# How to set up Memcached in cPanel

> Memcached is a high-performance memory caching system that speeds up your website by keeping frequently used data in RAM. Here is how to enable and use it in cPanel.

Source: https://www.kualo.com/knowledgebase/perf-caching/how-to-set-up-memcached-in-cpanel
Updated: 2026-06-11

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Memcached is a high-performance, distributed memory caching system. It speeds up dynamic, database-driven websites by caching data and objects in RAM, so your application queries the database far less often.

:::info
Memcached and **Redis** do a similar job. If you are not sure which to use, see [the difference between Redis and Memcached on Kualo](/knowledgebase/perf-caching/understanding-the-difference-between-redis-and-memcached-on-kualo). To set up Redis instead, see [how to set up Redis in cPanel](/knowledgebase/perf-caching/how-to-set-up-redis-in-cpanel).
:::

## Enabling Memcached

1. [Log in to cPanel](/knowledgebase/cpanel-how-tos/how-to-login-to-cpanel) and, in the **Software** section, click **Memcached**.
2. Memcached starts out inactive. Under **Get Started** you will see the dedicated cache memory included with your plan (for example, 384 MB). Click **Enable Memcached**.

   ![The Memcached plugin showing the Enable Memcached button](https://kb-cdn.kualo.com/7e/04/7e045f2382f32823d57b4d4a01347eb7b076e2c9.png)

Memcached activates straight away and the page switches to a live dashboard.

## Your Memcached dashboard

Once Memcached is active, everything you need sits on a single dashboard - the current status, live performance metrics, your connection details, an optional password, and detailed statistics.

![The Memcached dashboard once active](https://kb-cdn.kualo.com/6f/5c/6f5c7f5fdc6f47d4315a467341154c99d89c9e45.png)

## Connecting your application

Memcached on our platform runs over a **UNIX socket** rather than a TCP host and port. This avoids network overhead and is faster than a standard `127.0.0.1:11211` connection.

Your unique socket path is shown in the **Connection Details** card. It includes your account username, so yours will differ from the example below:

```
/home/your-username/.kgix/memcached/memcached.sock
```

Use the copy button next to the socket path, then enter it in your application's cache configuration. How you enter it depends on your application:

- Many applications and Memcached client libraries let you specify a **UNIX socket path** directly - enter the full socket path and you usually will not need a port.
- If your application only offers **host and port** fields, pass the socket path as the host and `0` as the port.

The exact setting varies by application, so check its documentation if you are unsure where to add it.

### Enabling the Memcached PHP extension

If you are connecting from a PHP application, you also need the **memcached** PHP extension enabled.

1. In cPanel, open [Select PHP Version](/knowledgebase/cpanel-how-tos/how-to-manage-the-php-version-in-cpanel-using-the-select-php-version-tool) and go to the **Extensions** tab.
2. Tick **memcached**, then save.

## Monitoring performance

The dashboard's headline tiles show your **Memory** use against your limit, the number of connected **Clients**, your cache **Hit Rate**, and the **Uptime** since the last restart. The **Detailed Statistics** panel breaks memory and connections down further in real time.

![The Memcached status and performance metrics](https://kb-cdn.kualo.com/6d/a7/6da7a9fe35a2d5857e1a7334b1e62c4bc5db9006.png)

A high **hit rate** means most requests are being served straight from the cache; lots of misses can mean your application is not caching effectively.

## Setting a password (optional)

By default your Memcached instance is reachable only by your own account over the local socket, which is secured by file permissions, so a password is not required. If you would like to add one, use the **Authentication** card on the dashboard.

:::info
Setting or changing the password restarts your Memcached instance briefly, which clears anything currently cached.
:::

## Clearing the cache and disabling Memcached

- **Purge Cache**, at the top of the dashboard, immediately clears all cached data without disabling the service - handy for a clean slate after a deployment.
- To turn the service off completely, use the **Disable** control in the **Danger Zone** at the bottom of the dashboard. This stops Memcached and clears all cached data; you can re-enable it again at any time.

:::warning
Purging, restarting, or disabling Memcached clears everything currently in memory, so your application has to rebuild its cache. Plan it for a quiet period where you can.
:::

## Next steps

- [Understanding the difference between Redis and Memcached on Kualo](/knowledgebase/perf-caching/understanding-the-difference-between-redis-and-memcached-on-kualo)
- [How to set up Redis in cPanel](/knowledgebase/perf-caching/how-to-set-up-redis-in-cpanel)


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_Source: Kualo Knowledgebase — https://www.kualo.com/knowledgebase/perf-caching/how-to-set-up-memcached-in-cpanel · © Kualo Ltd._