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How to Fix WordPress Website Not Updating Right Away

By Editorial Staff | | Reader Disclosure

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You’ve just hit ‘Update’ on an important change, but when you check your live site, nothing is different. It’s a frustrating and surprisingly common problem that can leave you wondering if you did something wrong.

We have dealt with this exact issue many times across our own websites, and the good news is that the fix is usually simple. The delay is almost always caused by a caching system that is working a little too well.

These systems are designed to make your site faster, but sometimes they need a gentle nudge to show your latest content. Luckily, you don’t need any special technical skills to solve this problem.

In this guide, we will show you exactly how to clear those caches and make sure your WordPress site updates instantly. We’ll cover every common scenario so you can get back to what you were doing.

Fixing a WordPress website not updating right away

Here is a quick overview of the topics we’ll cover in this guide:

Why Is My WordPress Site Not Updating Right Away?

The most common reason for a WordPress site not updating right away is caching. Think of caching like taking a snapshot of your website to help it load faster.

Here’s a quick look at where these cached versions can come from:

  1. Hosting Companies: Many WordPress hosting providers save temporary copies of your pages. This makes your site load very quickly for visitors and reduces server load.
  2. WordPress Caching Plugins: You might be using a WordPress caching plugin on your site. If it is not set up correctly, it can cause delays.
  3. Your Web Browser: Your own internet browser, like Chrome or Firefox, also saves temporary copies of pages you visit. This can sometimes make old versions of your site appear even after it has been updated.

Usually, when you update your site, these saved copies refresh automatically. But sometimes, a small setting or glitch stops this from happening, and you continue to see an outdated version of your site.

A common sign of this is when a new blog post doesn’t show up on your homepage, but you can see it by clicking the “View Post” link in your WordPress admin area. The good news is, this problem is easy to solve.

How to Fix the WordPress Website Not Updating Issue

To fix the WordPress website not updating issue, you will need to clear up cache. We’ll start with the quickest fix first. This usually works for many people, so you might not even need to go further.

Step 1. Force Your Browser to Hard Reload or Clear Its Cache

Sometimes, your web browser is the one holding onto an old version of your website. Here’s how to make it show the fresh version.

First, try a “hard reload.” This tells your browser to completely ignore its saved files and download a brand new copy of the page.

  • On Windows and Linux: Press Ctrl + Shift + R on your keyboard.
  • On Mac: Press Cmd + Shift + R on your keyboard.

For many users, this simple trick does the job. If that doesn’t work, the next step is to completely clear your browser’s cache.

In Google Chrome, click on the three-dot menu in the top-right corner. From the menu, you need to go to More tools » Clear browsing data.

Clear cache in Google Chrome browser

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

Step 2. Clear Your WordPress Cache

If clearing your browser cache didn’t work, the issue is likely with a caching layer on your website itself. This could be from a WordPress caching plugin or your hosting company.

Don’t worry, most of these tools make it super easy to clear the cache with just a click. You may see different terms like ‘Clear Cache,’ ‘Delete Cache,’ or ‘Purge Cache,’ but they all do the same thing.

1. WP Rocket

If you are using WP Rocket, which is the caching plugin we use to optimize site speed, simply go to the Settings » WP Rocket page.

Then, click the ‘Clear Cache’ button in the dashboard.

Clearing WPRocket cache

2. WP Super Cache

If you are using the WP Super Cache plugin, go to the Settings » WP Super Cache page.

Under the Easy tab, scroll down to the ‘Delete Cached Pages’ section and click the ‘Delete Cache’ button.

Delete cache in WP Super Cache

3. LiteSpeed Cache

If you are using the LiteSpeed Cache plugin, then simply click on the plugin icon in the toolbar and select ‘Purge All’ to clear the cache.

Purge all in LiteSpeed Cache

3. Bluehost

Even if you don’t have a caching plugin, many hosting companies have their own caching system.

If you use Bluehost, you will notice a ‘Caching’ button in the admin toolbar at the very top of your screen.

