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How to clear your browser cache

Last modified: July 3, 2025

When you update your WordPress site but visitors still see the old version, or when part of your website isn’t displaying correctly, the issue is often browser cache. This guide walks you through clearing only the cached files that cause these issues, while keeping you logged into your favorite sites.

A browser cache stores copies of files from websites to speed up future visits. While this improves performance, cached CSS, JavaScript, and image files can sometimes become outdated and prevent you from seeing the latest version of your WordPress site.

What you need to clear (and what to keep)

For WordPress display issues, you typically only need to clear cached images and files (also called “cached web content”). This includes:

  • CSS stylesheets that control site appearance and layout
  • JavaScript files that control site functionality and interactions
  • Images and media files that may be outdated
  • Other cached resources like fonts, icons, and static assets

What you should keep:

  • Cookies: Keep you logged into WordPress, email, social media, and other sites
  • Passwords: Avoid having to re-enter login credentials
  • Browsing history: No impact on how sites display
  • Form data: Keeps saved addresses and other form information

This targeted approach solves WordPress display problems while maintaining your login sessions and convenience.

Before you clear your cache

The instructions below focus on clearing only cached files while preserving your login sessions and saved data. However, if you do accidentally clear cookies:

  • You’ll need to log back into most websites
  • Sites may forget your preferences and settings
  • Websites might load slightly slower on first visit as files re-download

Desktop browsers

Google Chrome

  1. Open Chrome and click the three-dot menu icon in the upper-right corner
  2. Click Delete browsing data. You can also use Ctrl + Shift + Del (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + Shift + Del (macOS)
  3. In the “Clear browsing data” window, select the Advanced tab
  4. From the “Time range” dropdown, select All time
  5. Check only Cached images and files. Uncheck other options to avoid being logged out
  6. Click Clear data

Safari (macOS)

First, enable the Develop menu:

  1. Open Safari and click Safari in the menu bar, then Settings (or Preferences on older macOS)
  2. Go to the Advanced tab
  3. Check Show Develop menu in menu bar
  4. Click Develop in the menu bar
  5. Select Empty Caches

Microsoft Edge

  1. Open Edge and click the three-dot menu icon in the upper-right corner
  2. Go to History
  3. In the History window, click the three-dot menu icon
  4. Select Clear browsing data or use Ctrl + Shift + Del
  5. Choose All time from the “Time range” dropdown
  6. Check only Cached images and files
  7. Click Clear now

Mozilla Firefox

  1. Open Firefox and click the three-line menu icon in the upper-right corner
  2. Go to History > Clear Recent History or use Ctrl + Shift + Del (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + Del (macOS)
  3. Select Everything from the “Time range to clear” dropdown
  4. Under “History,” check only Cache. Uncheck other options to stay logged in
  5. Click OK

Brave

  1. Open Brave and click the three-line menu icon in the upper-right corner
  2. Select Settings
  3. In the left menu, click Privacy and security
  4. Click Clear browsing data or use Ctrl + Shift + Del (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + Del (macOS)
  5. Go to the Advanced tab
  6. Choose All time for “Time range”
  7. Check only Cached images and files
  8. Click Clear data

Opera

  1. Open Opera and click the settings icon (three horizontal lines) in the top-right corner
  2. Scroll down and click Go to full browser settings
  3. Expand Advanced on the left and click Privacy & security
  4. Click Clear browsing data or use Ctrl + Shift + Del (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + Del (macOS)
  5. Select the Advanced tab
  6. Choose All time for “Time range”
  7. Check only Cached images and files
  8. Click Clear data

Mobile browsers

Safari on iOS (iPhone/iPad)

  1. Open the Settings app on your device
  2. Scroll down and tap Safari
  3. Scroll down and tap Clear History and Website Data
  4. Tap Clear History and Data to confirm

Note: This clears history, cookies, and other browsing data. iOS Safari doesn’t offer an option to clear only cache.

Chrome on Android

  1. Open the Chrome app
  2. Tap the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner
  3. Tap History > Clear browsing data
  4. Select the Advanced tab
  5. Choose All time from “Time range”
  6. Check only Cached images and files
  7. Tap Clear data

After clearing cache

Reload the webpage you were having trouble with. You should now see the most current version of your site.

If clearing browser cache doesn’t work

If you’re still experiencing display issues after clearing your browser cache, the problem may be related to Pressable’s caching layers. WordPress sites on Pressable use additional caching systems that may need to be cleared:

  1. Log into your MyPressable Control Panel to clear site-level caches
  2. Check if any WordPress caching plugins are active (note: most caching plugins don’t work properly on Pressable due to our managed caching system)
  3. Review our troubleshooting website performance guide for additional steps