WP Ghost with Hummingbird Cache Plugin – Configuration and Path Rewriting
March 10, 2023
This tutorial has moved to the new WP Ghost Knowledge Base where each feature is presented in detail.
WP Ghost (formerly Hide My WP Ghost) is compatible with Hummingbird cache and performance plugin. Enable “Change Paths in Cached Files” in WP Ghost so custom paths are applied inside Hummingbird’s cached and minified CSS/JS files. If you use a custom cache directory in Hummingbird, WP Ghost detects and processes it automatically.
How to Configure WP Ghost with Hummingbird
Step 1: Enable Change Paths in Cached Files
Go to WP Ghost > Tweaks. Enable Change Paths in Cached Files. Click Save. This rewrites WordPress paths inside Hummingbird’s cached and minified files so they use your custom paths instead of /wp-content/ and /wp-includes/.
Step 2: Configure Hummingbird Cache Directory (Optional)
Hummingbird stores cached files in /wp-content/cache/hummingbird/ by default. You can change this location in Hummingbird > Assets Optimization > Settings. WP Ghost detects Hummingbird’s cache directory automatically regardless of where it is located.
Step 3: Purge Cache and Verify
Purge all Hummingbird cache from Hummingbird > Caching > Clear Cache. Open your site in an incognito browser, view page source, and search for “wp-content”. No default WordPress paths should appear – including in cached and minified file URLs.
Troubleshooting
Minified files still show old WordPress paths. Purge all Hummingbird cache and reload in incognito. WP Ghost processes cached files in the background using WP-Cron – allow a minute after purging.
Minified files have broken styling. If Hummingbird’s asset combination conflicts with WP Ghost’s path rewriting, try disabling file combination in Hummingbird (keep minification on). This lets WP Ghost process individual files more reliably.
Custom cache directory not detected. Re-save WP Ghost settings after changing Hummingbird’s cache directory location. This triggers WP Ghost to detect the new path.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Hummingbird’s minification work with WP Ghost?
Yes. Hummingbird minifies and combines CSS/JS files, and WP Ghost’s “Change Paths in Cached Files” rewrites paths inside those files. Enable both for optimized and hidden paths.
Do I need to purge cache after changing WP Ghost paths?
Yes. After any path change in WP Ghost, purge Hummingbird’s cache so new cached files are generated with updated paths.
Does this work with Hummingbird’s CDN (WPMU DEV CDN)?
If Hummingbird serves assets from a CDN domain, add that domain in WP Ghost > Mapping > CDN URLs so path changes apply to CDN-served assets.
Does WP Ghost modify WordPress core files?
No. Cached file rewriting modifies copies in Hummingbird’s cache directory, not original files. Deactivating WP Ghost restores all defaults.
Related Tutorials
Hide Paths in CSS Files – how Change Paths in Cached Files works.
CDN URL Mapping – extend path changes to CDN domains.
Customize All WordPress Paths – configure paths before cache setup.
Compatibility Plugins List – all tested cache plugins.
Website Security Check – verify your configuration.
