View source for Wiki143:Bypass your cache

{{redirect|WP:BYPASS|"being an administrator is not a way to bypass rules" policy|Wikipedia:What adminship is not#Adminship is not diplomatic immunity|the guideline on bypassing redirects|WP:NOTBROKEN}}
{{redirect-confuse|WP:CLEAR|WP:CLEARLY|MOS:CLEAR|WP:OBVIOUS}}
{{pp-semi-indef}}<noinclude>{{pp-move-indef}}</noinclude>
{{how-to page|WP:BYC|WP:BYPASS|WP:REFRESH}}
{{nutshell|Bypassing your cache means forcing your [[web browser]] to re-download a web page from scratch, which can often solve website display glitches. It is also required after installing [[WP:US|user scripts]]. Bypassing your cache is simple, safe, and causes no permanent changes.}}

{{/Simple instructions}}

To speed things up and conserve [[Bandwidth (computing)|communications bandwidth]], browsers attempt to keep local copies of pages, images, and other content you've visited, so that it need not be downloaded again later. Occasionally this '''[[web cache|caching]]''' scheme goes awry (e.g. the browser insists on showing out-of-date content) making it necessary to '''bypass''' the cache, thus forcing your browser to re-download a web page's complete, up-to-date content. This is sometimes referred to as a "hard refresh", "cache refresh", or "uncached reload". The rest of your cache is not affected.

When you encounter strange behavior, first try bypassing your cache. In most cases you can use the simple instructions shown to the right, or see the complete browser-specific instructions [[#Bypassing cache|below]]. If this is not enough, you can try performing a "purge" of Wikipedia's server cache (see instructions [[#Purging Wikipedia's server cache|below]]). If problems persist, report them at [[Wikipedia:Village pump (technical)]].

If you are editing templates, you may need to wait a few minutes before bypassing your browser cache in order to see the change in a page with the transcluded template. 

In unusual circumstances, it may be worth [[#Cache clearing and disabling|clearing the entire cache]] (of your local browser).

== Bypassing cache ==
<!-- Editors: consider testing new additions with free test sites such as [https://www.lagado.com/tools/cache-test]. -->

=== Mobile browsers ===
{{Expand section|date=July 2022}}

==== Android - Chrome ====
*Tap "More" (three dots in the top right)
*Select "History"
*Choose "Clear browsing data"
*Select "Cached images and files"
*Choose your time range
*Tap "Clear data"

==== iOS - All browsers ====
''(e.g. Mobile Safari '''and''' Brave, Chrome, Firefox, Opera, et. al.)<ref>''(* As of at least mid-2022, all iOS web browsers have always been required to use the same system-provided [[WebKit]] browser engine)''</ref>''
* Click the Reload button on the navigation toolbar.
:* If that is insufficient, one can try to add the following to the end of the page’s url ''(either manually or by using a JavaScript-based [[Bookmarklet|bookmarklet]])''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ios - How to clear browser cache for just one specific site in Mobile Safari? |url=https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/73153/how-to-clear-browser-cache-for-just-one-specific-site-in-mobile-safari#226934 |access-date=2022-07-19 |website=Ask Different |language=en}}<br />{{Cite web |title=Can I force a cache refresh in Safari running on iOS? |url=https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/74797/can-i-force-a-cache-refresh-in-safari-running-on-ios#168497 |access-date=2022-07-19 |website=Ask Different |language=en}}</ref>
::<code>?nocache=1</code>
<!-- Not yet verified:

<small>''Unlike browsers on other operating systems, iOS WebKit seems to bypass its cache whenever you reload a page.''</small> -->

