Clearing Your Local Site Cache

Occasionally when you are making an update to your site, you may find that code or content changes you make do not appear when you refresh your web browser. The reason is that your browser (i.e.: Google Chrome) displays a locally cached version of the site. According to an article in makeusof.com, cache (or in this case browser cache) is, “a temporary storage location for downloaded files that display website content. Since many of these files can get quite large and can take up browser bandwidth when initially downloading the site content, this process stores the site’s data so that future site speeds and load times are less noticeable.” It is very easy, however, to clear your local browser cache through both the browser itself and through basic keyboard short-cuts if you need to make any edits to your site.

Here are some simple steps to clear your local cache:

Standard Keyboard short-cut (also refreshes the page):

• For PCs: CTRL + Shift + R
• For Macs: control + shift + R
• Note: This works for Google Chrome and Firefox browsers

Google Chrome:

• Select the Customize and control Google Chrome icon at the top-right corner of the browser
• Select the Settings link
• Select the History link in the side menu
• Select the Clear browser data… button
• Select the Cached images and files option
  • To prevent clearing the browser or downloads history, password data, form data, etc., uncheck the other options on in the Clear browser data pop-up
• Select the Clear browsing data button
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Firefox:

• Via Browser:

  • Select the Open menu button in the top right corner of the browser
  • Select the History link
  • Select the Clear Recent History… option from the dropdown menu
  • Select the Cache option (you may have to expand the Details section first)
    • To prevent clearing the browser or downloads history, password data, cookies, etc., uncheck the other options on in the Clear Recent History pop-up
  • Select the Clear Now button

• Via Keyboard:

  • Press and hold CTRL + Shift + Del keys in the keyboard
  • Select the Cache option
    • To prevent clearing the browser or downloads history, password data, cookies, etc., uncheck the other options on in the Clear Recent History pop-up
  • Select the Clear Now button
    

Internet Explorer:

• Via Browser:

  • Select the Tools icon in the menu bar
    
  • Select the Delete browsing history… link in in the expanded dropdown menu
  • Select the Cookie and website data option
    • To prevent clearing the browser or downloads history, password data, form data, etc., uncheck the other options on in the Delete Browsing History pop-up
    • You can also delete temporary internet/website files (documents, images, media items, etc.) along with the cache data
  • Select the Delete button

• Via Keyboard:

  • Press and hold CTRL + Shift + Del keys in the keyboard
  • Select the Cookie and website data option
    • To prevent clearing the browser or downloads history, password data, form data, etc., uncheck the other options on in the Delete Browsing History pop-up
    • You can also delete temporary internet/website files (documents, images, media items, etc.) along with the cache data
  • Select the Delete button
    

Safari:

• Select the Safari link in the main menu
• Select the Preferences… option from the dropdown menu
• Select the Privacy tab
• Select the Remove All Website Data… button
  
• Select the Remove Now button in the confirmation pop-up

If you have any questions, please call us at 216.391.2255 or email us at support@thundertech.com.