Knowing how to clear cache in WordPress is one of the most important things you can learn when managing a website.
If you’ve ever updated your site and the changes didn’t show up right away, caching is usually the reason.
The problem is, there isn’t just one cache. There can be browser cache, plugin cache, hosting cache, CDN cache, and even theme-related cache, which is why things can get confusing fast.
Here’s how to clear cache in WordPress properly, what each type of cache does, and when clearing it actually matters.
What Is Cache in WordPress?
Cache is basically a saved version of your website.
It helps your site load faster by temporarily storing files instead of rebuilding the page every single time someone visits.
That’s great for speed, until you make updates and the old version keeps showing instead.
Why Clearing Cache Matters
If your cache isn’t cleared after updates, you might see:
- Old content still showing
- Design changes not appearing
- Styling/layout issues
- Incorrect images
- Outdated pages loading
In many cases, nothing is actually broken — your website is just loading a cached version.
1. Clear Your Browser Cache
Before anything else, start with your browser.
Quick refresh shortcuts:
- Windows:
Ctrl + F5 - Mac:
Cmd + Shift + R
You can also:
- Open an incognito/private window
- Try another browser
- Clear browser history/cache manually
This solves more problems than people realize.
2. Clear Your WordPress Cache Plugin
If you use a caching plugin, it probably has its own cache system.
Common examples include:
- WP Rocket
- W3 Total Cache
- LiteSpeed Cache
Most plugins have a button like:
- Clear Cache
- Purge Cache
- Flush Cache
Usually found in:
- The WordPress admin bar
- Plugin settings
3. Clear Your Hosting Cache
Many hosting companies now include server-level caching automatically.
This is one of the most commonly missed steps when WordPress changes aren’t showing.
What to do:
Log into your hosting dashboard or cPanel and look for:
- Cache Manager
- Performance
- LiteSpeed
- Server Cache
Then clear/purge the cache.
I’ve seen this happen frequently with managed hosting and performance-optimized servers.
4. Clear Cloudflare Cache
If you use Cloudflare or another CDN, it may still be serving an older version of your website globally.
How to clear it:
- Log into Cloudflare
- Go to Caching
- Click Purge Everything
This is especially important after:
- Major design updates
- CSS changes
- Theme modifications
You can also review the official caching documentation from Cloudflare for more advanced cache settings and troubleshooting.
5. Clear Divi Static CSS Cache
If you use Divi, there’s an extra layer of caching built into the theme.
This is one of the biggest reasons Divi updates sometimes don’t appear properly.
How to clear Divi cache:
Go to:
Divi → Theme Options → Builder → Advanced
Then:
- Click Clear next to Static CSS File Generation
If you’re specifically having Divi update issues, I covered that in more detail here: Divi Changes Not Showing
When Clearing Cache WON’T Fix the Problem
Sometimes the issue goes beyond cache.
For example:
- DNS changes still propagating
- SSL issues
- Cloudflare configuration problems
- Builder/plugin conflicts
If your website still isn’t updating after clearing everything, check this guide: Why Your Website Isn’t Updating
And if you’re seeing SSL-related Cloudflare errors: SSL Cloudflare Post
Quick WordPress Cache Checklist
If your changes aren’t showing, run through this list:
✔ Browser cache
✔ Plugin cache
✔ Hosting cache
✔ Cloudflare/CDN cache
✔ Divi static CSS cache
One of these usually solves the issue quickly.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to clear cache in WordPress can save you a lot of frustration.
Most of the time, your website isn’t broken — it’s just serving an older cached version somewhere along the way.
Once you understand the different layers of caching, troubleshooting becomes much easier.
If you’re running into ongoing WordPress issues or your site still isn’t behaving correctly, I offer website troubleshooting and support to help get everything running smoothly again.