How to Clear WordPress Cache? (Step-by-Step Guide)

Did you know that a mere one-second delay in page load time can result in a reduction in conversions? That’s right, speed matters, and your WordPress cache plays a massive role in it. So, if you have ever felt like your WordPress site is stuck in a time warp, that’s your WordPress website cache playing tricks on you. That’s where you need to clear WordPress cache.

Why does this matter? Well, imagine your internet user visiting your WordPress site and seeing old information, or worse, a broken layout because of outdated CSS or JavaScript files. Not a great first impression, right? That’s where clearing your WordPress site’s cache comes in.

In this guide we’ll cover the different types of cache in WordPress, like page cache and object caching, and how they affect your website data. You’ll also learn how to clear the WordPress cache seamlessly. So, let’s dive in!

What is WordPress Cache?

Imagine your WordPress site is like a restaurant. When someone orders a meal (visits your site), the kitchen (your web server) has to cook everything from scratch, which takes time. But what if the kitchen could pre-make some popular dishes and just heat them when someone orders? That’s essentially what caching does.

It stores a cached version of your web page, including cached files like images and code, so it can be served up much faster to your internet user.

This dramatically speeds up loading times. If you enable caching, you are telling your server to create and store these snapshots.

Learn More: Google Cache Pages Removed? View Google Cache Easily.

Types of Caching:

• Browser Cache: Your own browser cache stores website data on your device. This means when you revisit a site, it loads even faster.
• Server Cache (Hosting Providers): Your WordPress hosting provider, especially if you have a Litespeed web server, may offer server-side caching. This means the hosting server itself stores cached versions of your site. You might find controls for this in your hosting account dashboard.
• Plugin-Based Cache: WordPress caching plugins, like WP Super Cache plugin or WP Fastest Cache, are super handy. These top WordPress caching plugins or popular WordPress caching plugins create a page cache and often offer other caching features like object caching. You can manage this through the plugin dashboard and plugin settings.
• CDN Cache: A Content Delivery Network (CDN) stores cached versions of your site on servers around the world. This is great for speeding up your site for visitors in different locations.

Keep Reading: The Power of Edge Caching in WordPress

When Should You Clear Your WordPress Cache?

You’ll need to clear the WordPress cache when:

• After making website changes: If you’ve updated your theme, added new content, or updated WP plugins, you need to delete the cache to see the changes. Otherwise, you’ll see the outdated cache files.
• When experiencing slow website speed or performance issues: If your site is loading slowly, clear the cache to see if it helps. A buildup of cache files can slow your site down.
• When facing display or functionality glitches: Sometimes, outdated cache files can cause your site to display incorrectly or have broken functionality. To fix this, you will need to clear the cache.
• When you are having issues with other plugins: Sometimes other plugins will have conflicts with your caching, and you will need to clear the cache.

Find Out: How HTTP Caching Works & How to Use it? 

How to Clear WordPress Cache? (Step-by-Step)

Think of your WordPress cache as a temporary storage space that helps your website load faster. However, sometimes this space gets cluttered with outdated cached content, causing your site to display old information or slow down. Clearing it is like hitting a refresh button for your site.

Clearing Cache Using WordPress Plugins

WordPress caching plugins are the most user-friendly way to manage your site’s cache. They automate the caching process and provide a simple interface to clear the web cache when needed.

• Navigate to your WordPress admin dashboard: Log in to your WordPress site using your administrator credentials.
• Find the plugin’s settings: Caching plugins typically add a menu item to the “Settings” menu or have their top-level menu in the wordpress admin panel.
• Locate the “Clear Cache” button: Look for a prominent button or tab labeled “Clear Cache,” “Purge Cache,” or “Delete Cache.” This is usually easy to find within the plugin’s settings. This is often called the delete cache tab.
• Execute the action: Click the button to initiate the cache-clearing process. This action will delete the cache and remove all cached data, forcing your site to regenerate the cache on the next visit.

