Frustrated website user waiting for updated content to appear
Website Help

How to clear your browser cache

If a website has been updated but you are still seeing the old version, your browser may be showing files it has stored in its cache.
Clearing the cache forces the browser to fetch a fresh copy of the page. Here is the simplest way to do it in the main desktop browsers.
Updated August 2026 5 min read Website Help By Petrina

Your browser saves copies of images, stylesheets and other website files so pages can load more quickly the next time you visit.

Most of the time that is useful. Occasionally it means you keep seeing an older version of a page after changes have been made.

Before clearing everything, try a hard refresh first.

On Windows press Ctrl + F5. On a Mac, try Command + Shift + R. This is often enough to reload the current page without clearing your whole browser history.

How to clear the cache in Google Chrome

  1. Open Chrome.
  2. Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete on Windows or Command + Shift + Delete on a Mac.
  3. Choose a suitable time range. If you are troubleshooting a recent website update, start with the shortest useful period.
  4. Select Cached images and files.
  5. Clear the data, then reload the website.

How to clear the cache in Microsoft Edge

  1. Open Edge.
  2. Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete.
  3. Select Cached images and files.
  4. Choose the time range you want to clear.
  5. Select Clear now, then reload the page.

How to clear the cache in Firefox

  1. Open Firefox.
  2. Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete on Windows or Command + Shift + Delete on a Mac.
  3. Select the cached web content option.
  4. Choose the period you want to clear.
  5. Confirm, then reload the website.

How to clear the cache in Safari on a Mac

Safari handles cached website data slightly differently. In many cases a normal reload or Command + Option + R is worth trying first.

If the old version still appears, open Safari settings and remove the relevant website data, then revisit the page.

Do I need to clear cookies as well?

Usually not. If the only problem is that an updated page is not appearing, start by clearing cached files rather than cookies.

Removing cookies can sign you out of websites and reset saved preferences, so there is no need to clear them unless the problem specifically involves login or stored website settings.

Still seeing the old website?

Try opening the page in a private or incognito window. You can also test it on another device or mobile connection. If the new version appears there, the problem is almost certainly local to the original browser or device.

If the old version appears everywhere, the website update itself may not have reached the live server yet, or another layer of caching may be involved.

Final thoughts

Browser caching is useful, but it can be confusing when you are waiting to see a website change. A hard refresh is the quickest first step and clearing cached files normally solves the problem if the browser is holding on to an older version.

Need help with your website?

Straightforward website support without the technical jargon.

Hungry Sheep provides website design and ongoing support for businesses across Suffolk.

Get in Touch