How to Fix Slow Category and Product Pages in Magento 2 Using Hyvä-Compatible Modules

Even with Hyvä, slow category (PLP) and product (PDP) pages remain a common issue for Magento 2 developers. Whether it's excessive filters, bloated layout XML, Redis misconfiguration, or unoptimized third-party modules - these performance bottlenecks hurt conversions and Core Web Vitals. In this guide, we explore practical fixes and qoliber Magento 2 modules that are Hyvä-compatible and ElasticSuite-ready.

1. Identify Backend Bottlenecks (TTFB)

Time To First Byte (TTFB) is the first place to start. Long TTFB on category/product pages often points to Redis session bloat, database-heavy block rendering, or poorly cached third-party modules. Use built-in Magento profiler or tools like New Relic to locate where execution time spikes - especially for uncached PLP/PDP views.

2. Fix Layout XML Bloat

Developers often forget that Magento processes layout instructions on every page load. Overwritten templates, multiple redundant block references, or deep nested containers increase rendering cost. Hyvä simplifies layout XML, but if your extension reintroduces legacy structure - you’ll slow everything down. Keep layout declarations minimal and follow Hyvä layout guidelines.

3. Reduce JS and CSS Payloads

While Hyvä eliminates RequireJS and Knockout, poorly written modules can still load unnecessary scripts and CSS. Always check if a third-party module injects frontend assets globally—even when not needed. qoliber’s performance-first modules are built with zero frontend bloat and respect Hyvä's lean asset structure.

4. Optimize Filter Rendering in ElasticSuite

ElasticSuite is powerful, but faceted navigation can impact PLP speed when used with large catalogs. Unoptimized filter blocks, excessive attributes, or poorly configured aggregation logic slow things down. Use SEO: Pretty Filter URLs from qoliber to simplify routing and reduce rendering complexity on layered navigation pages - without affecting Hyvä compatibility.

5. Improve PDP Content Load

Slow PDPs often suffer from:

• Uncached custom blocks
• Heavy media galleries or video integrations
• Third-party review widgets

6. Use Sitemap and Canonical Controls

Poor indexation logic can lead to crawlers hitting thousands of slow-loading URLs. With SEO: Advanced Sitemaps and SEO: Custom Tags from qoliber, you can control sitemap output, robots directives, and canonical tags per category - reducing load on the server and improving crawl efficiency.

7. Validate Your Optimization

Use PageSpeed Insights and the Magento profiler to compare pre/post optimization on PLP/PDP templates. Check LCP, TTFB, and Total Blocking Time. qoliber modules are tested for Core Web Vitals compatibility and offer clean server-rendered output without frontend JS injection.

Conclusion

Even in Hyvä-based builds, category and product pages can become slow due to poor module hygiene, asset overuse, or ElasticSuite misconfigurations. The solution isn’t just frontend minimalism - it’s architectural discipline and performance-aware modules.

At qoliber, we develop Magento 2 extensions that are Hyvä-compatible, ElasticSuite-ready, and CWV-safe by default. Use them to replace legacy logic, optimize rendering, and unlock the full performance potential of your PLP and PDP pages.