Guide for Popular Caching Plugins:

• WP Rocket:
  • WP Rocket is a premium caching plugin known for its ease of use and powerful features.
  • To clear the cache, navigate to “Settings” -> “WP Rocket” in your wordpress admin dashboard.
  • Click the “Clear Cache” tab.
  • WP Rocket also offers features like preloading the cache, which generates the cache before a user visits, further improving load times.
• W3 Total Cache:
  • W3 Total Cache is a comprehensive caching plugin with extensive options for advanced users.
  • Find “Performance” in your wordpress admin panel.
  • Click “Purge all caches.”
  • Be aware that W3 Total Cache has numerous settings, and incorrect configurations can lead to site issues.
• WP Super Cache:
  • WP Super Cache is a free and popular plugin that creates static HTML files from your dynamic WordPress content.
  • Go to “Settings” -> “WP Super Cache” in your wordpress admin dashboard.
  • Click the “Delete Cache” button.
  • You can also adjust the wp super cache settings here, to control how often the cache is refreshed.
• LiteSpeed Cache:
  • LiteSpeed Cache is optimized for LiteSpeed web servers and offers excellent performance.
  • Find “LiteSpeed Cache” in the top admin bar of your wordpress admin dashboard.
  • Click “Purge All“.
  • This plugin offers very granular control and is very effective when paired with a Litespeed server.

Clearing Cache from Your Web Hosting Provider

Each hosting provider has its method, but the goal is the same: to refresh that stored data and ensure your visitors see the latest version of your site. Let’s break it down:

DreamHost:

• DreamHost offers robust caching, and you’ll find the controls within your DreamHost panel.
• Log in to your DreamHost account.
• Navigate to the “Caching” or “Performance” section.
• Look for a button or option labeled “Purge Cache” or something similar. Clicking this will clear the cache.
• Dreamhost has a very robust caching system, that will help reduce server load.

Hostinger:

• Hostinger’s hPanel makes it easy to manage your site’s cache.
• Log in to your Hostinger panel.
• Find the “Cache Manager” or “Speed” section.
• Click the “Purge All” or similar button to clear the cache.
• Hosting allows you to create a cache, and clear it very easily.

Kinsta:

• Kinsta, known for its managed WordPress hosting, provides a straightforward cache-clearing process.
• Log in to your MyKinsta dashboard.
• Select your site.
• Go to the “Tools” section.
• Click “Clear site cache.” It’s that simple!

WP Engine:

• WP Engine’s user portal offers easy cache management.
• Log in to your WP Engine user portal.
• Select your site.
• Click “Cache” and then “Purge All Caches.”
• WP Engine has a very powerful caching system.

BlueHost:

• Bluehost often utilizes Varnish caching.
• Log in to your Bluehost account.
• Look for the caching options within your site settings.
• You’ll typically find an option to “Purge Varnish Cache” or similar.

Why Clear Hosting Cache?

• Ensuring Visitors See Updates: When you make changes to your site, clearing the hosting cache ensures those changes are immediately visible.
• Reducing Server Load: Clearing the cache periodically can help prevent your server from becoming overloaded with stale data.
• Troubleshooting Issues: If you’re experiencing unexpected website behavior, clearing the cache can often resolve the problem.
• Manual Cache-Control: some hosts allow you to cache manually, giving you added control.

Find Out: Best WordPress Hosting for High-traffic Sites

Clearing Browser Cache

Clearing your browser cache is like cleaning out that scrapbook, ensuring you always see the freshest content.

How to Clear Cache in Google Chrome

• Open Chrome and access the Clear Browsing Data menu:
  • Think of this as finding the control panel for your browser’s memory.
  • Click the three vertical dots (More) in the top right corner of the Chrome window.
  • Select “More tools” and then “Clear browsing data…” Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + Delete (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + Delete (Mac). This shortcut is your express lane to cache clearing.
• Click “Clear data” and restart the browser:
  • Clicking “Clear data” is like hitting the “delete” button on your digital scrapbook.
  • Close and reopen Chrome to ensure the changes take effect. This forces Chrome to reload websites from scratch, bypassing the old cache.

