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A Comprehensive Guide on How to Clear Cache

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Ever feel like your WordPress website is moving at a snail’s pace? One of the most common culprits behind a sluggish site is accumulated cache. But don’t worry, clearing this temporary data is often a straightforward process! In this post, we’ll dive deep into how to clear cache effectively, helping your website run smoother and faster than ever before.

What Exactly is Cache, and Why Does it Need Clearing?

In simple terms, cache is a temporary storage location for static versions of your web pages, such as images, CSS, and JavaScript files. When a user revisits your site, their browser or your server can load these cached files instead of fetching everything from scratch. This significantly speeds up page load times, improves user experience, and reduces the load on your server.

However, cache can sometimes cause unexpected issues. If you’ve recently made changes to your website (e.g., updated your theme, plugins, or content) and aren’t seeing them reflected immediately, it’s highly likely that your browser or a caching plugin is still displaying an older, cached version. That’s when knowing how to clear cache becomes essential.

How To Clear Cache In Browsers

Shield Your Internet History: How to Clear Your Cache on Any Browser | PCMag

Google Chrome

On Desktop:

  1. Open Chrome.
  2. Click the three vertical dots (More) in the top-right corner.
  3. Hover over More tools and then click Clear browsing data.
  4. At the top, choose a time range. To delete everything, select All time.
  5. Check the boxes next to Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. 6. Click Clear data.

On Android:

  1. Open the Chrome app.
  2. Tap the three vertical dots (More) in the top-right corner.
  3. Tap History, then Clear browsing data.
  4. At the top, choose a time range. To delete everything, select All time.
  5. Check the boxes next to Cookies and site data and Cached images and files.
  6. Tap Clear data.

On iPhone & iPad:

  1. Open the Chrome app.
  2. Tap the three horizontal dots (More) at the bottom.
  3. Tap History, then Clear Browsing Data.
  4. Make sure there are checkmarks next to Cookies, Site Data, and Cached Images and Files.
  5. Tap Clear Browsing Data.

Mozilla Firefox

On Desktop:

  1. Open Firefox.
  2. Click the three horizontal lines (Menu) in the top-right corner.
  3. Select Options (or Preferences on macOS).
  4. Click on Privacy & Security in the left sidebar.
  5. In the Cookies and Site Data section, click Clear Data….
  6. Make sure the box next to Cached Web Content is checked. You can also choose to clear cookies and site data if you wish.
  7. Click Clear.
  8. Close the about:preferences page. Any changes you’ve made will automatically be saved.

On Android:

  1. Open the Firefox app.
  2. Tap the three vertical dots in the bottom-right corner.
  3. Select Settings.
  4. Go to Delete browsing data.
  5. Select Cached images and files. You can also choose other data to delete.
  6. Tap Delete browsing data.

On iPhone & iPad:

  1. Open the Firefox app.
  2. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines).
  3. Tap Settings.
  4. Tap Data Management.
  5. Select the type of data you want to delete (e.g., Cache).
  6. Tap Clear Private Data and confirm your selection.

Safari

On macOS:

  1. Open Safari.
  2. In the menu bar at the top of the screen, click Safari.
  3. Select Preferences.
  4. Click the Advanced tab.
  5. Check the box next to Show Develop menu in menu bar.
  6. Close the Preferences window.
  7. In the menu bar, click Develop, then Empty Caches.

Alternatively, to clear history, cookies, and cache:

  1. Click Safari in the menu bar.
  2. Click Clear History.
  3. In the “Clear” dropdown, choose all history.
  4. Click Clear History.

On iPhone & iPad:

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

To clear only cookies and cache while keeping history:

  1. Go to Settings > Safari > Advanced > Website Data.
  2. Tap Remove All Website Data.

Microsoft Edge

On Desktop:

  1. Open Microsoft Edge.
  2. Click the three horizontal dots (Settings and more) in the top-right corner.
  3. Go to Settings.
  4. Click on Privacy, search, and services in the left sidebar.
  5. Under the Clear browsing data section, click Choose what to clear. 6. In the “Time range” dropdown, select a time range (e.g., All time).
  6. Make sure the boxes next to Cached images and files and Cookies and other site data are checked.
  7. Click Clear now.

You can also use the keyboard shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + Delete.

These steps should help you clear the cache in your preferred web browser. Remember that clearing the cache might log you out of websites and could make frequently visited pages load slightly slower on the next visit as the browser re-downloads the resources.

How To Clear Facebook Cache

On the Facebook Mobile App (Android):

  1. Open the Settings App: Go to your phone’s main settings.
  2. Tap on Apps (or Applications, Apps & Notifications): The exact wording might vary depending on your Android version.
  3. Find Facebook: Scroll through the list of apps and tap on Facebook.
  4. Tap on Storage (or Storage & Cache):
  5. Tap on Clear Cache: This will remove the temporary data Facebook has stored.
  6. (Optional) You can also tap Clear Data to remove all app data, but this will log you out of Facebook, and you’ll need to log back in.

How to Clear the Cache on Facebook

Through the Facebook App (Android & iPhone):

This method clears the cache specifically for the Facebook in-app browser.

  1. Open the Facebook App:
  2. Tap the Menu Icon: This is usually three horizontal lines (≡) in the top-right (Android) or bottom-right (iPhone) corner.
  3. Scroll down and tap Settings & Privacy.
  4. Tap Settings.
  5. Scroll down to the “Permissions” section and tap Browser.
  6. Tap Clear next to “Cookies and cache”.
  7. Confirm by tapping Clear again.

On a Web Browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, etc.):

When you use Facebook in a web browser, the cache is part of your browser’s overall browsing data. You need to clear your browser’s cache to clear the Facebook cache in this case. The steps vary depending on the browser you are using. Here are general steps and links to specific instructions provided in the previous response:

  1. Open your browser’s settings (usually through a menu icon in the top-right corner).
  2. Look for options like “Privacy,” “Security,” “History,” or “Browsing Data.”
  3. Find the option to clear browsing data.
  4. Select the time range (e.g., “All time” to clear everything).
  5. Make sure “Cached images and files” (or similar) is checked. You might also want to clear cookies if you want to log out of Facebook.
  6. Click “Clear data,” “Clear now,” or a similar button.

Refer to the “How to clear cache in browser” response you previously received for detailed instructions for specific browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.

On iPhone (Uninstall and Reinstall):

Unlike Android, iOS doesn’t offer a direct way to clear the cache for individual apps. The most effective way to clear the Facebook app’s cache on an iPhone is to:

  1. Uninstall the Facebook App:
    • Touch and hold the Facebook app icon on your Home Screen.
    • Tap Remove App.
    • Tap Delete App to confirm.
  2. Restart your iPhone (recommended).
  3. Reinstall the Facebook App: Download it again from the App Store and log back in.

Important Notes:

  • Clearing the cache will not delete your Facebook account, profile information, photos, posts, or friends list. This data is stored on Facebook’s servers.
  • After clearing the cache, Facebook might take slightly longer to load the first time you use it as it needs to download the data again.
  • If you are having issues with how a specific page or image on Facebook is displaying, you might also want to try using Facebook’s Sharing Debugger Tool for developers. This tool can help refresh the cache for specific URLs. You can find it by searching for “Facebook Sharing Debugger.”

Effective Methods for Clearing WordPress Cache:

There are several ways to clear the cache on your WordPress website. Here are the most common and effective methods:

1. Clearing Your Browser Cache:

This is the first and simplest step you should take. Your web browser also stores cached files to speed up browsing. Clearing your browser’s cache ensures you’re seeing the latest version of your website.

  • Google Chrome: Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + Shift + Delete (Mac). Select a time range (e.g., “All time”) and ensure “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files” are checked. Then, click “Clear data.”
  • Mozilla Firefox: Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + Shift + Delete (Mac). Select the time range and ensure “Cache” and “Cookies and Active Logins” are checked. Click “OK.”
  • Safari: Go to Safari > Preferences > Advanced. Check the “Show Develop menu in menu bar” box. Then, go to the Develop menu and select Empty Caches.
  • Microsoft Edge: Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete. Select a time range and ensure “Cached images and files” and “Cookies and other site data” are checked. Click “Clear now.”

2. Clearing WordPress Plugin Cache:

If you’re using caching plugins like WP Rocket, LiteSpeed Cache, or WP Super Cache, you’ll need to clear the cache through the plugin’s settings. Each plugin has a different interface, but you’ll typically find a “Clear Cache” or “Delete Cache” button or option within the plugin’s dashboard or settings page.

  • Example with WP Rocket: Hover over the top admin bar and click “WP Rocket” > “Clear cache.”
  • Example with LiteSpeed Cache: Hover over the top admin bar and click the “LiteSpeed Cache” icon > “Purge All.”
  • Example with WP Super Cache: Go to Settings > WP Super Cache and click the “Delete Cache” button.

3. Clearing Server-Side Cache:

In some cases, your web server might also have its own caching mechanisms (e.g., Varnish Cache, Memcached). If you have access to your cPanel or other server management tools, look for options related to caching and clear it from there. If you’re unsure, it’s best to contact your hosting provider for assistance.

4. Clearing Object Cache:

Object caching stores the results of database queries, reducing the load on your database. If you’re using object caching (often through plugins or server configurations), you might need to clear the object cache as well when troubleshooting issues. Object caching plugins usually have a “Flush Cache” or similar option.

5. Clearing Transients:

Transients are a type of temporary option stored in your WordPress database, often used to cache API responses or other frequently accessed data. Sometimes, outdated or corrupted transients can cause problems. You can manage and clear transients using plugins like “Transients Manager.”