=== Desktop browsers ===
==== [[chromium (browser)|Chromium]]-based browsers ([[Google Chrome]], [[Microsoft Edge]], [[Opera (browser)|Opera]], etc.) ====
On [[Windows]] and [[Linux]], use one of the following: 
* Hold the {{key press|Ctrl}} key and press the {{key press|F5}} key.
* Hold the {{key press|Shift}} key and press the {{key press|F5}} key.
* Hold the {{key press|Ctrl}} key and the {{key press|Shift}} key, then press the {{key press|R}} key.
* Hold the {{key press|Ctrl}} key and click the ''Reload'' button on the navigation toolbar.
* Hold the {{key press|Shift}} key and click the ''Reload'' button on the navigation toolbar.
On [[macOS]]: 
* Hold both the {{key press|Cmd}} and {{key press|Shift}} keys and press the {{key press|R}} key.
* Hold the {{key press|Shift}} key and click the ''Reload'' button on the navigation toolbar.
* Hold the {{key press|Ctrl}} key and click the ''Reload'' button on the navigation toolbar.
On [[ChromeOS]]:
* Hold the {{key press|Shift}} key and click the ''Reload'' button on the navigation toolbar.

==== [[Internet Explorer]] ====
Use one of the following:
* Hold the {{key press|Ctrl}} key and press the {{key press|F5}} key.
* Hold the {{key press|Ctrl}} key and click the "Refresh" button on the toolbar.

==== [[Firefox]] and other related browsers ====
These instructions work for [[Firefox]], [[SeaMonkey]], and other related browsers.

On Windows and Linux, use one of the following:
* Hold both the {{key press|Ctrl}} and {{key press|Shift}} keys and then press {{key press|R}}. 
* Hold the {{key press|Shift}} key and click the ''Reload'' button on the navigation toolbar.
* Hold the {{key press|Ctrl}} key and press the {{key press|F5}} key.
On macOS, use one of the following:
* Hold both the {{key press|Cmd}} and {{key press|Shift}} keys and then press {{key press|R}}. 
* Hold the {{key press|Shift}} key and click the ''Reload'' button on the navigation toolbar.

==== [[Safari (web browser)|Safari]] ====
For version 4 and newer:
* Hold down the {{key press|Shift}} key and click the ''Reload'' toolbar button
''or''
* Use keyboard shortcut {{key press|Opt|Cmd|R}} to clear cache.
For version 3 and older:
* Hold down the {{key press|Cmd}} key and press {{key press|R}}. This kind of "regular" reload will usually bypass the cache.

{{anchor|CLEAR|Clear}}

== Cache clearing and disabling ==
=== [[chromium (browser)|Chromium]]-based browsers ([[Google Chrome]], [[Microsoft Edge]], [[Opera (browser)|Opera]], etc.) ===
'''To clear the cache:'''
# Go to the "Tools" menu (the three horizontal ellipsis on the upper right of the browser) and click on "History" (Shortcut: {{key press|Ctrl|H}}).
# Click on "Clear browsing data…" (Shortcut: {{key press|Ctrl|Shift|Del}}).
# Select the types of data you want to clear, and include "Cached images and files" option.

If you would like to keep the data in your cache but test Wikipedia without using it, you can use the private browsing option.

'''To disable the cache:'''
# Open Developer Tools ({{key press|F12}}, {{key press|Ctrl|Shift|I}} or {{menu breadcrumb|Tools|Developer Tools}}).
# Click on the horizontal ellipsis on the upper right corner of the Dev Tools interface and select "Settings" (Shortcut: {{Key press|F1}}).
# Check the "Disable Cache" check-box.
{{A note}} This method only works if the developer console remains open. Browser extensions are available for download that force the cache to be disabled at all times.

=== [[Internet Explorer]] ===
'''To completely clear the cache in [[Internet Explorer 9]] and later versions:'''
# Click "Tools" (the Gear-shaped button on the top-right section of the browser), point to "Safety" and click "Delete Browsing History…" (keyboard shortcut: {{key press|Ctrl|Shift|Del}}).
# Select "Temporary Internet Files" at the top, and click "Delete". (If Wikipedia is in your list of favorites, you may need to turn off the "Preserve Favorites website data" at the top of the dialog box.)
# Internet Explorer will now silently delete the items you have chosen. Once finished, the notification bar appears at the bottom of the screen, stating that the selected browsing history has been deleted.
'''To change cache settings (not recommended for most users):'''
* Select {{menu breadcrumb|Tools|Internet Options|Temporary Internet files|Settings…}} to make advanced configuration changes to the cache.