Learn More: How Server-Side Caching Improve Your Website Performance

How to Clear Cache in Mozilla Firefox

• Open Firefox and go to Settings > Privacy & Security:
  • This is where Firefox keeps its privacy and data management tools.
  • Click the three horizontal lines (Menu) in the top right corner of the Firefox window.
  • Select “Settings.”
  • Click “Privacy & Security” in the left-hand menu.
• Click “Clear Data” under Cookies and Site Data:
  • It is often useful to clear “Cookies and Site Data” when troubleshooting website issues, as cookies can also cause display issues.
  • Ensure that the checkbox next to “Cached Web Content” is selected.
  • Click the “Clear” button to remove the cached files.

How to Clear Cache in Safari (Mac)

• Enable “Show Develop Menu” in Safari Preferences:
  • The Develop menu gives you access to advanced tools, including cache clearing.
  • Open Safari.
  • Click “Safari” in the menu bar and select “Preferences.”
  • Go to the “Advanced” tab.
  • Check the box next to the “Show Develop menu in the menu bar.”
• Click Develop > Empty Caches:
  • This is the direct command to clear Safari’s cache.
  • Click “Develop” in the menu bar.
  • Select “Empty Caches.”
• Restart Safari:
  • Close and reopen safari.
• Click the “Clear” button.

By regularly clearing your browser cache, you can ensure you’re always viewing the most up-to-date version of websites and prevent potential display issues.

Clearing CDN Cache

When you update your website, you need to clear the CDN cache to ensure these changes are reflected globally.

How to Clear Cache in Cloudflare

• Log in to Cloudflare and select your website:
  • Visit the Cloudflare website and log in to your account using your credentials.
  • Once logged in, you’ll see a list of your websites. Select the website for which you want to clear the cache.
• Navigate to the “Caching” section:
  • In the Cloudflare dashboard for your selected website, you’ll find a navigation menu on the left-hand side.
  • Click on the “Caching” icon. This will take you to the caching settings page.
• Click “Purge Everything” or select specific files:
  • “Purge Everything”: This option clears the entire Cloudflare cache for your website. It’s the most thorough way to ensure all cached assets are updated. To do this, click the “Purge Everything” button.

How to Clear Cache in KeyCDN

• Log in to KeyCDN and go to “Zone Purge”:
  • Go to the KeyCDN website and log in to your account.
  • From the dashboard, select “Zones”.
  • Select the zone that you wish to purge.
  • Select “Zone Purge”.
• Select “Purge” for the entire cache or input a file URL:
  • “Purge”: Click the “Purge” button to clear the entire cache for the selected zone.

Also Know: Troubleshooting Cloudflare Errors

Best Practices for Managing WordPress Cache

Managing your WordPress cache effectively is crucial for maintaining optimal website performance. It’s not just about clearing the cache when things go wrong; it’s about establishing a proactive approach.

• Scheduled Clearing: Many caching plugins offer the option to schedule automatic cache clearing. This can be set to occur at regular intervals (e.g., hourly, daily, weekly). This helps prevent your cache from becoming overly stale.
• Event-Based Clearing: Some plugins allow you to clear the cache automatically when certain events occur, such as when you publish a new post, update a page, or install/update a plugin. This ensures that your cache is always up-to-date with your latest changes.
• Plugin Settings: Explore your chosen caching plugin’s settings thoroughly. Look for options related to automatic clearing and configure them to suit your website’s update frequency.
• Server-Side Automation: If your hosting provider offers server-side caching, check if they provide options for automated cache purging. Some managed WordPress hosts offer very granular control.

Final Reading: How to Update WordPress Automatically and Manually?

Conclusion

In conclusion, clearing your cache, whether through plugins, hosting provider tools, or browser settings, is not merely a troubleshooting step but a vital component of proactive website maintenance.

By implementing automatic cache clearing, selecting the right caching plugin, and regularly testing website performance, you can ensure your visitors always experience the latest and fastest version of your site. Remember that a well-maintained cache contributes significantly to improved SEO and enhanced user experience.

Furthermore, if you ever encounter any challenges or require expert assistance, our dedicated WordPress support services are always available to help you navigate the complexities of cache management and optimize your website’s performance. Contact us now!