How to Clear Your Cache in WordPress (Step by Step)

At WPBeginner, we use WP Rocket because it’s one of the most reliable caching solutions available. However, we discovered that even the best caching setup requires regular cache clearing, especially when you’re actively updating content or troubleshooting issues.

Caching speeds up your WordPress site, but it can also cause problems when you need to see changes immediately. Whether you’re updating content, fixing bugs, or launching new features, knowing how to clear your cache properly can save you hours of confusion and lost revenue.

We’ve tested every major caching solution over the years, and we’ll show you exactly how to clear your cache using the most popular methods. By the end of this guide, you’ll never have to wonder if your visitors are seeing the real version of your site.

What Is Caching in WordPress?

When someone visits your WordPress site, caching solutions store static versions of your pages so they don’t have to be rebuilt from scratch every time. Instead of running resource-heavy processes, WordPress can serve these pre-built pages instantly.

This process dramatically improves your WordPress speed and performance, which leads to better user experience and higher search engine rankings.

Here’s how the caching process works in practice:

Based on our years of testing different caching methods, here are the main types you’ll encounter:

• Plugin-Based Caching: The most popular approach uses WordPress caching plugins like WP Rocket (which we use on WPBeginner) or the free WP Super Cache plugin. These give you complete control over cache settings, expiration times, and cleanup schedules.

• Server-Level Caching: Many hosting providers include built-in caching. Managed WordPress hosts like SiteGround and popular providers like Bluehost offer their own caching solutions that work automatically.

• CDN and Security Caching: Services like Sucuri and Cloudflare provide both WordPress security and global caching through their content delivery networks.

• Browser Caching: Your visitors’ web browsers also store cached versions of your pages locally, which speeds up return visits to your site.

Understanding these different caching layers is important because you may need to clear the cache at multiple levels when troubleshooting display issues or ensuring your latest changes are visible to visitors.

Why Clear Your WordPress Website Cache?

We’ve all been there – you make important changes to your WordPress website, but when you check the live site, nothing looks different. This happens because your cache is still serving the old, stored version of your pages instead of recognizing that updates have been made.

Here are the most common scenarios when you’ll need to clear your cache:

• After updating content: New blog posts, page edits, or menu changes aren’t visible
• Following design changes: Theme updates, CSS modifications, or plugin installations don’t appear
• When troubleshooting: Trying to diagnose website issues or conflicts
• After plugin updates: New features or fixes aren’t working as expected
• For testing purposes: Ensuring visitors see the same version you’re working on

The frustrating part is that this affects both you and your visitors. While you might think your site is broken, your customers could be seeing outdated pricing, missing products, or old contact information, which can directly impact your business.

Regularly clearing your WordPress cache ensures everyone always sees the most current version of your website. At WPBeginner, we make cache clearing part of our standard workflow whenever we publish new content or make site changes.

The good news? Once you know the right methods, clearing your cache takes just a few clicks and can save you hours of confusion.

With that said, let’s take a look at how to clear your cache in WordPress. Simply use the quick links below to jump straight to the method you want to use:

1. Clear Your Web Browser Cache
2. Clear Cache in Your WordPress Caching Plugin
3. Clear Cache in Your WordPress Hosting
4. Clear Your WordPress Firewall Plugin Cache
5. Expert Guides on the WordPress Cache

Video Tutorial

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If you prefer written instructions, then please continue reading.

Method 1: Clear Your Web Browser Cache

First, you need to clear your web browser cache. Most web browsers store static website content like stylesheets, JavaScript, images, and other website files to improve load times.

But sometimes, web browsers may fail to realize a web page has changed. Instead of fetching a fresh copy, they will load the page from the cached version stored in your browser.

To clear your browser cache in Google Chrome, click on the menu icon, then select More Tools » Clear Browsing Data.

This brings up a popup where you can select the content you want to remove from the cache.

Make sure the ‘Cached images and file’ box is checked, then click the ‘Clear browsing data’ button.

Now, you have successfully cleared your browser cache. You can visit your WordPress blog to see if it’s loading the new version of your site.

For more details, see our guide on how to clear your browser cache in all major browsers.

If you are still not seeing the changes you made to your website, then move on to the other methods in this article.

