HTTP/2 WordPress Apache: How to Enable it on Your Site

Enabling HTTP/2 on your WordPress website hosted on an Apache server brings numerous performance benefits. This guide will walk you through the steps to enable HTTP/2 on your WordPress website hosted on an Apache server.

Prerequisites of Enabling HTTP/2 WordPress Apache

• Root access to your Apache server
• Basic understanding of Apache configuration files
• A running WordPress website

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Step 1: Verify Current HTTP Version

Before making any changes, it’s a good idea to check if your website already supports HTTP/2. Use the KeyCDN HTTP/2 Test tool to verify. Simply fill the URL field and test your website for HTTP/2.

Step 2: Locate Apache Configuration File

SSH into your server and navigate to your Apache sites-available directory, usually located at /etc/apache2/sites-available/. Assuming that you already have a valid SSL certificate (a critical step for enabling HTTP/2 on Apache), look for the SSL-enabled configuration file for your WordPress website, which often ends in -le-ssl.conf.

cd /etc/apache2/sites-available/
ls

Step 3: Edit Apache Configuration File

Open the configuration file using a text editor like nano.

sudo nano your-site-le-ssl.conf

Add the following line inside the <VirtualHost *:443> block:

Protocols h2 http/1.1

Save and exit the editor.

Step 4: Check Loaded Apache Modules

Run the following command to see a list of loaded Apache modules:

apachectl -M

Ensure that http2_module is in the list. If not, you’ll need to enable it.

Step 5: Switch to Compatible MPM Module

HTTP/2 is not compatible with Apache’s mpm_prefork module. You need to switch to a compatible MPM module like mpm_event which is a necessity for harnessing HTTP/2’s benefits on your WordPress Apache setup.

Disable mpm_prefork:

sudo a2dismod mpm_prefork

Enable mpm_event:

sudo a2enmod mpm_event

Step 6: Configure PHP to Work with New MPM Module

Aligning PHP to work seamlessly with your newly selected MPM module entails a detailed inspection of your current PHP version, followed by module adjustments to uphold optimal performance under the HTTP/2 protocol.

First, find out which PHP version you are running with:

php -v

This will show you the version you have installed (e.g., PHP 7.4.10 or PHP 8.0.3).

If you are using PHP 7.4:

Disable the PHP 7.4 module:

sudo a2dismod php7.4

Enable PHP 7.4 FPM:

sudo a2enconf php7.4-fpm

If you are using PHP 8.0:

Disable the PHP 8.0 module:

sudo a2dismod php8.0

Enable PHP 8.0 FPM:

sudo a2enconf php8.0-fpm

Step 7: Restart Apache

The culmination of your efforts is signified by restarting the Apache server, a move that finalizes the enablement of HTTP/2 for your WordPress site on Apache, marking a significant milestone towards enhanced site performance.

Restart your Apache server to apply the changes:

sudo systemctl restart apache2

Step 8: Verify HTTP/2 WordPress Apache Support

Use the KeyCDN HTTP/2 Test tool again to confirm that your website now supports HTTP/2.

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And there you have it! You’ve successfully enabled HTTP/2 for your WordPress website on Apache. This should help improve the loading speed and overall performance of your website.

I also have an article about how to Troubleshoot Common WordPress issues. Check it out!

If you encounter any challenges with your Apache or HTTP/2 configurations, feel free to leave a comment below. I’ll do my best to assist you in resolving any issues.