Speed settings

  • advanced
  • performance
  • jquery
  • fonts
  • tracking

Dirigible's speed settings are already on sensible defaults. Leave them unless a plugin stops working, italic text flashes in, or a speed test is flagging tracking scripts. Change one setting at a time, then test forms, the cart, the pop-up, and the header.

These controls affect the public site, not the WordPress admin.

If a plugin stopped working

Open Appearance → Customize → Scripts & Embeds → Performance.

jQuery Defer (default Safe Defer)

Option What it does
Off jQuery loads the usual way. Use this if a form, slider, or other plugin breaks.
Safe Defer The recommended default. jQuery waits only when that won't break plugins that depend on it, such as Gravity Forms.
Aggressive Defer jQuery and the plugins that use it all wait. Faster, but it can break plugins that expect jQuery right away.

Set it to Off, click Publish, and retest the thing that broke. If that fixes it, stay on Off or try Safe Defer again after the plugin updates.

Remove jQuery Migrate is on by default. It skips an older compatibility script. Turn it off only if an older plugin stops working after you leave it on.

If the first load feels heavy

In Scripts & Embeds → Analytics & Tracking, set Tracking Load Strategy:

  • After Page Load (default): tracking starts once the page finishes loading.
  • First Interaction: tracking waits until the visitor first clicks or scrolls.

Clicks and purchases are still recorded either way. ID-based tracking also waits for the cookie banner when that's on.

Don't move tracking into Custom Embeds to "make it faster." Those snippets ignore this setting. See Custom embeds vs Additional CSS vs tracking IDs.

If fonts flash or show up late

These two toggles live under Appearance → Customize → Settings → General, not under Performance.

Setting Default When to change it
Font Preload On Adds early hints so Dirigible Fonts appear faster on the first visit. Turn it off only while troubleshooting font loading.
Load Italic Early Off Loads italic font files with the main stylesheet. Turn it on if italic text appears late or flashes on first paint.

Keep Font Preload on for live sites unless you're chasing a font bug. Load Italic Early stays off unless you see that flash.

Extra Google or Adobe families are loaded from Scripts & Embeds → Embed Fonts, not from these toggles. See Using Google or Adobe fonts.

Suggested checks after a change

  1. A page with a Gravity Form.
  2. A page with the site pop-up, if it's on.
  3. Checkout, if you use WooCommerce.
  4. The header and mobile menu.
  5. A page that uses italic headings or body copy, if you changed a font setting.

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