Method 2: Clear Cache in Your WordPress Caching Plugin

If you are using a WordPress caching plugin on your site, then you need to clear your plugin cache.

Here’s how to clear your cache with some of the most popular WordPress caching plugins.

Clear Cache in WP Rocket

WP Rocket is the best WordPress caching plugin on the market. The best part about using WP Rocket is that it proactively builds your WordPress cache in the background, so your users are always served a cached version of your site.

It also makes it very easy to clear cached files with a single click.

Simply go to the Settings » WP Rocket and click on the ‘Clear Cache’ button in the plugin dashboard.

Now WP Rocket will clear all of your cached files for you.

Clear Cache in WP Super Cache

WP Super Cache is another popular WordPress caching plugin. It allows you to clear or purge all cached content with a single click.

Simply go to Settings » WP Super Cache in your WordPress dashboard, and then click the ‘Delete Cache’ button in the ‘Delete Cached Pages’ section.

Now, WP Super Cache will delete all of the cached files from your website.

Clear Cache in W3 Total Cache

W3 Total Cache is a widely used WordPress caching plugin. Like the other plugins above, you can clear all caches with a single click.

You need to go to Performance » Dashboard and then click on the ’empty all caches’ button.

The W3 Total Cache plugin will now delete all cached content for your site.

Method 3: Clear Cache in Your WordPress Hosting

Some WordPress hosting providers have built-in caching options to help speed up WordPress.

Here’s how you can clear your web host cache in some of the most popular WordPress hosts.

Clear Cache in Bluehost

Bluehost is one of the best WordPress hosting providers and is officially recommended by WordPress. They have a built-in caching solution that instantly improves your WordPress performance and loading speed.

Bluehost makes it easy to clear your WordPress cache from your WordPress admin area.

Simply log in to your WordPress admin dashboard, and you will see a ‘Caching’ button in the top admin toolbar. Hover over this, then click the ‘Purge All’ option.

Bluehost will now clear data from your WordPress cache.

Clear Cache in SiteGround

SiteGround is a leading WordPress hosting provider that’s known for speed and top-notch customer support. They offer a built-in caching solution to improve your website performance.

You can clear the SiteGround cache from your hosting account control panel as well as the WordPress admin area.

To clear your cache from your Siteground control panel, you need to log in to your hosting account dashboard and go to Speed » Caching under the site tool section.

Then, select the ‘Dynamic Cache’ menu option. Next, click on the menu icon next to your domain name and select the ‘Flush Cache’ option from the dropdown.

Another way you can manage your Siteground cache is with the SG Optimizer plugin. The first thing you need to do is install and activate the plugin. For more details, see our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Upon activation, you need to click the ‘Purge SG Cache’ button in your top WordPress admin toolbar.

The plugin will automatically clear your SiteGround WordPress cache.

Method 4: Clear Your WordPress Firewall Plugin Cache

If you are using a WordPress firewall like Sucuri to protect your website, then there’s another layer of caching you will need to clear.

You can clear your Sucuri cache by going to Sucuri » Firewall (WAF) in your WordPress admin panel.

Then, select the ‘Clear Cache’ menu option and click the ‘Clear Cache’ button.

Bonus tip: If you have recently moved your WordPress site, then you may also need to clear your DNS cache. This ensures you’re getting updated DNS information and accessing the newest version of your site. For more details, see our guide on how to clear your DNS cache.

Expert Guides on the WordPress Cache

Now that you know how to clear your cache, you may like to see some other guides relating to the WordPress cache and caching plugins:

• What Is a Page Cache in WordPress?
• How to Easily Fix Leverage Browser Caching Warning in WordPress
• Best WordPress Caching Plugins to Speed Up Your Website
• LiteSpeed Cache vs. WP Rocket – Which One is Better?
• How to Install and Setup WP Super Cache for Beginners
• How to Install and Setup W3 Total Cache for Beginners
• How to Properly Install and Setup WP Rocket in WordPress
• The Ultimate Guide to Boost WordPress Speed & Performance

We hope this article helped you learn how to clear your cache in WordPress. You may also want to see our guide on how to create an email newsletter and our expert picks for the best live chat software for small businesses.

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