How to Optimize WordPress for Mobile Devices in 17 Easy Steps

Optimizing your WordPress site for mobile devices is no longer a luxury. It’s a necessity that involves ensuring your website is responsive, quick to load, and intuitive to navigate, regardless of screen size. Without it, you risk losing visitors and missing opportunities in a world where mobile is the primary way people access information online.

According to recent data, 64.04% of all website traffic comes from mobile devices. These numbers emphasize a simple truth: if your site isn’t mobile-friendly, you’re missing out on the majority of online users. In this article, we’ll discuss ways to optimize WordPress sites for mobile devices so you meet potential customers where they are. 

First, let’s look at one of the most significant aspects of mobile optimization: Performance. 

Why speed matters on mobile devices

The importance of mobile speed cannot be understated. Visitors expect instant results. So, if your site takes too long to load, they’ll quickly move on to something else. A slow-loading site frustrates users and reduces engagement, increases bounce rates, and limits conversions.

In contrast, fast load times create a pleasant browsing experience, keeping visitors engaged and more likely to explore your content or make a purchase. On mobile devices, where connections can vary and attention spans are short, speed becomes even more critical. A well-optimized site builds trust, enhances usability, and sets the stage for a positive user experience.

Beyond the experience a visitor has on your site, mobile site speed also affects overall visibility. Search engines favor fast, mobile-friendly sites, boosting them in rankings and driving more traffic. Prioritizing speed ensures your site performs as expected across all devices. 

Common mobile problems that affect WordPress websites

Mobile optimization isn’t just about making your website look good. It means addressing key issues that disrupt the mobile user experience. Here are three common problems that often affect WordPress sites:

Slow load times

Mobile users expect pages to load quickly. If your site lags, visitors are likely to leave before it even finishes loading. Slow load times often stem from unoptimized images, excessive plugins, or poor server performance, all of which hurt engagement and conversions.

Inconsistent layouts and broken pages

A desktop-friendly design doesn’t always translate well to smaller screens. Elements shift, images don’t scale properly, and certain features break entirely. These inconsistencies create a frustrating experience, making your site appear unprofessional or unreliable to mobile visitors.

Poor user experience (UX)

Cluttered menus, tiny buttons, and hard-to-read text are common issues on mobile devices. If users can’t navigate your site easily or find what they’re looking for, they’re less likely to stick around — or come back. Prioritizing a clean, mobile-friendly design ensures your site is functional and enjoyable to use.

A checklist for WordPress mobile optimization

Use the checklist below as you go through each step to make sure you don’t miss anything important! Your future site visitors will thank you:

• Use a mobile responsive theme with cross-browser functionality
• Secure a high-performance hosting provider
• Install a reputable speed optimization plugin
• Use a CDN
• Optimize and compress your images
• Ensure mobile-friendly navigation and menu structure
• Adjust font sizes and typography for mobile readability
• Ensure touch targets are appropriately sized and spaced
• Implement mobile-friendly forms and input fields
• Remove or optimize pop-ups and interstitials for mobile
• Remove unnecessary widgets and sidebars on mobile layouts
• Disable unnecessary plugins and scripts on mobile pages
• Implement click-to-call buttons for mobile users
• Optimize social sharing buttons for mobile
• Ensure embedded content like maps are mobile-friendly
• Avoid hosting videos on your site’s server
• Regularly test your mobile page speed and loading time

Let’s discuss each step in detail now:

How to make a WordPress site mobile friendly in 17 easy steps:

1. Choose a lightweight, responsive WordPress theme

A responsive theme automatically adjusts to fit different-sized screens across devices. They work to make all the elements on your site — from the buttons to the blocks of text — visible, accessible, and flexible.

Lightweight themes further enhance this by minimizing unnecessary code and features that could slow down your site, providing both speed and adaptability.

When selecting a theme, prioritize those explicitly labeled as mobile-friendly or responsive. Test the demo version on various devices to see how it performs, paying close attention to navigation menus, page load times, and the overall layout. 

2. Pick a high-performance hosting provider

Choosing a fast and reliable hosting provider matters for mobile optimization, too. Low-quality hosting causes slower loading and response times. And while a cheap host may save you money, they often overload their servers with websites, slowing things down for everyone.

Instead, look for reliable, WordPress-specific hosting. If you’re going the managed WordPress hosting route, Pressable is one of several great options.  

3. Install a reputable speed optimization plugin

In many cases, a quality plugin can provide just the boost you need to get started.

Jetpack Boost is a well-known WordPress plugin that offers instant performance improvements. It specifically targets Core Web Vitals — essential metrics Google uses to measure user experience — and can raise your scores in a few clicks.

It also comes with an image content delivery network that reduces the load on your server and automatically resizes and serves images based on individual visitor’s browsers. Plus, it optimizes CSS loading and defers nonessential JavaScript.

This might sound a bit technical, but, essentially, if you’re following the other best practices for mobile optimization but need that extra performance push without hiring an expensive developer, Jetpack Boost will be your best friend.

