Are you struggling with WordPress website performance or seeing outdated content? Learning how to clear cache in WordPress properly is the key to solving these common issues. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explain what cache is, why clearing WordPress cache matters, and walk you through multiple methods to clear your cache in WordPress for improved site speed and functionality.
Quick Solution: If you need to clear your WordPress cache immediately, log into your WordPress dashboard, locate your caching plugin (like WP Fastest Cache, W3 Total Cache, or WP Super Cache), and click the “Clear Cache” or “Purge Cache” button. Don’t have a caching plugin? Read on for alternative methods.
Table of Contents
What is Cache in WordPress Websites?
Cache is a temporary storage mechanism that saves static versions of your WordPress website content to deliver pages faster to visitors and cache also helps in reducing load times. When someone visits your WordPress site, instead of processing PHP scripts and making database queries every time, the cache serves pre-generated static files.
This significantly reduces load times and improves overall website performance by up to clearing the cache and minified files. 70% in many cases.
There are several types of cache in WordPress websites, including opcode cache and proxy cache.
Browser cache: Stores website data locally in your visitors’ web browsers
Plugin cache is essential for optimizing the performance of plugins for WordPress.: Generated by WordPress caching plugins like WP Super Cache or W3 Total Cache
Server-side cache can significantly affect your WordPress performance.: Managed by your WordPress hosting provider at the server level, where you can also clear the cache.
Understanding how cache works in WordPress is essential for maintaining optimal website performance and troubleshooting issues when they arise. Proper cache management, including knowing when to clear the cache, is a fundamental skill for any WordPress site owner.
Why You Need to Clear WordPress Cache Regularly
There are several situations when you need to clear WordPress cache:
After website updates, it’s necessary to clear the cache to ensure optimal performance. (2-5 minutes): When you make changes to your WordPress site that aren’t appearing for visitors, clearing the cache makes those updates visible and helps ensure the cache doesn’t cause issues.
Troubleshooting issues (5-10 minutes): If you’re experiencing strange behavior or errors on your WordPress website, clearing the WordPress cache can help resolve these problems.
After plugin or theme changes (2-3 minutes): Installing, updating, or removing WordPress plugins or themes often requires a cache clear to prevent conflicts and outdated cache files.
Performance optimization (3-5 minutes): Periodically clearing cache files plays a crucial role in improving website performance by removing outdated cache files and ensuring optimal website performance, especially when using managed WordPress hosting.
Pro Tip: Use a WordPress plugin to easily clear your site’s cache.: Set a regular cache clearing schedule (weekly or bi-weekly) as part of your WordPress maintenance routine to ensure optimal performance.
When you don’t clear your cache in WordPress after making changes, visitors might continue seeing the old version of your website. This is because their browsers are displaying the cached version rather than the updated content. By learning how to clear your cache in WordPress properly, you ensure that everyone sees the most current version of your site, as outdated cache can cause confusion.
How to Clear Cache in WordPress Using Popular Plugins
The easiest way to clear the cache in WordPress is by using a caching plugin to also clear any old files.
Let’s look at how to clear your WordPress cache with some popular WordPress caching plugins:
WP Fastest Cache is a popular WordPress caching plugin that makes it simple to clear your cache:
Log in to your WordPress dashboard
Navigate to WP Fastest Cache from your admin menu
Go to the “Clear Cache” tab
Click on the “Clear All Cache” button
Your cache is cleared immediately
You can also use the WP Fastest Cache options page in the WordPress admin dashboard to set up automatic cache clearing or delete specific types of cache files. Many users prefer WP Fastest Cache because it offers an easy to clear interface for managing and clearing the WordPress cache.
How to Clear Cache Using W3 Total Cache
Difficulty: Medium | Time: 2-3 minutes
W3 Total Cache is another popular option for managing cache in WordPress:
Go to Performance > Dashboard
Find the “Empty all caches” button at the top to manually clear the cache for a quick cache purge.
Click to clear all cache
Alternatively, you can clear specific cache types under the various tabs in the WordPress admin panel.
W3 Total Cache offers more granular control, allowing you to either clear specific types of cache or all cache at once from the WordPress dashboard. This makes it a powerful tool for advanced users who need precise control over their website cache and its role in improving website performance.
WP Super Cache is known for its simplicity while still offering powerful caching features to speed up your WordPress website. It’s a free caching plugin developed by Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, making it a trusted option for clearing cache in WordPress.
Other WordPress Caching Plugins to Clear Cache
There are several other popular caching plugins you can use to clear cache in WordPress:
Navigate to SG Optimizer in your WordPress dashboard
Go to the “Caching” tab
Click “Purge SG Cache“
WordPress Caching Plugin Comparison Table
Plugin
Ease of Use
Feature Richness
Free Version
Speed Impact
WP Fastest Cache
★★★★★
★★★★☆
Yes
★★★★☆
W3 Total Cache
★★★☆☆
★★★★★
Yes
★★★★★
WP Super Cache
★★★★☆
★★★☆☆
Yes
★★★★☆
LiteSpeed Cache
★★★★☆
★★★★★
Yes
★★★★★
Autoptimize
★★★★★
★★★☆☆
Yes
★★★★☆
Each cache plugin offers different features, but they all provide ways to clear your WordPress cache when needed. Choose the one that best fits your WordPress site’s needs and your technical comfort level.
