How to remove StatCounter render-blocking JavaScript is a useful trick if you want to improve your website or blog loading speed, while still using StatCounter for visitor tracking.
When I tested my site using Google PageSpeed Insights, I noticed an issue listed under Eliminate render-blocking JavaScript and CSS in above-the-fold content.
The report showed the following warning:
Your page has one blocking script resource...
After checking the details, I discovered that the blocking script was coming from the StatCounter tracking code.
Because the script loads before the page finishes rendering, it can delay how quickly visitors see your content.
After experimenting with a few solutions, I found a simple method that removes the render-blocking issue without removing StatCounter tracking.
Why StatCounter can cause render-blocking JavaScript
Render-blocking scripts prevent the browser from displaying page content until the script has finished loading.
This means your visitors may experience slower page rendering, especially on mobile devices or slower connections.
The default StatCounter tracking code loads synchronously.
It means the browser pauses page rendering, while the script is being fetched and executed.
Fortunately, you can fix this by loading the script asynchronously.
How to remove StatCounter render-blocking JavaScript
Follow the steps below to remove the StatCounter render-blocking JavaScript warning.
Step 1: Locate your StatCounter tracking code
First, locate the StatCounter code snippet that you added to your website.
For WordPress users, it is usually placed inside the footer.php file.
For Blogger users, it may be added in the theme HTML or footer widget.
Step 2: Find the JavaScript file
Look for the line that loads the StatCounter script:
src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter.js">
</script>
Step 3: Add the async attribute
To remove the render-blocking behavior, add the async attribute to the script.
Your updated code should look like this:
src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter.js" async>
</script>
The async attribute allows the browser to download the script in the background without blocking the page from rendering.
Step 4: Save your changes
After modifying the code, click the Update File or Save Theme button.
Once saved, run your site again through Google PageSpeed Insights.
The StatCounter render-blocking warning should now be removed.
Additional Tip: Use invisible tracking for StatCounter
If you prefer not to display the StatCounter icon on your website, you can also enable Invisible Tracking in your StatCounter dashboard.
This allows the analytics script to run without showing a visible counter on your pages.
This is useful for keeping your website design clean, while still collecting visitor data.
For more details, read how to make StatCounter invisible on your site guide for beginners.
Final Thoughts: How to remove StatCounter render-blocking JavaScript
Knowing how to remove StatCounter render-blocking JavaScript can help improve your site performance and PageSpeed score without sacrificing analytics tracking.
By simply loading the StatCounter script asynchronously, your website can render faster, while still collecting visitor statistics in the background.