WordPress Healthcheck: everything you need to know about the CMS Site's Health feature

Your WordPress site is working… on the surface. However, behind the scenes, outdated settings, outdated plugins, or a misconfigured server can slowly degrade its performance and security.

The problem? You're often unaware of it. That's precisely where... WordPress Healthcheck (Site Health).

This native tool acts as a true technical health check.capable of revealing invisible flaws in your WordPress installation.

In this article you will learn to understand its alerts, interpret them correctly and act effectively to keep the site fast, reliable and secure.

What is WordPress Healthcheck?

An error diagnostic extension…

WordPress Healthcheck is first and foremost the name of an extension developed by the WordPress.org team. 

It is available for download on the official directory under the following name: Health Check & Troubleshooting.

This plugin is an internal diagnostic dashboardcapable of performing a number of checks on your WordPress installation in order to detect common configuration errors and known problems, specifies its description on the official directory.

… Transformed into a native feature

But beware : The WordPress healthcheck plugin is now deprecated. and is no longer maintained by contributors.

And for good reason: its main features have been integrated into the WordPress core since the release of version 5.2 of the CMS.

The tool remains completely free and runs automatically. It requires no initial configuration to function correctly.

It meticulously analyzes your server and overall software configuration. The tool tracks potential vulnerabilities as well as hidden slowdowns. It's an invaluable aid for technical support.

It does not replace a WordPress expert but provides you with clear guidance on common problems encountered by your site.

All of this translates into an overall assessment of the condition of your installation. For example, below you can see that there are improvements to be made:

How do I access the Health screen on the Site?

To start the diagnostic, simply go to your WordPress administration interface.

Hover over the “Tools” tab in the left column, then click on the “Site Health” submenu. This is the most direct route.

Don't see any of this on your site? Check the "Site Health" box from the "Screen Options" dropdown menu located at the top right of your dashboard to make it appear.

Please note that this tool is reserved for site administrators.Only administrators have sufficient rights to access this sensitive dataThe publishers will be left out in the cold.

The interface is distinguished by its immediate fluidityDiagnostic tests start automatically in seconds, without any additional action required.

This tool is standard on all recent WordPress installations (version 5.2 or later). If the option is missing, your version is probably outdated. Consider performing a WordPress update as soon as possible.

What are the main features of the Health screen on the WordPress site?

Once on the page dedicated to WordPress HealthCheck, you will be faced with two separate tabs that do not have the same purpose at all.

HealthCheck website health status tab

The “Status” tab “Displays critical information about your WordPress setup and elements that require your attention”, details your WordPress dashboard. 

Two types of elements are listed there: 

1. Critical problems.
2. Lrecommended improvements.

Critical issues with WordPress Healthcheck

WordPress indicates that “Critical anomalies are elements that can have a significant impact on the performance or security of your site. Resolving these issues should be a priority.”

What exactly does a critical problem involve? It can refer to several things, depending on the official WordPress.org documentation : 

• Extensions awaiting update.
• Background updates are not working as expected.
• The inability to connect to the servers WordPress.org.
• Blocked HTTP requests.
• Your site is set to display errors to your visitors.
• Your site was unable to complete the loopback request.
• PHP's default time zone is not valid.
• An active PHP session has been detected.
• Your site is using an outdated version of PHP, which should be updated.

Recommended improvements to the Site's Health functionality

The “Recommended Improvements” are expert tips for optimizing performance or safety.

“While they are not as high a priority as critical anomalies, they can include improvements to security, performance, and user experience.”WordPress explains.

Once resolved, they will improve the state of your site.

Examples of the elements tested by the site's Health tool include: 

• Configuring the debug mode.
• The use of HTTPS.
• The presence of inactive themes or extensions.
• SSL support for communications with other services.
• The proper functioning of background updates.
• Configuring automatic updates for themes and extensions.
• Communication with wordpress.org.
• How authorization headers work.
• Launching loopback queries.

Please note that some tests are performed in the background by the system. Therefore, results may vary from one visit to the next. This is continuous monitoring of your installation.

Information tab 

Now let's look at the "Information" tab. It acts as a veritable technical encyclopedia for your site.

We find there all the precise details of your current WordPress site configuration, your server, and your database. 

Specifically, you will have access to the following information: 

• WordPress, with elements relating to the WordPress configuration (version used, site language, time zone, URL, etc.). 
• Directories and size.
• Advanced plugins: unique files, found in the wp-content directory, that replace or enhance WordPress functionality in ways not accessible through traditional plugins.
• Active theme.
• Inactive themes.
• Essential extensions, meaning extensions installed in a specific /mu-plugins directory within the /wp-content directory, and which are automatically activated on each site when the WordPress loading script is launched.
• Active extensions.
• Inactive extensions.
• Advanced extensions.
• Media processing.
• Server.
• Database.
• WordPress constants.
• System file permissions.

Furthermore, depending on the themes and extensions you use, other information useful for debugging may be displayed on your site. 

Using the “Copy site information to clipboard” button, you can send a complete and structured report to a team of WordPress technical support without transcription error. Please note, however, that this data is purely informational. You cannot modify anything directly from this specific screen.

Why use the Health feature of the WordPress site?

Beyond the technical aspect, the Site Health tool is a true ally for the sustainability of your web project.