If you prefer not to use a cache plugin or need to clear cache when plugins are inaccessible, here are manual methods:
Clear Cache Files via FTP
Difficulty: Advanced | Time: 5-7 minutes
Connect to your WordPress site using an FTP client like FileZilla
Navigate to the /wp-content/ directory
Look for cache folders based on your plugin:
W3 Total Cache: /wp-content/w3tc-config/ and /wp-content/cache/
WP Super Cache: /wp-content/cache/supercache/
WP Fastest Cache: /wp-content/cache/all/
Delete these directories (they will be recreated automatically)
This method is particularly useful when you need to clear cache files but can’t access your WordPress dashboard for some reason.
Clear the Cache Using WordPress Database Cleanup
Difficulty: Advanced | Time: 3-5 minutes
Some cache is stored in your WordPress database, particularly transients:
Install a database management plugin like WP-Optimize
Use the plugin to clear transients or optimize your database
This will clear cache-related data stored in your database
Remember that manually deleting cache files requires some technical knowledge. If you’re not comfortable with FTP or database management, using a cache plugin is the safer and easier option to clear your WordPress cache.
CClear Cache in WordPress Through Your Hosting
Difficulty: Medium | Time: 2-4 minutes
Many WordPress hosting providers implement server-level caching to improve performance. Here’s how to clear cache on popular hosting platforms:
SiteGround Cache Clearing
Time: 2 minutes
Log in to your SiteGround User Area
Navigate to Site Tools > Speed > Caching
Click on the “Purge Cache” button
Alternatively, use the SG Optimizer plugin from your WordPress dashboard
WP Engine Cache Management
Time: 2 minutes
Log in to your WP Engine User Portal
Select your WordPress site from the dashboard
Click on “Purge All Caches” button
Or use the WP Engine admin bar in WordPress by clicking on “WP Engine” > “Purge All Caches“
Kinsta Cache Clearing
Time: 3 minutes
Log in to MyKinsta dashboard
Select your site from the sites list
Navigate to “Tools” > “Clear Cache“
Choose between “Clear Full Page Cache” or “Clear Object Cache“
Bluehost Caching Solutions
Time: 2 minutes
Access your Bluehost account dashboard
Navigate to “My Sites” > select your WordPress site
Go to “Performance” > “Cache Manager“
Click “Purge All” to clear the cache
If you’re unsure how to clear your server cache, contact your WordPress hosting support team for guidance. The best WordPress hosting providers usually offer one-click cache clearing solutions directly from their control panels.
How to Clear Your Browser Cache for WordPress Sites
Difficulty: Easy | Time: 1-3 minutes
Sometimes the issue isn’t with your WordPress site’s cache but with your browser cache. Here’s how to clear your browser cache in major browsers:
Chrome
Click the three dots (menu icon) in the top-right corner
Navigate to “More tools” > “Clear browsing data“
Select a time range (or “All time” for a complete clearing)
Check the box next to “Cached images and files“
Click the “Clear data” button
Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Windows/Linux) or Command+Shift+Delete (Mac)
Firefox
Click the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the top-right corner
Select “Settings” > “Privacy & Security“
Scroll down to the “Cookies and Site Data” section
Click the “Clear Data” button
Ensure “Cached Web Content” is checked
Click “Clear“
Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Windows/Linux) or Command+Shift+Delete (Mac)
Safari
Click “Safari” in the menu bar at the top of your screen
Select “Preferences” > “Advanced“
Check the box that says “Show Develop menu in menu bar“
Click “Develop” in the new menu bar that appears
Select “Empty Caches“
Keyboard shortcut: Option+Command+E
Microsoft Edge
Click the three dots (menu icon) in the top-right corner
Select “Settings” > “Privacy, search, and services“
Under “Clear browsing data,” click “Choose what to clear“
Check the box next to “Cached images and files“
Click “Clear now“
Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+Shift+Delete
Warning: Clearing your browser cache will require you to log back into websites and may reset some site preferences.
Key Points to Remember About WordPress Cache
Cache helps speed up your WordPress website by serving static versions of your content
Clear cache in WordPress whenever you make significant changes to your site
You can clear cache using plugins, hosting dashboards, or manual methods
Consider clearing browser cache as well when troubleshooting issues
Different types of cache (browser, plugin, server) may need to be cleared separately
Caching plugins offer the simplest way to manage cache for most WordPress users
After clearing cache, your site may temporarily slow down while new cache files are generated
By understanding how to clear cache in WordPress effectively, you’ll ensure your website visitors always see the most current version of your site while maintaining optimal performance. Whether you’re using WP Fastest Cache, W3 Total Cache, WP Super Cache, or another solution, proper cache management is essential for a smooth-running WordPress website.
Have questions about clearing cache in WordPress? Leave a comment below and we’ll help troubleshoot your specific situation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Clearing WordPress Cache
1. What does it mean to purge the cache on WordPress?
Purging cache removes all stored website files from your server. This forces WordPress to create fresh versions of all pages, helping fix display issues after updates.
2. Is there a way to clear cache for specific pages instead of the entire site?
Yes, premium plugins like WP Rocket let you clear cache for individual pages. This is useful when you’ve only updated certain content and want to keep the rest of your site running fast.
3. Does clearing the WordPress cache affect website performance?
Yes, but only briefly. Your site may load slightly slower right after clearing cache while new cache files are being created. Regular clearing actually improves performance long-term.
4. How to clear cache saved in other people’s browsers?
You can’t directly clear visitors’ browser cache, but you can add version numbers to your files or use cache-busting techniques that force browsers to download fresh content.
5. How to schedule automatic cache clearing in WordPress?
Use a caching plugin with scheduling features, set up a cron job through your hosting, or use WP-CLI commands to automatically clear cache at regular intervals.
