15 Expert Reasons & Fixes for Why WordPress Is Slow While Saving or Publishing Posts

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WordPress slow while saving or publishing posts

If you’re a WordPress user struggling with WordPress slow while saving or publishing posts, you’re not alone. This frustrating issue affects thousands of bloggers and site owners. Whether you’re using the Classic Editor or Gutenberg, this lag can cost you time, productivity, and patience.

In this guide, we’ll explore the 15 expert reasons behind this problem and offer practical fixes. We’ll also cover all the essential 5W1H queries: What, Why, When, Where, Who, and How to deal with WordPress publishing issues. Let’s begin now.

🔍 What Does “WordPress Slow While Saving or Publishing Posts” Mean?

It means that when you’re trying to save a draft or publish a post/page, WordPress takes an unusually long time to respond. Sometimes, it feels like the dashboard is freezing, or the “Publishing…” message hangs indefinitely. This is often linked to WordPress backend performance issues.

❓ Why Is WordPress So Slow While Saving or Publishing?

There are multiple reasons behind a slow WordPress post editor. Some are related to server-side performance, others to your plugins, themes, or even your browser. Let’s dive into the expert-level reasons and their fixes.

🧠 1. Poor Web Hosting

Problem:
Shared or cheap hosting services may throttle resources, making WordPress slow while saving or publishing posts.
Fix:
Upgrade to managed WordPress hosting providers like SiteGround, Kinsta, or WP Engine for better WordPress backend performance.

⚙️ 2. Outdated PHP Version

Problem:
Running on an older version of PHP can significantly reduce WordPress performance.
Fix:
Switch to PHP 8.1 or later via your hosting control panel. This can help fix slow saving in WordPress instantly.

📥 3. Bloated Plugins

Problem:
Too many or poorly coded plugins can slow down your admin area and editor.
Fix:
Audit your plugins. Deactivate those you don’t need. Replace bloated ones with lighter alternatives like Rank Math instead of Yoast.

🧩 4. Heavy Themes

Problem:
Premium themes with loads of built-in features can cause WordPress publishing delay.
Fix:
Use lightweight themes like Astra or GeneratePress. They’re optimized for speed and Gutenberg compatibility.

📦 5. Autosave & Revisions Overload

Problem:
WordPress autosaves drafts and keeps post revisions, which can clutter your database.
Fix:
Limit revisions using this line in your wp-config.php file:
define('WP_POST_REVISIONS', 5);
Also, clean old revisions with plugins like WP-Optimize.

🐌 6. Gutenberg Slow Performance

Problem:
The block editor (Gutenberg) can become sluggish, especially with long posts or multiple media elements.
Fix:
Use the “Code Editor” view occasionally to remove hidden clutter. Also, keep WordPress and plugins up to date.

🔌 7. Poorly Coded Page Builders

Problem:
Using resource-heavy page builders (like WPBakery or Divi) can slow down the WordPress post editor.
Fix:
Switch to Gutenberg or a more optimized builder like Elementor with performance settings enabled.

🌐 8. Slow Internet Connection

Problem:
Sometimes, it’s not WordPress — it’s your connection causing the lag.
Fix:
Test your internet speed. Use a wired connection or a faster Wi-Fi source to ensure smooth publishing.

🕷️ 9. Excessive Admin-AJAX Requests

Problem:
Plugins that make too many AJAX calls (like live chat or analytics) may slow down your post-saving process.
Fix:
Use Query Monitor plugin to inspect AJAX calls. Disable or replace problematic plugins.

🖥️ 10. Browser Extensions Conflicts

Problem:
Extensions like Grammarly or AdBlock can interfere with the editor.
Fix:
Try writing in Incognito mode or disabling extensions one by one to identify the culprit.

⚡ 11. Unoptimized WordPress Database

Problem:
A bloated database can reduce admin speed significantly.
Fix:
Use plugins like WP-Sweep or WP-Optimize to clean up spam comments, revisions, and transients.

🔒 12. Security Plugins Slowing Admin

Problem:
Security plugins like Wordfence, if misconfigured, can delay publishing actions.
Fix:
Tweak scanning schedules and exclude admin-ajax.php from real-time scanning.

🧵 13. Heartbeat API Overuse

Problem:
The WordPress Heartbeat API sends frequent requests that may overload your server.
Fix:
Use the Heartbeat Control plugin to reduce frequency or disable it on the post editor.

🧪 14. Conflicting Plugins

Problem:
Two plugins trying to perform similar tasks (like SEO or caching) may cause editor lags.
Fix:
Deactivate suspected plugins and test your editor after each change. Use only one SEO and one caching plugin.

🧰 15. No Caching or Misconfigured Cache

Problem:
Without caching, every action hits the database, even on the backend.
Fix:
Use backend-compatible caching plugins like WP Rocket or LiteSpeed Cache, which help optimize WordPress admin speed without breaking the post editor.

WordPress slow while saving or publishing posts

🧠 Who Should Be Concerned?

Whether you’re a blogger, developer, or agency owner, dealing with WordPress slow while saving or publishing posts can hinder productivity and user trust. This applies especially to:

  • Content writers
  • Affiliate marketers
  • E-commerce managers
  • Web designers

⌚ When Should You Take Action?

Immediately. If your editor is slow today, it might stop publishing tomorrow. Ignoring delays can lead to WordPress post not publishing, loss of content, or even site crashes.

🌍 Where Do These Issues Commonly Happen?

Mostly in the WordPress dashboard – specifically while using:

  • Gutenberg Editor
  • Classic Editor
  • Custom Post Types
  • Page Builders

🛠️ How to Monitor and Speed Up WordPress Dashboard?

Here are some actionable steps to speed up WordPress dashboard:

  • Use Chrome DevTools to monitor requests.
  • Install Query Monitor to inspect backend bottlenecks.
  • Analyze performance via GTmetrix or PageSpeed Insights.
  • Use Rank Math for faster SEO configurations (instead of slower alternatives).
  • Clean up your Media Library.
  • Turn off autosaves if not needed.

📈 Bonus Tips to Avoid Future WordPress Publishing Delays

  • Always keep your WordPress core, themes, and plugins up to date.
  • Use CDN (Content Delivery Network) for better backend performance.
  • Limit dashboard widgets (hide unnecessary ones).
  • Schedule posts during low-traffic hours.

🧾 Final Thoughts

Dealing with a WordPress slow while saving or publishing posts issue doesn’t have to be a nightmare. With the right diagnosis and fixes, you can bring your dashboard back to lightning speed.

Focus on trimming bloat, optimizing your database, and choosing the right hosting. You’ll not only fix slow WordPress post editor issues but also optimize WordPress admin speed for long-term performance.

🔍 FAQs

1. Why is my WordPress post not publishing?
It could be due to plugin conflicts, database errors, or even hosting limits. Try disabling plugins and checking your server error logs.

2. How do I fix Gutenberg slow performance?
Update WordPress, remove heavy blocks, disable unused plugins, and clean up revisions.

3. Can browser extensions slow down WordPress editor?
Yes. Extensions like Grammarly or ad blockers often interfere with the editor.

4. What’s the best plugin to fix slow WordPress dashboard?
WP Rocket or LiteSpeed Cache works best. WP-Optimize is also great for database cleanup.

5. Is Rank Math faster than other SEO plugins?
Yes. Rank Math is lightweight and more optimized compared to heavier plugins like Yoast.

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