Browser showing outdated content? Hard refresh your browser, and clear the cache
Jeroen Seynhaeve 2025-09-02
When you view a website on your computer, tablet, or phone, you might not always see the most up-to-date version. Instead, your browser may show a stored (“cached”) version from a previous visit. This happens because browsers cache website content — like images, stylesheets, and scripts — to speed up loading times and improve performance. While caching reduces data usage and enhances the user experience, it can also cause outdated content to appear after a website has been updated.
SOLUTION: To fix this, you can clear your browser’s cache and cookies, open the site in a private/incognito window, or perform a hard refresh. A “hard refresh” clears the browser cache and forces it to download all content and coding as if it view the website for the first time. How? Load the website in your browser, and apply the steps below to clear your cache through a hard refresh on the most popular desktop and mobile browsers:
1. Desktop Browsers
1.1. Google Chrome
- Windows/Linux: Press Ctrl + F5 or press Ctrl + Shift + R, or hold Ctrl and click the Reload button
- Apple/Mac: Press Command + Shift + R, or hold Shift and click the Reload button
- Apple/Mac (advanced): hold down Cmd and Shift and then press the Delete (backspace) button on your keyboard. Check the box next to “Cached images and files” (make sure to uncheck the boxes for “Browsing history”, “Download history”, “Cookies and other site data”, “Passwords and other sign-in data”, and “Autofill form data” if you don’t want to remove this information)
1.2. Mozilla Firefox
- Windows/Linux: Press Ctrl + F5, or press Ctrl + Shift + R
- Apple/Mac: Press Command + Shift + R, or hold Shift and click the Reload button
- Apple/Mac (advanced): hold down Cmd and Shift and then press the Delete (backspace) button on your keyboard. Check the box next to “Temporary cached files and pages” (make sure to uncheck the boxes for “Browsing & download history”, “Cookies and site data”, “Saved form info” and “Site settings” if you don’t want to remove this information)
1.3. Microsoft Edge
- Windows: Press Ctrl + F5, or press Ctrl + Shift + R
- Apple/Mac: Press Command + Shift + R, or hold Shift and click the Reload button
1.4. Safari
- Apple/Mac: Press Option + Command + E to empty the cache. Then hold Shift and click the Reload button.
1.5. Opera
- Windows/Linux: Press Ctrl + F5, or press Ctrl + Shift + R
- Apple/Mac: Press Command + Option + R
1.6. Brave
- Windows/Linux: Press Ctrl + F5, or press Ctrl + Shift + R
- Apple/Mac: Press Command + Shift + R
1.7. Vivaldi
- Windows/Linux: Press Ctrl + F5, or press Ctrl + Shift + R
- Mac: Press Command + Shift + R
1.8. Internet Explorer
- Windows: Press Ctrl + F5, or hold Ctrl and click the Refresh button
2. Mobile Browsers
2.1. Safari (iOS)
- 1. To clear the cache, go to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data.
- 2. Tap the Refresh icon in the address bar.
2.2. Chrome (Android/iOS)
- 1. To clear the cache, go to Settings > Privacy > Clear Browsing Data.
- 2. Tap the Menu (three dots) and select Reload.
2.3. Firefox (Android/iOS)
- 1. To clear the cache, go to Settings > Delete Browsing Data.
- 2. Tap the Menu (three dots) and select Reload.
Remember: Clicking the “Refresh” arrow on your browser address bar is not a hard refresh.