Clear cache in Bluehost

Hover your mouse over it and select the ‘Purge All’ option. This will delete all cached files from your website.

4. SiteGround

SiteGround is another top hosting company with a built-in caching system. In fact, it’s the hosting provider we use for the WPBeginner website.

You can manage the SiteGround cache by installing and activating their Speed Optimizer plugin. For details, see our step-by-step guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Upon activation, click the ‘Purge SG Cache’ button in the WordPress admin toolbar at the top of the screen. This will clear the SiteGround cache for your website.

Purge SiteGround cache

For instructions on other hosting companies and caching plugins, see our complete guide on how to clear your cache in WordPress.

Video Tutorial

Prefer to watch and learn? Here’s a quick video tutorial walking you through these steps.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why do I have to clear both my browser and WordPress cache?

Think of it as two separate storage places. Your browser stores a copy on your computer for speed, and your website (via a plugin or host) stores a copy on the server. If either one is holding onto an old version, you won’t see your updates. Clearing both ensures you’re looking at the freshest version of your site.

Will clearing my cache delete any of my content or posts?

No, not at all. Clearing your cache is completely safe. It only deletes the temporary static files (the “snapshots”) that were saved for performance. Your actual posts, pages, images, and settings in the WordPress database are not affected.

How often should I clear my WordPress cache?

You only need to clear your cache when you notice your changes aren’t appearing. Most modern caching plugins are configured to automatically clear the cache when you publish or update content. You generally don’t need to do it manually unless you run into this specific issue.

Additional Resources for WordPress Troubleshooting

We truly hope this guide helped you fix your WordPress site update issues. If the problem is still playing hide-and-seek, don’t get discouraged.

Here are some extra resources that might guide you to a solution:

You may also want to check out our guide on the most common WordPress errors and how to fix them or how to update your WordPress website correctly.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

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Reader Interactions

115 CommentsLeave a Reply

  1. Thank you. This has been endlessly frustrating me when I see the changes and others don’t!! Clearing the cache on WPEngine did the trick easy peasy. Now i can not go crazy for half an hour.

    Reply

  2. I’ve struggled with outdated content appearing on my website,
    and this post perfectly explains the reasons behind it and offers clear solutions. The breakdown of clearing cache from both the website and browser is very helpful

    Reply

  3. Solution for me was to update cdn cache on hostinger.com (that was my web-hosting site): hpanel.hostinger.com/websites//performance/cdn?redirectLocation=side_menu -> flush cache

    Reply

  4. Deleting all cache may not update WordPress as expected. If the issue persists, check if you’re using any CDN. CDNs often have their own cache that’s separate from WordPress administration. For instance, CloudFlare clears cache on its own platform.

    Reply

  5. I’ve tried everything even different internet connection and devices but still nothing seems to work.

    Reply

    • If none of the methods work, please check with your hosting provider to ensure there are no caching issues on your host’s end that could be the problem.

      Reply

      Admin

  6. Thank you! This post helped me so much. I installed the Siteground Optimizer plugin and did the Purge SG cache, and this helped fix my situation. Phew. I was so frustrated and you saved me! Thank you!!!!!
    Terra

    Reply

  7. Hello, thank you so much for the post. However, I have already done these but still, my site is not updating. Are there any possible other reasons for my site not updating?

    Reply

    • If none of the methods from our guide are working for you, we would recommend reaching out to your hosting provider to ensure they do not have server side caching that is causing a conflict.

      Reply

      Admin

  12. Wow thank you for this great & concise information! W3 purge & Google Chrome were both not doing it for me, so I tried the Siteground Optimizer and all problems went away! Thank you!!

    Reply

  14. It is rare to find a solution to a problem so quickly and with such great instructions. The Site Ground plugin was what we needed and it worked perfectly. Thank you, so much!!

    Reply

  18. I had this problem and clearing the cache fixed it. Will still need to figure out WHY it happened in the first place, but allowed me to get a time sensitive post out there. Thank you!

