Exclusions help maintain functionality for scripts and styles that don’t tolerate transformation or
delayed execution. Common exclusions include core page builder files (Elementor, Divi, WPBakery), slider
libraries (Revolution Slider, Slick, Swiper) when issues arise, media players, and payment gateway
scripts used on checkout. If your theme bundles a large monolithic JS file that initializes critical
components immediately, consider excluding it from defer—or at least test thoroughly after deferring.
Third‑party widgets (chat, consent, A/B testing) may also need to be excluded from minification if they
break after concatenation or whitespace removal.
When diagnosing, start by excluding the smallest set possible. Use the browser console and network panel
to identify the exact file or handle causing trouble, then add that to the “Escape Minify” list or
disable defer for that script. Keep a living list of exclusions in your documentation so future updates
don’t reintroduce prior issues. Over time, you’ll build a resilient configuration that preserves
interactivity while still delivering most of the performance benefits of minification and defer.
Remember to revisit exclusions after major theme or plugin updates; incompatibilities sometimes disappear
as vendors modernize their assets.