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Setting Cache Lifetime (TTL)

2 min read

The cache lifetime decides how long a saved page stays valid before xSpeed Cache builds it again. This guide explains the Cache Expiry (hours) setting.

What this does

Every cached page has an age. When a page is older than the cache lifetime, xSpeed Cache treats it as expired. The next visitor gets a freshly built page, which then becomes the new cached copy.

This is a time-based limit. It works alongside automatic purges, which clear the cache when you publish a post, save settings, or switch themes.

Why use it

  • A shorter lifetime means visitors see content changes sooner, but the cache regenerates more often.
  • A longer lifetime means fewer rebuilds and lower server load, but pages can stay older for longer.

Settings explained

SettingWhat it doesDefault
Cache Expiry (hours)How long cached pages live before regenerating24

Cache Expiry (hours) accepts a whole number from 1 to 720 hours. 720 hours is 30 days.

  • The default of 24 hours suits most sites.
  • Lower the value (for example to 1 or 6) if your content changes often during the day and you want visitors to see updates sooner.
  • Raise the value if your content rarely changes and you want to rebuild pages as little as possible.

Note: Publishing a post or changing settings purges the whole cache right away. So even with a long lifetime, your latest published content still goes live immediately. The lifetime mainly controls how long untouched pages stay cached.

How to set it up

  1. Open the xSpeed Cache Cache page in your WordPress admin.
  2. Find the Cache Expiry (hours) field.
  3. Enter a number between 1 and 720.
  4. Save your settings.

Saving cache settings purges the existing cache so the new lifetime applies cleanly.

Best practices

  • Start with the default of 24 hours and adjust only if you have a reason to.
  • A news or deals site that updates many times a day may prefer a shorter lifetime.
  • A brochure or portfolio site that rarely changes can use a long lifetime.

FAQ

What is the longest lifetime I can set? 720 hours, which is 30 days.

What is the shortest? 1 hour.

Do I lose the cache when I change this setting? Yes. Saving cache settings purges the cache, so pages rebuild fresh under the new lifetime.

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