The main benefit is proactive securityWordPress Healthcheck detects inactive themes or outdated plugins, and suggests improvements. Implementing these improvements helps mitigate the risk of hacking.

Let's talk next about the impact on overall performance. A misconfigured server slows down the user experience.

WordPress's native functionality highlights missing PHP modules, or even the PHP version used on your server. 

This will allow you to make quick optimizations, capable of improving the loading speed of your pages. 

Let's now talk about simplifying debuggingNo more digging through FTP files to find out a software version. Everything is accessible in just three clicks.

It is also an excellent way to learnThe recommendations explain why one setting is preferable to another.

It is even possible to disable specific health tests via PHP, if you are proficient in web development. This action is useful if some tests are not relevant. This allows you to adapt the tool to your configuration.

Finally This makes you more responsibleYou can no longer ignore basic maintenance alerts.

The tool creates a sort of bridge between the novice user and the technical requirements of the modern web. 

How to use the Site Health feature on WordPress?

Now that you know the advantages and options offered by WordPress Healthcheck inside out, discover how to use this feature. 

As you'll see, it's quick and easy. The first step is to establish a regular monitoring system for your dashboard.

Make it a habit to check this screen at least once a week. This healthy maintenance routine will secure your business.

Learn to analyze the results without panicking. A critical issue flagged by WordPress Healthcheck isn't necessarily an immediate disaster. You need to read the explanation provided to understand the precise cause of the detected problem.

For this purpose, Each test can be expanded with a clickYou will then find detailed technical explanations to understand the issue and apply a fix.

Click on the provided link to be redirected to the relevant menu: 

In addition, if you need to contact your hosting provider or your website's webmaster, first use the "Information" tab.

Provide them with the full technical details – by copying the information from your website – to get a faster response. This avoids unnecessary back-and-forth that often delays resolution.

In general, Remember to check your site's health status after each major update.A new plugin can sometimes conflict with your existing settings.

How to resolve critical issues or improvements identified by WordPress Healthcheck?

Identifying problems is one thing, but taking action to correct them is another.

To help you, we have identified several classic scenarios: 

• Is your version of PHP outdated? Contact your hosting provider. It's often a setting that needs to be changed in your control panel (like cPanel).
• Are any themes or plugins reported as inactive? Remove them from the Extensions > Installed Extensions menu. They take up space and pose an unnecessary security risk. Clean them up regularly. To do this, click Disable, then Remove, on the extension or theme in question.
• Are you experiencing blocked HTTP requests? Check your security pluginsSometimes, an overly aggressive firewall prevents WordPress Healthcheck from functioning normally. Temporarily disable it to test.
• Are you having trouble performing your updates? Check out this tutorial.

Before making any changes or performing any technical work, back up your website (files + database). You can do this using a backup plugin like UpdraftPlus, or a comprehensive maintenance tool like WP Umbrella.

Once you have made the suggested correction, refresh the Site's Health page, then check that the alert has disappeared.

For cache issues, install a recommended extension such as WP Rocket (premium) or WP Fastest Cache (freemium). This will improve your performance score and site speed.

Keep in mind that some problems require the intervention of a developer or a team specializing in the WordPress maintenance.

Do not touch the code if you are not sure what you are doing.

Tips for maintaining the health and security of your WordPress site

Finally, be aware that the health of your site is a daily occurrence, far beyond the simple alerts from the WordPress Healthcheck tool.

To stay on track and protect your site as much as possible, incorporate the following best practices into your routine: 

• Automate your backups first and foremost.This is your ultimate safety net in case of accidental mishandling or a major technical problem. A healthy website is, above all, a protected website.
• Be minimalist in your choice of extensionsEach added plugin is a potential entry point for bugs or security vulnerabilities. Prioritize quality over quantity to maintain a lightweight system.
• Always keep WordPress, your themes, and your plugins up to date. Developers often release vital security patches. Don't let them linger for weeks.
• Install an SSL certificate for Switch your site to HTTPS and strengthen security.
• Use strong passwords and change them regularly.Security begins with secure and robust access. For this, use a password manager like Dashlane, for example.
• Use a recent version of PHP (8.2 or 8.3).
• Monitor comments and registered usersSpam can unnecessarily burden your database and harm its overall health. Perform regular cleanups and activate a free extension like Akismet or Antispam Bee.
• Choose a quality web host (Kinsta, o2switch, Hostinger, Infomaniak) which offer recent technologies. A good server does 50% of the work for health.

And of course, stay curious and keep learning. Understanding the basics of the web allows you to better respond to WordPress alerts.

In conclusion, the Health screen on the site stands out as an indispensable technical monitoring toolIt should serve as the starting point for your maintenance actions.

By proactively monitoring security and performance, you anticipate technical malfunctions.

We advise you to consult this dashboard regularly to ensure smooth and secure navigation for your visitors.

If WordPress Healthcheck alerts seem unclear, time-consuming, or too technical, the WP Maintenance agency is here to help.

As WordPress maintenance and support specialists, we monitor, correct and optimize your site on a daily basis.

You save time, gain peace of mind, and have a website that is always healthy, secure, and efficient. Contact us to entrust the technical aspects to experts. and focus on what matters most: your core business.