If you made updates to your website but cannot see them, a cache is likely serving you an old version. Learn exactly how to clear cache across your browser, WordPress site, and DNS.
A cache is a temporary storage area that keeps copies of recently accessed data. Instead of forcing a server or your browser to download the exact same logos, code, and images every single time you visit a website, the cache loads a saved copy instantly.
Imagine you ask someone: "What is 5,432 x 12?"
They have to pull out a calculator and solve it (This is a Server Request).
If you ask them the exact same question 5 seconds later, they don't need the calculator. They just remember the answer (This is a Cache Hit).
If you want to know how to clear cache on your personal device so you can see live website changes, follow the shortcut commands below for your specific web browser:
Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + Delete (Mac). Select "Cached images and files" and click Clear data.
Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete. Set the time range to "Everything", check the "Cache" box, and click OK.
Press Cmd + Option + E to instantly empty the browser cache without clearing your cookies or history.
Note: If you need step-by-step mobile instructions for Android devices, you can view Google's official documentation on clearing cache and cookies.
If your browser is clean but the website is still showing an old design, the issue is server-side. Here is how to clear cache inside your WordPress admin dashboard:
HostGraber's optimized WordPress servers run on LiteSpeed. To clear it:
If you use a premium third-party caching plugin, the process is identical:
If you have cleared your browser and your WordPress cache but the issue persists, the problem lies in the deeper network layers. Here is how to clear cache at the network level:
If you route your traffic through Cloudflare, their global edge servers are holding onto an old copy of your CSS or images.
If you recently changed your nameservers or migrated to HostGraber, your computer might be caching the old IP address. You need to flush your DNS.
ipconfig /flushdns
sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
Caching only does so much. If your underlying server hardware is slow, your website will be slow. Upgrade to HostGraber's NVMe-powered infrastructure for lightning-fast speeds below.
Common troubleshooting questions about caching:
Knowing how to clear cache is essential for website development. If you update a logo, change CSS code, or publish a new post, your browser might load the old saved version. Clearing the cache forces the browser to fetch the newest files.
No. As long as you only check the "Cached images and files" box when clearing your browser data, your saved passwords, browsing history, and cookies (active logins) will remain perfectly intact.
A hard refresh is a keyboard shortcut (Ctrl + F5 on Windows, Cmd + Shift + R on Mac) that reloads the current web page while actively ignoring the local browser cache, fetching the most recent version from the server.
The four layers of troubleshooting your website cache:
Use Ctrl+F5 or your browser settings to wipe local stored images.
Purge server-side HTML files via LSCache or WP Rocket plugins.
Log into Cloudflare and click "Purge Everything" for global edge servers.
Run ipconfig /flushdns in your terminal to clear old IP routing data.
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