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How to Diagnose and Resolve Website Performance Issues on Shared Hosting

Last updated on Jul 24, 2025

How to Diagnose and Resolve Website Performance Issues on Shared Hosting

Description:
A comprehensive guide to help you identify and mitigate slow website loading, high TTFB (Time To First Byte), and resource constraints on shared hosting.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Website speed and reliability are key to a positive user experience. On shared hosting, performance issues often arise due to website code, resource limits, or inefficient content. This guide will help you diagnose and resolve these common issues using tools provided in your hosting control panel.

Common Causes of Website Slowness

  • Unoptimised images and large media files
  • Resource-heavy plugins or scripts
  • Outdated CMS/software
  • Too many HTTP requests (CSS/JS/images)
  • External scripts or slow third-party integrations
  • Resource limits (CPU, RAM, entry processes)

Diagnosing Performance Issues

1. Check Website Speed

Use online tools to get a baseline of your site’s performance:

Review the reports for:

  • Page load time
  • TTFB (Time To First Byte)
  • Slow-loading resources

2. Investigate Resource Usage

Check if you've hit resource limits (CPU, RAM, I/O):

Via cPanel:

  1. Log in to your cPanel.
  2. Under the Metrics section, click on Resource Usage.
  3. Review any warnings or usage spikes.

Look for messages like: > "Your account has reached resource limits (CPU, RAM, etc.)"

3. Use PHP X-Ray

PHP X-Ray helps identify slow plugins, scripts, or database queries:

  1. Log in to cPanel.
  2. Locate and open PHP X-Ray under the Software section.
  3. Start a new trace for your domain.
  4. Reproduce the slow-loading issue on your website.
  5. Review the generated report for bottlenecks.

Example: If a WordPress plugin is causing high load, PHP X-Ray will highlight it.

4. Audit Website Code and Plugins

  • WordPress/Joomla/Drupal: Disable all plugins, then re-enable one by one to find culprits.
  • Custom Sites: Review recent code or configuration changes.
  • Remove unused themes, plugins, or modules.

Resolving Performance Issues

1. Optimise Images and Media

  • Resize images before uploading (e.g., max 1920x1080 for banners)
  • Use tools like TinyPNG for compression
  • Serve images in next-gen formats (WebP)

2. Enable Caching

For WordPress:

  • Install and activate a caching plugin (e.g., LiteSpeed Cache, WP Super Cache)
  • Configure caching via the plugin’s settings

For other sites:

  • Use .htaccess to leverage browser caching: 
    <IfModule mod_expires.c>
  ExpiresActive On
  ExpiresByType image/jpg "access plus 1 year"
  ExpiresByType text/css "access plus 1 month"
  ExpiresByType application/javascript "access plus 1 month"
</IfModule>

3. Minify CSS/JS and Use Compression

  • Use plugins or online tools to minify CSS and JS files
  • Enable GZIP compression via cPanel (Optimize Website tool) or .htaccess: 
    AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE text/html text/plain text/xml text/css text/javascript application/javascript

4. Update Software and Plugins

  • Keep your CMS, plugins, and themes up to date to ensure optimal performance and security.

5. Review External Scripts

  • Limit use of third-party widgets (chat, ads, analytics)
  • Load scripts asynchronously where possible: 
    <script src="example.js" async></script>

Troubleshooting Resource Constraints

If you see errors like 503 Resource Limit Reached or receive alerts about high resource usage:

  1. Review Resource Usage in cPanel.
  2. Identify and disable resource-intensive plugins or scripts.
  3. Optimise your website content and database (e.g., with WP-Optimize for WordPress).
  4. Consider reducing the number of simultaneous visitors (e.g., by limiting bots or rate-limiting API access).

Tip:
If your site consistently exceeds resource limits, consider upgrading to a higher hosting plan (e.g., VPS).

When to Contact Support

Contact Brixly support if:

  • You’ve followed all steps but your site is still slow
  • You suspect a server-side issue outside your control
  • You need help interpreting resource usage graphs or PHP X-Ray reports

Before submitting a ticket, include:

  • A clear description of the issue
  • Steps to reproduce the problem
  • Examples (URLs, screenshots, error messages)

Conclusion

Most website performance issues on shared hosting can be diagnosed and resolved with the right approach and tools. Regularly monitor your website, optimise content, and keep software updated for the best results.

If you need further assistance, our support team is here to help!