4. Implement a content delivery network (CDN)

A content delivery network (CDN) enhances your website’s performance by reducing the physical distance between your server and your visitors. It works by storing cached versions of your site’s static files — such as images, CSS, and JavaScript — on servers distributed across multiple geographic locations. When a user visits your site, the CDN delivers these files from the server closest to their location, speeding up load times.

A CDN ensures faster and more consistent performance, even during high-traffic periods, by reducing latency and offloading bandwidth from your primary hosting server.

Many hosts, like some of those recommended by Jetpack, include the use of a CDN as part of their packages. This is a valuable addition that you should consider when weighing your hosting options and the associated costs. 

5. Optimize and compress your images

Mobile devices have limited bandwidth and processing power. Large, uncompressed images and videos impact site efficiency and interfere with the user experience. To address this, resize your images to the appropriate dimensions and compress them without compromising their quality. 

WebP is a modern image format that’s smaller in size compared to JPEGs and PNGs. It compresses images without losing data and is widely available across major browsers. WebP is a great alternative to GIFs and PNGs too, supporting animated images in reduced sizes. 

Jetpack Boost automatically resizes images on upload, converts them to WebP, and uses an Image CDN to speed up image load times.

6. Ensure mobile-friendly navigation and menu structure

While responsive WordPress themes help adapt layouts to smaller screens, they don’t always guarantee an intuitive navigation structure. It’s up to you to ensure that your site’s menus and navigation are easy to use and accessible on mobile devices.

To do this, keep navigation simple and focused on the essentials. Limit the number of menu items and group related links under collapsible menus if needed. A clean, straightforward structure makes it easier for visitors to find what they need quickly without frustration.

The widely recognized “hamburger” menu — a three-line icon — works well for mobile navigation. Use it to organize your site’s main sections within a slide-out or dropdown panel. 

Design your navigation with a mobile-first mindset by prioritizing the smallest screen size. Start by building menus optimized for mobile devices, focusing on getting the basic functions in. Once the mobile experience is refined, expand the design for larger screens.

7. Adjust font sizes and typography for mobile readability 

All the elements on your website should be responsive, including font size and typography. What’s considered too big for your desktop could be the right size for mobile screens. To maximize the responsiveness of font sizing, use relative sizing em or rem units instead of pixels (px). Pixels will hard-code a specific font size to your page regardless of screen size, while em or rem units will size up or down in relation to how much space is available on the user’s screen.

A font you think looks good on the desktop view might look completely unreadable on mobile. Play around with different fonts and test how they appear on different displays to ensure readability and consistency.

If you include images with text, just note that the text designed inside an image is not responsive. Write the text atop the image yourself using the cover block instead. Now the text will shrink and expand with the screen.

8. Ensure touch targets are appropriately sized and spaced

Decent navigation isn’t enough — you need to think about touch target size, too. That is, links and buttons must be large enough to be pressed on mobile devices. The spacing between buttons needs to be considered, too. You don’t want visitors accidentally pressing a button they don’t intend to. 

Proper spacing also improves accessibility for those with larger fingers or mobility challenges, ensuring everyone can navigate your site comfortably. Test your site on various devices to confirm buttons and links are easy to tap, and avoid placing interactive elements too close to each other. 

9. Implement mobile-friendly forms and input fields

Every site needs a functional mobile form, but to get people to actually fill it out, pay attention to mobile accessibility and function. Here are a few tips: 

• Limit input fields. Keep forms short and only ask for essential information. Overloading visitors with unnecessary fields increases abandonment rates.
• Include clear field labels. Label each input field so people know what information to provide.
• Optimize input methods. Use checkboxes or toggle switches for binary choices, radio buttons for a small number of mutually exclusive options, and dropdown menus for longer lists. These options make selection easier on small screens.
• Use large buttons with strong calls-to-action. Ensure submit buttons are prominently displayed, easy to tap, and feature compelling action-oriented text, like “Sign Up Now” or “Get Started.”

To simplify this setup process, use the Forms block included in the Jetpack plugin.

10. Remove or optimize pop-ups and interstitials for mobile

The general consensus surrounding pop-ups and interstitials (full-screen ads) are that they’re annoying and unwanted, especially on mobile screens. Many web browsers block pop-ups automatically. 

If you choose to use pop-ups or interstitials, ensure they’re mobile-friendly by minimizing their size and making them easy to dismiss with a clear, accessible close button. Limit their use to essential messages, like cookie consent or important promotions, and time them strategically to avoid disrupting the user’s browsing experience. 

11. Remove unnecessary widgets and sidebars on mobile layouts

Don’t crowd the limited amount of space you have on a smaller mobile screen with a sidebar or widgets. These elements, while useful on desktop layouts, often clutter mobile screens and distract from the main content.

Instead, focus on displaying only the most critical elements that enhance the user experience. Move essential widgets, like a search bar or call-to-action buttons, to more accessible locations, like the header or footer. Use your WordPress theme’s customization options or plugins like Jetpack to tailor widget visibility specifically for mobile devices.

The good news is that even if you have a sidebar on your site in the desktop view, it’ll move or collapse into a hamburger menu if you use a responsive theme. 