=== [[Firefox]] and other related browsers ===
'''To completely clear the cache:'''
* Click the "Open menu" button (three stacked, horizontal bars in the upper right corner). Select "Options", then the "Privacy & Security" section. Go to the "Cookies and Site Data" subsection and click the "Clear Data..." button. Make sure the box for "Cached Web Content" is checked and click "Clear", (be sure the "Cookies and Site Data" box is unchecked if you do not want to clear this data as well).
* In versions of Firefox that display a single, orange "Firefox" button: click the "Firefox" button and click "Options". Select the "Advanced" section, and go to the "Network" tab, and click the "Clear Now" button. Then click "OK".
* When Firefox displays a menu bar, from the "Edit" or "Tools" menu, choose "Preferences" or "Options". Select the "Advanced" section, and go to the "Network" tab. Click the button called "Clear Now". Then click "OK".
* In SeaMonkey and later versions of Netscape, choose {{menu breadcrumb|Edit|Preferences…}}, expand the "Advanced" section and choose "Cache". Click on the "<u>C</u>lear Cache" button.

If you would like to keep your data in your cache and test Wikipedia with an empty cache, you can use Private Browsing mode.

'''To disable caching in Firefox (not recommended for most users):'''
# Choose {{menu breadcrumb|Tools|Options…}} (or {{menu breadcrumb|Edit|Preferences}} in the Linux version).
# Choose "Advanced" at the top.
# Choose the "Network" tab.
# Change the cache size to 0 (zero).

'''To disable caching in SeaMonkey (not recommended for most users):'''
# Choose {{menu breadcrumb|Edit|Preferences…}}
# Expand the "Advanced" item near the left bottom.
# Choose "Cache" item.
# Change the "Size" value to 0 (zero).

=== [[Safari (web browser)|Safari]] ===
'''To completely clear the cache:'''

* Use keyboard shortcut {{key press|Opt|Cmd|E}} to instantly clear all caches

Alternatively:

# From the "Safari" menu, choose "Preferences..." (Shortcut: {{key press|Cmd|,}})
# Click on the "Advanced" tab
# Check the box at the bottom next to "Show Develop menu in menu bar"
# Close preferences and click '''Develop ‣ Empty Caches'''

== Purging Wikipedia's server cache ==
The [[m:Wikimedia servers|Wikimedia servers]] cache a version of articles. When improperly displayed content is contained in a [[WP:TEMPLATE|template]] or other [[WP:TRANSCLUDE|transcluded]] page, bypassing your own cache might not be enough. You may need to [[Wikipedia:Purge|purge]] the server cache of old page versions.

The server can be instructed to refresh its cache of a page's contents with the <code>action=purge</code> web address parameter. Add this to the end of the address. For example, to purge this page, visit one of the following:

* [{{fullurl:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|action=purge}} {{fullurl:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|action=purge}}]
* [{{fullurl:{{FULLPAGENAME}}}}?action=purge {{fullurl:{{FULLPAGENAME}}}}?action=purge]

For pages you think may need to be purged on a regular basis, include {{tl|purge}}, which provides readers with an easily-accessible purge link. Don't put this on article space pages.
<!--
== Disabling Wikipedia page caching ==
You can adjust your user preferences (after logging in to Wikipedia) to disable page caching entirely, although this decreases performance and is not recommended for most users.
* Preferences → Appearance → Disable page caching.
-->

== See also ==
* [[Cache manifest in HTML5]]
* [[Wikipedia:Purge]]

{{Wikipedia technical help|state=collapsed}}
[[Category:Wikipedia FAQs]]
[[Category:Wikipedia features]]
[[Category:Wikipedia how-to]]

==References==
{{reflist}}