How to Clear Your Browser Cache
Have you ever updated your website but you don’t see the changes?
While this can be frustrating, the solution is simple.
(Spoiler alert: the answer is to clear your cache!)
Table of Contents:
If your browser displays an outdated version of your website, the first thing you should do is clear your cache.
But what is a cache and how do you clear it?
I’m so glad you asked!
What is a Cache?
A cache is a temporary storage area that holds the most recently visited web pages.
In short, it helps your browser load websites faster.
When you visit a website for the first time your browser needs to download the images, videos, written content, and code that make up the page.
These files are saved temporarily in a database called the browser cache.
The next time you visit a website your browser doesn’t have to work so hard because all the files are already downloaded and saved to the cache, allowing it to load much faster.
While caches help display websites faster, they don't always display the most up-to-date content.
If you’ve recently updated your website, your browser might still show you the outdated, cached version.
Which brings us to the next question: how do you clear the cache?
1. Clear Chrome cache
To clear your cache in Chrome, start by clicking the three dots icon in the upper right corner of your browser.
Click Clear browsing data.
This will open your Clear browsing data settings.
At the top, choose All Time as your Time range.
Next, make sure Cached images and files is the only box that’s checked.
Finally, click the Clear data button.
2. Clear Firefox Cache
To clear your cache in Firefox, start by clicking the menu icon in the upper right corner of your browser.
Then select Settings.
From the options on the left, select the Privacy & Security panel.
Scroll to find the Cookies and Site Data section, from there click Clear Data.
This will open your Clear Data settings.
Ensure Cached Web Content is the only box checked.
Finally, click the Clear button.
3. Clear Safari Cache
To clear your cache in Safari, start by clicking Safari in the top menu bar.
Then select Preferences.
At the top, choose the Advanced panel.
Check the box next to Show Develop menu in menu bar.
Now, from the menu bar at the top of the screen, select Develop.
Finally, click Empty Caches.
4. Clear Edge cache
To clear your cache in Edge, start by clicking the three dots icon in the upper right corner of your browser.
Then select Settings.
From the options on the left, select the Privacy search, and services.
Scroll to the Clear browsing data section, then click the Choose what to clear button.
This will open your Clear browsing data settings.
At the top, choose All Time as your Time range.
Next, make sure Cached images and files is the only box that’s checked.
Finally, click the Clear now button.
That’s it!
It’s important to clear your cache if you make updates to your website on the back end and you don’t see it reflected on the front end.
If you update your website frequently, chances are you’ll need to clear your cache often.
Bookmark this page so you can refer back when needed.