You are reading this page because a website has recently been updated, however your browser is still displaying the old images, text, colours, or page layout.
How to Refresh Your Browser Properly
When a web designer or developer updates a website, your browser may continue displaying an older stored version of the page.
This happens because your browser uses a feature called cache, which stores copies of webpages locally to make websites load faster.
Common examples of browser caching issues:
- You still see an old logo or image
- Text changes are missing
- A webpage layout still looks old
- A button or menu is not updating
- Other people can see the change, but you cannot
In most cases, this can be fixed by refreshing your browser correctly.
Two Types of Browser Refresh
1. Soft Refresh
A soft refresh simply reloads the page normally.
This may still use cached files stored by your browser.
How to Perform a Soft Refresh
Windows:
F5
Mac / Apple:
Right-click the page and select "Reload"
2. Hard Refresh
A hard refresh forces the browser to download fresh files directly from the server instead of using cached copies.
This is usually the best option after website updates.
How to Perform a Hard Refresh
Windows:
CTRL + F5
Mac / Apple:
COMMAND + R
What If the Website Still Looks Old?
If the page still has not updated after performing a hard refresh, there are usually only two possible explanations:
1. The Website Was Not Actually Updated
The changes may not yet have been published or completed by the website owner or developer.
In this case, contact the website owner to confirm the update was made correctly.
2. Your Internet Provider (ISP) Is Caching the Website
Some internet providers temporarily store copies of websites on their own systems to reduce bandwidth usage and improve loading speed.
This is known as ISP caching.
If this occurs, your ISP may continue serving an older version of the website even after the website itself has already been updated.
Trying mobile data, another internet connection, or waiting a short period often resolves this issue.
Mac / Apple Browser Refresh Examples
Example of reload option on macOS
Example of browser refresh controls
Tip: If you regularly work on websites or frequently review website updates, using an Incognito / Private Browsing window can help reduce caching problems.