In this lunchtime #WPQuickies, I’m looking at ways to optimise your WordPress database.
Before you dip into your browser settings and start clearing out files, there’s a quick way to force a refresh on most web browsers.
How To Force A Single Page Refresh On All Browsers
By default, your browser will look inside its internal local cache for files (assets) to use instead of download from a web server.
Most browsers have a set of hotkeys that bypasses their local cached assets.
- Windows and Linux browsers: Ctrl +F5
- Chrome and Firefox on Mac: Cmd + Shift + R
- Apple Safari: Shift + Reload (toolbar button)
Remember that this process only bypasses the browsers cached assets, it does not force a new download.
Performing a normal refresh without the hotkeys will again use the unchanged cached asset files.
How To Clear Firefox Browser Cache
To clear the Mozilla Firefox browser cache, click the hamburger settings button in the top right-hand corner of the browser window.
Select the “History” icon.
Select the “Options” from the menu.
Click on the “Clear History” button.
Make sure only the “Cache” option is selected and you can change the time range drop-down to clear cache from the last hour to everything.
The time range will depend on when you last visited the page you need to clear the cached assets for. If in doubt, choose the “Everything” option in the time range drop-down.
How To Clear Chrome Browser Cache
To clear the Google Chrome browser cache, click the three vertical dots, then “More tools” and then “Clear browsing data”.
You can also use the hotkey combination: Ctrl + Shift + Del
On the popup dialogue box, keep on the “Basic” tab and make sure only the “Cached images and files” option is checked.
Choose which time range you want to clear from the “Time range” drop-down list.
Click on the “Clear data” button to clear those cached assets.
How To Clear Microsoft Edge Browser Cache
To clear the Microsoft Edge (Chromium) browser cache, click on the three horizontal dots to access the settings menu.
In the settings sidebar, select “Privacy and services”.
Under the “Clear browsing data” section, select “Choose what to clear”
.
In the next popup, make sure only the “Cached images and files” options is selected and choose the time range you need.
Click on the “Clear now” button to delete all the browser cached assets.
How To Clear Safari Browser Cache
If you need to clear the Apple Safari browser cache, there are two options.
The quickest option which deleted all the cached data (including cookies and visited pages) is to select “Safari” then “Clear History…”.
For the second option to work, we first have to enable the developer tools menu.
Click on “Safari” then “Preferences”.
Select the “Advanced” icon and then check the “Show Developer menu in menu bar” option.
Navigate to “Develop” then “Empty Caches”.
This will empty the Safar cached assets.
How To Clear Opera Browser Cache
If you need to clear the Operai browser cache, click the top-left Opera icon.
Then select the “More tools..” option.
Then select the “Clear browsing data” option.
You can also use the hotkey combination Ctrl + Shift + Del to get the this setting.
On the popup, choose the time range to “obliterate” files within and make sure that only the “Cached images and files” option is checked.
Click on the “Clear browsing data” and your Opera cached assets are obliterated!
How To Clear Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 Browser Cache
Click on the gear icon in the top right corner then click on “Safety” and then on the “Delete browsing history” option in the sub-menu.
You can also use the hotkey combination Ctrl + Shift + Del.
In the “Delete Browsing History” dialogue box, make sure to only select the “Temporary Internet files and website files” option.
Click on the “Delete” button to remove all browser cache asset files from IE.
Conclusion
Now you and your clients have no excuses for not clearing your web browser cache!
#WPQuickies
Join me every Thursday at 1 pm Sydney time for some more WPQuickies – WordPress tips and tricks in thirty minutes or less.
Broadcasting live on YouTube and Facebook.
Suggest a #WPQuickies Topic
If you have an WordPress topic you’d like to see explained in 30 mins or under, fill out the form below.
https://forms.gle/mMWCNd3L2cyDFBA57