    Reply

    • If none of these recommendations are working, we would recommend reaching out to your hosting provider for assistance and they should be able to take a look at the reason.

      Reply

      Admin

  20. I have had the issue twice now, where my PC shows the changes I made to the site immediately but my Apple devices still did not show any changes 8 hours or more later. What I noticed was that both times this happened there was a plugin that needed to be updated on my Wordpress site. This time it was the Backup plug in. When I updated the plugin, the information showed up on my Apple devices very shortly afterward.

    Reply

    • While it could be that, you may want to ensure you do not have a caching plugin on your site that could also be part of your issue.

      Reply

      Admin

    • If none of our recommendations are able to assist, you would want to reach out to your hosting provider to ensure they do not have a caching or are seeing an error on your site.

      Reply

      Admin

  22. Hello! Firstly, always amazing guides! you are 100% my goto!

    I have this issue, the changes i am making aren’t updating (partially)

    layout changes aren’t updating. i have tested to see if its just a delay, by slightly changing some text. The text updates instantly, but the layout remains unchanged.

    Reply

    • If it is not your caching then you would likely want to reach out to your theme’s support to ensure the theme changes aren’t being overridden by a setting in the theme.

      Reply

      Admin

  23. After i update wordpress version i also update yoast. Then the site won´t load. it just keeping processing and does not show anything but a orange layer that is the main color of the website. Now the same thing is happening when i try to update different plugins but not all of them. I don´t receive any error msg from wordpress or the site. I also clear the cache etc…

    Reply

  24. Hi, I have updated my entire website’s design but for some reason, it will always show me the wrong front page.

    It’s always the front page, also on different devices, as well on my phone. The other pages will be shown completely right.

    Reply

  25. I have updated my WordPress Version 5.5.I have created a posts after that but my post now showing completely on my site. plz how can I resolved this issue.I used above mentioned method but same result.plz guide me how can i fix this issue.

    Reply

    • You would want to reach out to the support for your specific theme and they would be able to assist.

      Reply

      Admin

  26. I was the same issue in my WordPress website. But I solved this issue Through Reading This Post.. Thanks Buddy…..

    Reply

  27. I have updated the payment method (COD) in my wordpress panel but it is not updating in the website. I don’t know why??

    Reply

    • As this article states, you would want to clear any caching on your site, and should that not work you may need to reach out to your ecommerce plugin’s support to ensure that there isn’t an issue with the plugin itself.

      Reply

      Admin

  29. Great, thanks for the article. ctrl+F5 worked for me.
    I had previously tried clearing the cache, but still it didn’t work, but ctrl+F5 worked right away for some reason.
    Thanks again

    Reply

    • Good to know to check your browser cache as well as the website cache as it sounds like that was your issue :)

      Reply

      Admin

    • Our recommended solutions should work unless you have an odd niche error. Feel free to reach out to us using our contact form should none of our recommendations help you :)

      Reply

      Admin

    • You would want to reach out to your host to ensure you changed the PHP in the correct location and if you did you may want to try deleting your htaccess file and resaving your permalinks to recreate the file.

      Reply

      Admin

  32. Thank you for sharing this post, its really Cached plugin I remove the cache and my post update text showing on Homepage

    Thanks a lot

    Reply

  33. You’re a lifesaver, seriously. Couldn’t figure out why my pages weren’t updating but once I deleted and deactivated my cache, they all appeared. I’m so relieved!

    Reply

  35. I have done everything suggested several times and my updates are still not showing on my front page. What else can I do?
    Thank you.

    Reply

    • You would likely want to reach out to your hosting provider to ensure there are no errors or caching from your host’s end

      Reply

      Admin

  36. I don’t understand. When I’m on the homepage its empty, then I click “Customise” in the bottom right and it takes me to the version I’ve worked on, but when I go back to the homepge it’s still empty. I can’t see anything anywhere about plugins apart from the download page but it says I need to be on the business plan (I’m on premium).

