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Changes on a website only take effect once you’ve cleared your Browser’s Cache. Let’s learn how to clear the cache after changing a WordPress website.
If you’re making site changes, designing your pages with a page builder, or migrating your site from one host to another, you must clear your browser’s cache.
In this resource, you’ll learn how to clear your site’s cache with manual routines and WordPress plugins – after making changes to your website.
There are several ways to clear browsers’ cache in WordPress. However, we will focus on the browsers’ native features and others – such as WordPress plugins.
What is a Browser’s Cache?
The collection of files that contains the downloaded server’s resources—used to load a site’s pages faster—refers to the browser’s cache and includes images, source code, textual content, and configuration files.
A browser cache represents a handshake between a system and a web server. Its purpose is to load sites’ pages faster on the client side.
Why do we need to clear the Browser Cache?
Changes take effect after clearing the Browser cache
As described above, after we’ve made changes to a site – we need to clear our browser’s cache. If we don’t remove the cache, the browser may load pages with previous settings stored on the server.
Regeneration of CSS files
Sometimes, clearing the browser’s cache regenerates CSS styles. For example, changing dynamic CSS generation in Divi Builder triggers the regeneration of CSS styles. New changes occur on a WordPress site when a CSS style is regenerated.
Disk space
If you don’t clear the browser cache occasionally, it may take up excessive space on the hard disk. To keep disk space under control, you must remove the browser cache regularly.
Availability of new features on a Website
If your favorite sites run with a previous version of the cache, they may hide new features. To fix this, you must clear your browser cache and ask the server for the latest information.
How to clear Browsing Cache?
Note: Depending on your browser’s version, specific options may differ from what is shown in this article. However, the basic flow of actions is similar in most cases.
Clear cache after making changes
Let’s learn how to clear cache in major web browsers – including Google Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Microsoft Edge, Brave, Apple Safari, and UC Browser.
Google Chrome
Clearing the cache in Chrome is easy. All you have to do is press CTRL+H to load Chrome’s History and click on Clear browsing data, as shown in the screenshot below.
You can also load the page by clicking on the dots at the top right corner. Then, choose More Tools -> Clear browsing data.
The next screen shows a dialogue box where you can choose what to clear. Select the appropriate options as required and click on Clear Data at the end, as shown in the screenshot below.
Firefox
At the top right corner of Mozilla Firefox, click History -> Clear recent history from the menu – as shown in the screenshot below.
The next page shows a box similar to Chrome. You can choose different options and click OK at the end.
Opera
Clearing the cache in Opera is similar to that of Google Chrome. The menu at the top left corner shows the History option in Opera.
Proceed and click on Opera Menu -> History -> Clear browsing data. You can also use this option by pressing CTRL+H and clicking the Clear browsing data button, as shown in the screenshot below.
The next page shows a box that holds different options. Select various options, and proceed to click on Clear data.
Microsoft Edge
Once you’ve opened Microsoft Edge, go to the Edge’s Settings page.
The Privacy, Search, and Services option on the Settings page provides a relevant option to clear your Edge’s cache – as shown in the screenshot below.
Click the Choose what to clear button and choose options in the box. Finally, you’re clear about clicking on the Clear now button at the end.
Brave
Open your Brave browser and go to its Settings page.
The Settings page provides many options about the Brave browser’s different features. At the top, you can search for “cache” and locate the appropriate option to clear your browser’s cache.
Next, click on the option that says “Clear browsing data”. In the box on the screen, choose the appropriate options and click on Clear data at the end.
Apple Safari
In Safari’s interface, click on Safari at the top bar and choose Preferences from the menu.
The next page shows different tabs, so click on the Advanced tab.
On the advanced page, click “Show Desktop menu in the menu bar.” Then, you can return to the main interface.
Next, click on Develop and choose Empty Cache from the menu – as shown in the screenshot below.
Next, click History -> Clear History on the top menu bar and follow the on-screen options to clear your browser cache in Apple Safari.
If you’re using the latest version of Safari instead of the Advanced tab, you can choose the Privacy tab. Here, you can find the “Manage website data” button, which helps you clear your browser’s cache and history. Next, double-check the options on the History -> Clear History page.
UC Browser
UC Browser is no different when it comes to clearing the browsing cache.
Press CTRL+H to load the UC’s history page. Once loaded, you can see the following page on the screen.
Proceed and click the Clear browsing data button, as shown in the screenshot above. Like Google Chrome, the next page shows a dialogue box.
As shown in the screenshot below, select the appropriate options and click on the Clear browsing data at the end.
You can also choose and set “Clear browser data on exit.” This option automatically clears the cache when you close the browser window.
Professional Tips
If you don’t see changes after you’ve removed your browser’s cache, make sure you’ve cleared the cache on the server – too. To proceed, ask your hosting or site support representative for assistance.
The dialogue box that shows different options to clear the cache includes separate settings for each category – such as history, cache, and images. Here, you can choose the required options to proceed if you don’t prefer wiping out everything from your browser.
Cache plugins like WP Rocket also allow clearing the system cache in WordPress. Based on what you’re using on your WordPress website, proceed with the relevant option to clear the cache.
Conclusion
Clearing a browser’s cache doesn’t require technical routines for beginners. By using a browser’s native features – clearing the cache is a matter of minutes.
In this article, you learned – how to clear the cache for major web browsers, including Google Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and others.
Unless you need to use a specific routine to clear cache, such as a WordPress plugin or assistance from hosting, use your browser’s native options for the said purpose.
If you need more information on clearing cache, WordPress site support plans, or custom requirements, let us know so we can resolve issues that are affecting your site’s performance.
Image credit: Rohane Hamilton / Shutterstock.com