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Clearing Cache + Hard Reload - Instructions by Browser

Spencer
  • Updated
 

Help, the site isn't loading right!

Blank page? Dropdowns not working? Fields not letting you type? Can't click buttons?

Don't worry, this is just your browser holding onto some old bits and pieces of old cookies, and it needs help clearing the crumbs.

Quick Remedies

There's a couple of easy steps that can help solve this.

  1. Use a private or incognito browser window.
  2. Use a different browser.

Empty Cache & Hard Reload

If you're feeling adventurous, there's a more effective means of fixing this known as Empty Cache and Hard Reload. This sounds super technical, but it's actually often no more than 3 button clicks. It clears all data from the site you're on at the time, and loads it like you've never been there before.

Here's how to do it depending on which browser you are using:

Jump to Your Specific Browser!

Google Chrome

Steps:

  1. Open the Developer Console:
    • Windows/Linux: Ctrl + Shift + I
    • Mac: Option + Command + I
    • Or go to Tools > Developer > Developer Tools…
    • Or simply right-click anywhere on the page and choose Inspect
  2. Press and hold the Refresh icon.
  3. Select Empty Cache and Hard Reload.

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Brave

Steps:

  1. Open the Developer Console:
    • Windows/Linux: Ctrl + Shift + I
    • Mac: Option + Command + I
    • Or go to Tools > Developer > Developer Tools…
    • Or right-click anywhere on the page and choose Inspect
  2. Press and hold the Refresh icon.
  3. Select Empty Cache and Hard Reload.

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Firefox

Steps:

  1. Click the Menu button (☰).
  2. Go to History > Clear Recent History…
  3. Set Time range to clear to Everything.
  4. Check Cache (leave other options unchecked if you prefer).
  5. Click OK.
  6. Reload the page.

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Safari

Steps:

  1. In the top menu, select Safari > Preferences…
  2. Go to the Advanced tab.
  3. Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
  4. In the top menu, select Develop > Empty Caches.
  5. Reload the page.

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Microsoft Edge

Steps:

  1. Open the Developer Tools:
    • Windows/Linux: Ctrl + Shift + I
    • Mac: Option + Command + I
    • Or go to Tools > Developer > Developer Tools…
    • Or right-click anywhere on the page and choose Inspect
  2. Press and hold the Refresh icon.
  3. Select Empty Cache and Hard Reload.

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Still not loading right?

Not to worry, there's still other possible places the crumbs fell into. Many computers have a somewhat hidden feature to help them turn on and become useable faster. It's has a few names, usually it's something along the lines of 'Fast Boot'. This feature effectively creates a snapshot of the computer when you turn it off, and then uses that snapshot to turn on faster.

This however can cause the same crumbs as the Browser caching a website to make it load faster.

So we may need to force a Hard Restart. Please note restarting a computer skipping fast boot can cause it to take noticeably longer to turn back on, and that's both ok and expected.

Hard Restart

This will take a few steps.

First step, save everything you are working on. Forcing the computer to skip this fast boot process for most computers will turn off the computer immediately and it will not cause programs to save.

For Apple users:

You'll want to search 'hard restart mac no fast boot'. This is often a one to three button combination that you press and hold until the screen goes black.

  1. Press and hold the "Command "+ "Control" + "Power" buttons on your keyboard.
  2. Continue holding the buttons until the Mac shuts down.
  3. Release the buttons and wait for a few seconds.
  4. Press the "Power" button to start up your Mac.

In most devices this should cause it to turn off for a moment, and then turn it back on. It will depend on the device and the version of the operating system. The next time it turns on, it should clear out all the lingering crumbs.

For Windows Users:

Again, we suggest using your favorite search engine to look up 'hard restart windows pc skipping fast boot'. It is however usually a few clicks.

  1. Press and hold the power button for at least 15 seconds, until your computer completely shuts off. Once it is off, wait a few seconds and then press the power button again to turn it back on.
  2. Boot into Safe Mode from the sign-in screen:  https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/sta...
  3. Try System Restore:  https://www.windowscentral.com/how-use-system-r...

This should cause your computer to immediately restart, skipping the Fast Boot process. 

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