PageSpeed Insights is a tool by Google that reports on the performance of a page on both mobile and desktop devices and provides suggestions on how that page can be improved. It analyzes the content of a web page, then generates a report that includes performance scores, metrics, and actionable recommendations to improve page load time and user experience. It focuses on Core Web Vitals, giving you a clear picture of how your site performs for real users.
Setup
PageSpeed Insights is one of the core services in Site Kit and is automatically connected once plugin setup is complete. There are no additional steps required to enable it beyond the initial Site Kit setup process.
Using PageSpeed Insights
After setting up Site Kit, you can access your PageSpeed Insights data by navigating to the Find out how visitors experience your site section of the Site Kit dashboard. Clicking on the Speed tab at the head of the Site Kit dashboard provides a shortcut to this section.
Within the PageSpeed Insights section, you can view your performance scores for both mobile and desktop. The section is broken down into the following tabs:
- In the Lab: This section provides performance data based on a simulated load with a consistent set of device and network conditions. It helps debug performance issues and understand how your site performs in a controlled environment.
- In the Field: This data, also known as CrUX (Chrome User Experience Report) data, represents real-world user experiences over the past 28 days. It gives you insights into how real users perceive your site’s performance.
- How to improve: This section provides actionable suggestions and recommendations for improving your page’s performance. These suggestions are crucial for optimizing your site based on the insights provided by PageSpeed Insights, with WordPress specific suggestions where possible.
For more detailed analysis, users can click on the View details at PageSpeed Insights link to go directly to the PageSpeed Insights website for a wider breakdown and actionable recommendations for improvement.
If you’re viewing data for a specific page from the Site Kit dashboard, the data shown within the PageSpeed Insights section will display data specific for that page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often does Site Kit fetch and update the data shown for my site in PageSpeed Insights?
Site Kit fetches new PageSpeed Insights data upon visiting the plugin dashboard, so your scores will be updated automatically.
How do I disable PageSpeed Insights within Site Kit?
To disable PageSpeed Insights within Site Kit, simply disconnect the module by navigating to Site Kit > Settings > Connected Services > PageSpeed Insights > Edit > Disconnect PageSpeed Insights from Site Kit.”
You or any other administrator can reconnect the module any time you wish.
Does PageSpeed Insights impact performance on my site?
PageSpeed Insights itself, when enabled within Site Kit, does not directly impact your site’s performance. It operates on your site’s WordPress admin panel only, with no impact for regular visitors to your site.
Where can I get further support for PageSpeed Insights?
If you need any support relating to PageSpeed Insights within the Site Kit dashboard, feel free to open a support topic over on the plugin support forums.
More Resources
More information on PageSpeed insights can be found below: