Clear Your Browser’s Cache to Ensure You’re Using the Latest Version

As you know, browsing the Internet is integral to your potential customers' daily routines. Thus, ensuring that your online presence is not just up to date but also offers a smooth navigation experience is vital. And here's the catch: regularly clearing your browser's cache is a simple but super effective way to achieve that.

In this article, we will explore what cache is, why it's essential to clear it and provide step-by-step guides for clearing the cache in popular browsers like Google Chrome and Firefox. Read on to take your website to the next level! 

What is cache?

Cache, in the context of web browsing, refers to a storage location where your browser stores files and data from websites you visit. These files include images, scripts, and other elements that make up the web pages you view. By storing these files locally, your browser can load websites faster upon subsequent visits, as it doesn't need to download everything again.

Why clear it?

When you visit a web page, your browser stores some elements in its cache. Sometimes, instead of downloading these elements from the internet again, the browser displays the cached versions. That can cause a problem if you make changes or updates to your website because the browser may show you the old version instead of pulling the new one from the internet. Thus, clear your cache regularly to make sure you're seeing the freshest, most recent version of your website.

How to clear your browser’s cache

Clearing your cache may be a little bit different in every browser.

They all involve going through the options or settings.

Below you’ll find instructions on how to do it for 2 of the most popular (and supported) browsers: Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox.

Firefox

Go to the “Tools” menu and select “Options” (the last item).

On the Firefox Tools menu, select “Options”

This is what it would look in Mac OS:

If you’re using Mac OS, click on the “Firefox” menu and then on “Preferences”

Click on the “Advanced” panel, then on the “Network” tab, and finally on the “Clear Now” button on the “Cached Web Content” section.

Click on “Clear Now” to clear your cache

It looks almost the same in Mac OS:

The interface is almost the exact same in Mac OS

Chrome

Click on the menu button on the top right corner of your browser. Select “Tools” and then “Clear browsing data”.

The menu button on Chrome will reveal these options when clicked

You’ll be taken to a settings page, with the browsing data clearance options. If you only want to clear your cache, deselect all boxes but the one for “Empty the cache”. Then choose a time frame and click below on the button labeled “Clear browsing data”.

Hint: select “the beginning of time” to clear all cache

The user interface looks the same in Mac OS.

FAQ

Should my visitors also clear their cache?

Not necessarily. Even if your visitors don't clear their cache, your website will still appear correctly to them. However, it's generally a good idea for everyone to clear their cache once in a while to enjoy a smoother browsing experience.

How often should I refresh/clear my cache?

Empowerkit releases updates all the time, but not all require you to clear your browser's cache. Our advice is to clear it every time you enter the editor (login to your site). However, if you're editing your site very often, you should clear your browser's cache at least once a week.  Remember also to clear it if you are experiencing any kind of trouble since we may have just released a fix for a particular issue.

How do I clear it on mobile browsers?

We don’t currently support editing Empowerkit sites on mobile browsers, so our advice is to avoid using a mobile device to edit your site.

What happens if I don't clear my cache?

Well, a couple of things could occur. You might not see the latest pictures and icons on the website's design, or you could experience issues with the editor, making it difficult to edit your site properly. That said, it's important to note that not clearing your cache won't impact the public site that your visitors see, so no worries there!

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Website Differences in Popular Browsers

Still in need of assistance?

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