12. Disable unnecessary plugins and scripts on mobile pages

Avoiding unnecessary plugins and scripts is a big help, too. Excessive plugins slow down your site and create compatibility issues. This leads to longer load times and potential errors.

Audit your current plugins to identify any that aren’t actively adding value to your mobile site. Disable or remove plugins that are redundant, outdated, or only relevant to desktop functionality. Similarly, limit the use of heavy scripts that aren’t essential for mobile users, like animations, background videos, or tracking tools.

13. Implement strong call-to-action buttons and click-to-call buttons for mobile users

Call-to-action (CTA) buttons guide mobile visitors toward specific actions, like signing up, making a purchase, or downloading a resource. These buttons help you engage with visitors and allow you to track conversions and measure the success of your site’s efforts.

For mobile users, click-to-call buttons are particularly effective. These specialized CTAs instantly connect visitors to your business via phone with a single tap. Since mobile users are already on their devices, this feature makes reaching out easy and convenient.

14. Optimize social sharing buttons for mobile

Optimized social sharing buttons boost your site’s visibility and engagement, especially on mobile devices. Poorly designed or oversized buttons clutter small screens, disrupt navigation, and frustrate people. To avoid this, keep sharing buttons compact, easy to tap, and strategically placed where visitors naturally interact with your content.

Position buttons at key points — like the top or bottom of blog posts or product pages — to encourage sharing without overwhelming the mobile interface. 

15. Ensure embedded content, like maps, are mobile-friendly

Embedded content, like maps, must be fully responsive and optimized for mobile devices to maintain a smooth user experience. Clunky or non-responsive maps cause frustration and, if particularly egregious, lead to a higher bounce rate.

Choose responsive map providers, like Google Maps, Bing Maps, or OpenStreetMap, and ensure that they scale properly across devices. Use map embeds sparingly and place them strategically, like on contact or location-specific pages, to keep your site fast and user-friendly.

The Jetpack Maps block makes it easy to add mobile-optimized maps to your WordPress site without needing additional plugins. 

16. Avoid hosting videos on your site’s server

Hosting videos directly on your site’s server consumes significant storage space and slows down performance, especially for mobile users. Instead, use tools like VideoPress to upload high-quality videos in lightweight formats like .mp4. This streamlines video delivery and ensures smooth playback without compromising your site’s speed.

17. Regularly test your mobile page speed and load time

Testing your mobile page speed and performance ensures your optimization efforts deliver results. Use tools that provide actionable insights to keep your site running smoothly and efficiently on mobile devices.

PageSpeed Insights analyzes your site’s mobile speed and performance, assigns a score, and offers targeted recommendations. It evaluates Core Web Vitals like loading speed, interactivity, and visual stability based on real user data, helping you address any weaknesses.

Chrome Lighthouse is another option that evaluates your site’s mobile usability across key areas, including performance, accessibility, SEO, and best practices. It generates detailed reports with specific suggestions to improve your scores and overall mobile experience.

Regularly test your WordPress site with these tools to identify issues, implement improvements, and keep your mobile experience fast and user-friendly. 

Frequently asked questions

Here are answers to some common questions about optimizing WordPress for mobile devices to help you get the most out of your site:

Do I need coding skills to optimize my WordPress site for mobile devices?

No, coding skills aren’t necessary to optimize your WordPress site for mobile. Start by using a responsive theme and install plugins, as needed, to enhance mobile functionality. While basic coding knowledge can help with advanced customizations, most mobile optimization tasks are possible with WordPress’s built-in tools and plugins.

How can I test if my WordPress site is truly mobile-friendly?

Test to see if your WordPress site is mobile-friendly by using tools like the BrowserStack SpeedLab to check your site’s mobile performance. It simulates real devices and browsers, including touch inputs and network speeds, so you can test your site across various devices. 

What are the best plugins for optimizing images for mobile devices?

The best plugins for optimizing images for mobile devices include Jetpack Boost, ShortPixel Image Optimizer, and Smush. Jetpack Boost is one of the most popular because it provides instant speed optimization across multiple website aspects — not just images. 

What is lazy loading, and how does it benefit mobile site performance?

Lazy loading involves delaying the loading of non-essential parts of a web page until the visitor needs it (e.g. images further down a page don’t load until a visitor scrolls). When this is enabled, websites load to a usable state more quickly — boosting the visitor’s experience. 

How does mobile-first indexing by Google affect my WordPress site?

Mobile-first indexing means Google primarily uses the mobile version of your WordPress site for indexing and ranking in search results. This shift makes mobile optimization essential. If your mobile site isn’t responsive or user-friendly, your SEO performance is downgraded, leading to lower rankings.

What are Core Web Vitals, and are they related to mobile optimization?

Core Web Vitals are a set of metrics defined by Google to assess a webpage’s user experience, focusing on loading performance, interactivity, and visual stability. The primary metrics include Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), Interaction to Next Paint (INP), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS). Optimizing these metrics for mobile devices directly impacts user satisfaction and search engine rankings.