    Is my webpage stuck like this until I upgrade to business? Do I need to install a plugin or does the premium plan come with one already? Clearing the cache on my computer does nothing unfortunately.

    Reply

  38. Great video! however, I do not have any cache plugins of any sort. I have cleared my brower cache and still no luck :( Any other suggestions? im using Chrome.

    Reply

    • Have you checked with your hosting provider to ensure they don’t have caching for your site?

      Reply

      Admin

  39. I had a problem with my website today and found this solution and it worked perfectly. Thank-you very much. WPBeginner is always the first place that I look whenever I have a problem with my WordPress website and so far I have always been able to resolve it with the material that I find here. Very helpful. Thank-you very much.

    Reply

  40. thank you very much for this. being having problem with my website not updating immediately. after this video. I uninstalled the wp super cache and my website updated immediately. thank you so much.

    Reply

  41. Hello! Great article. Unfortunately it didn’t help me, and I don’t have a caching plugin. Any other solutions? I have cleared cache in Chrome as well.

    Reply

  42. I made a few minor changes to our website content. When I test it on my computer using chrome, the updates are there. If I use IE on my computer I do not see the changes and co-workers using IE, chrome or Mozilla do not see the changes. I made the changes and then clicked update on the page in the dashboard. Please help.

    Reply

  43. Any suggestions for this issue? Wordpress says ‘All themes are up to date’ but my theme is not up to date therefore I can’t install the latest version. My site is broken because the developer says I need the lastest version but I am stuck because Wordpress says all themes up to date. Ever heard of this? My site has been down for 13 months because of this and the developer offers no support once you pay for the theme.

    Reply

  45. I am having a devilish problem. I changed an image on my home page… (woocommerce storefont) — and also a product image. I have done every variation of purging possible… but the home page keeps reverting to the previous form. I have changed it other times… had a some problems but managed to get it to work. IN fact these times… I purge and reload, etc… and get the correct page. Then I immediately purge everything again… including browser of course… then it seems to work. Then I close and open and it is the wrong page again…. OR I press the top icon which takes you back to the front page and it is the old one. The mobiles show the previous home page… and the old images in other locations. ?? – totally feel like I wasting huge amounts of time over something shouldn’t even happen. I disabled super cache… got it right right… and then boom it reverted again… reenables super cache… purged everything… got it right… one click… back to the old home page… ANY IDEAS??

    Reply

  46. Hey Team,

    I do not have any WordPress caching plugin and the posts do not get updated for at least 2 hours or less. We have cloudfare cdn. We have tried everything in the books to resolve the problem This problem persists with posts and category listing where all the posts are shown of its category, This happens randomly, sometimes it will get updated and sometimes not. When logged in to WordPress we are able to see the updated content but not when we are logged out or as a visitor visiting the website.

    Ideally, after 2 hours everything gets updated at once.

    Reply

    • Hey Raj,

      Have you tried disabling Cloudflare temporarily to see if this resolves your issue. We will also suggest contacting your WordPress hosting provider particularly if they have their own caching solutions in place.

      Reply

      Admin

  47. No good. I have tried everything and suddenly today NO changes of menus, widgtes, logo ect are reflected on the site, unless I’m logged in to wordpress admin panel.

    Reply

  48. I’ve had so many problems with my updates not showing, and after following every piece of advice I could find online was at my wits end.

    However, I think I have solved it – for me, at least.

    My hosting is done through Bluehost and there is an automatically installed plugin called Endurance Cache (I’ve since learned this through Googling), which I think defaults to Level 2 setting. In a last ditch attempt, I set this to Level 0 and low and behold my updates appear.

    Reply

  49. Im have a strange issue. The Wordpress has updated… But only on certain computers. 3 computers have the updated version of my website, where the other 2 do not.

    I had a small problem with text randomly fading away and never coming back on my front page, I went to fix it and now Im having the issue with different computers seeing different things. I am not sure if this is a wordpress problem, a plugin problem, or something else.

    Anyone else had this problem? And have you fixed it?

    Reply

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