improperly.
- Check for Lazy Loading Conflicts:
- Slider Revolution’s images may not load correctly if LiteSpeed Cache’s Image Lazy Load is enabled.
- Navigate to LiteSpeed Cache > Page Optimization > Media Settings and disable Image Lazy Load.
- Purge the cache and refresh the page with Ctrl+F5 to clear the browser cache.
- Test with Optimization Disabled:
- Temporarily disable all optimization features to confirm the conflict:
- Go to LiteSpeed Cache > Page Optimization.
- Set all CSS and JS optimization options (e.g., Minify, Combine, Deferred) to OFF.
- Purge the cache and check if the slider works.
- If the slider appears, re-enable optimizations one by one to identify the problematic setting, then exclude Slider Revolution’s files from that specific optimization.
- Temporarily disable all optimization features to confirm the conflict:
- Adjust Slider Revolution Settings:
- In some cases, Slider Revolution’s own optimization settings can contribute to conflicts.
- Go to Slider Revolution > Globals > Modules Optimization.
- Set Default Lazy Loading in Modules to No Change and disable Lazy Load on BG Images.
- This reduces conflicts with LiteSpeed Cache’s lazy loading or optimization features.
- Update Plugins and Test Compatibility:
- Ensure both LiteSpeed Cache and Slider Revolution are updated to their latest versions, as older versions may have unresolved bugs.
- Check LiteSpeed’s documentation for known compatibility issues with Slider Revolution and apply any recommended settings.
- Contact Support or Check Forums:
- If the issue persists, check the LiteSpeed Cache WordPress Support Forum or post a topic with your Environment Report (found in LiteSpeed Cache > Toolbox > Report). Include details about the issue and the report number for faster assistance.
- Alternatively, contact Slider Revolution’s support team, as they may have specific recommendations for compatibility with LiteSpeed Cache.
Additional Notes
- Backup First: Before making changes, take a full backup of your WordPress site (files and database) to avoid potential issues from misconfiguration.
- Test Thoroughly: After applying fixes, test the site across different browsers and devices, and clear both the LiteSpeed Cache and browser cache to ensure changes take effect.
- Server Requirements: Ensure your site is running on a LiteSpeed server or QUIC.cloud CDN, as LiteSpeed Cache’s exclusive features require this. If you’re not on a LiteSpeed server, some features may not work as expected, potentially affecting compatibility.
