Install ngx_pagespeed for nginx

Install the maintained PageSpeed module for nginx from a signed repository, or build it from source. The module is free to install and evaluate; a license is required for production optimization.

Install from the signed repository

Add the We-Amp signed apt/yum repository, then install the module with your distribution's package manager. The packages are signed by a repository We-Amp operates.

# Add the signed repository
curl -fsSL https://packages.modpagespeed.com/install.sh | sudo sh

# Install the nginx module
sudo apt install nginx-module-pagespeed    # Debian/Ubuntu
sudo dnf install nginx-module-pagespeed    # AlmaLinux/RHEL

After installing, load the module, add a minimal pagespeed configuration, and reload nginx. The configuration reference covers the directives you need to get optimization running.

Verify it is running

Once nginx is reloaded with the module enabled, an optimized response carries the X-Page-Speed header:

curl -sI https://yoursite/ | grep -i x-page-speed

A version string in that header means the worker is optimizing. If the header is absent, check that the module is loaded and pagespeed on; is set — the configuration reference walks through it.

Build from source

Building from source is the always-available path — useful for a custom nginx build, an unsupported distribution, or a pinned nginx version. The from-source walkthrough compiles the maintained module against your nginx.

Build ngx_pagespeed from source

Also running Apache?

The maintained Apache module installs from the same signed repository under the package name mod-pagespeed:

sudo apt install mod-pagespeed    # Debian/Ubuntu
sudo dnf install mod-pagespeed    # AlmaLinux/RHEL

1.1 nginx or 2.0 nginx?

There are two maintained PageSpeed engines for nginx, built for two situations:

mod_pagespeed 1.1

The drop-in continuation of the open-source module. Keeps the existing pagespeed_* directive surface, so existing configuration carries over.

ModPageSpeed 2.0

The new architecture — zero-copy mmap serving, variant-aware caching, and AVIF output. Built for new installs that want the modern engine.

Neither is "the old one." Pick by your situation: an existing configuration to preserve points to 1.1; a fresh install that wants the modern engine points to 2.0. The full side-by-side comparison lives on modpagespeed.com.

Compare mod_pagespeed 1.1 vs 2.0 for nginx

Licensing

The module is free to install and evaluate. A license is required for production optimization: without a valid token, the worker stops optimizing and nginx passes requests through unmodified — your site keeps serving, just without PageSpeed rewrites.