View source for Help:Bypass your cache

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{{nutshell|Bypassing your cache means forcing your [[wikipedia:web browser]] to re-download a web page from scratch, which can often solve website display glitches. Bypassing your cache is simple, safe, and causes no permanent changes.}}

{{/Simple instructions}}

To speed things up and conserve [[wikipedia:Bandwidth (computing)|communications bandwidth]], browsers attempt to keep local copies of pages, images, and other content you've visited, so that it need not be downloaded again later. Occasionally this '''[[wikipedia:web cache|caching]]''' scheme goes awry (e.g. the browser insists on showing out-of-date content) making it necessary to '''bypass''' the cache, thus forcing your browser to re-download a web page's complete, up-to-date content. This is sometimes referred to as a "hard refresh", "cache refresh", or "uncached reload". The rest of your cache is not affected.

When you encounter strange behavior, first try bypassing your cache. In most cases you can use the simple instructions shown to the right, or see the complete browser-specific instructions [[#Bypassing cache|below]]. If this is not enough, you can try performing a "purge" of Wikipedia's server cache (see instructions [[#Purging Gem wiki's server cache|below]]). If problems persist, report them at [[GS:User help]].

If you are editing templates you may need to wait a few minutes before bypassing your browser cache in order to see the change in a page with the transcluded template. 

In unusual circumstances, it may be worth [[#Cache clearing and disabling|clearing the entire cache]] (of your local browser).

== Bypassing cache ==

=== [[wikipedia:Google Chrome|Google Chrome]] ===
On Windows and Linux, use one of the following: 
* Hold the {{key press|Ctrl}} key and press the {{key press|F5}} key.
* Hold the {{key press|Shift}} key and press the {{key press|F5}} key.
* Hold the {{key press|Ctrl}} key and press the {{key press|R}} key.
* Hold the {{key press|Shift}} key and press the {{key press|R}} key.
* Hold the {{key press|Ctrl}} key and click the ''Reload'' button on the navigation toolbar.
* Hold the {{key press|Shift}} key and click the ''Reload'' button on the navigation toolbar.
On macOS: 
* Hold both the {{key press|Cmd}} and {{key press|Shift}} keys and press the {{key press|R}} key.
* Hold the {{key press|Shift}} key and click the ''Reload'' button on the navigation toolbar.
* Hold the {{key press|Ctrl}} key and click the ''Reload'' button on the navigation toolbar.

=== [[wikipedia:Microsoft Edge|Microsoft Edge]] ===

On Windows:
* Hold the {{key press|Ctrl}} key and press the {{key press|F5}} key.

=== [[wikipedia:Internet Explorer|Internet Explorer]] ===
Use one of the following:
* Hold the {{key press|Ctrl}} key and press the {{key press|F5}} key.
* Hold the {{key press|Ctrl}} key and click the "Refresh" button on the toolbar.

=== [[wikipedia:Firefox|Firefox]] and other related browsers ===
These instructions work for [[wikipedia:Firefox|Firefox]], [[wikipedia:SeaMonkey|SeaMonkey]], and other related browsers.

On Windows and Linux, use one of the following:
* Hold both the {{key press|Ctrl}} and {{key press|Shift}} keys and then press {{key press|R}}. 
* Hold the {{key press|Shift}} key and click the ''Reload'' button on the navigation toolbar.
* Hold the {{key press|Ctrl}} key and press the {{key press|F5}} key.
On macOS, use one of the following:
* Hold both the {{key press|Cmd}} and {{key press|Shift}} keys and then press {{key press|R}}. 
* Hold the {{key press|Shift}} key and click the ''Reload'' button on the navigation toolbar.

=== [[wikipedia:Safari (web browser)|Safari]] ===
For version 4 and newer:
* Hold down the {{key press|Shift}} key and click the ''Reload'' toolbar button
''or''
* Use keyboard shortcut {{key press|Opt|Cmd|R}} to clear cache.
For version 3 and older:
* Hold down the {{key press|Cmd}} key and press {{key press|R}}. This kind of "regular" reload will usually bypass the cache.

=== [[wikipedia:Opera (web browser)|Opera]] ===
Use one of the following:
* Hold the {{key press|Ctrl}} key and press the {{key press|F5}} key.
* Hold the {{key press|Shift}} key and click the ''Reload'' button on the navigation toolbar.
* Hold the {{key press|Ctrl}} key and click the ''Reload'' button on the navigation toolbar.
* Hold the {{key press|Shift}} key and press the {{key press|F5}} key.

{{anchor|CLEAR|Clear}}
== Cache clearing and disabling ==
=== [[wikipedia:Google Chrome|Google Chrome]] ===
'''To clear the cache:'''
# Go to the "Tools" menu (the three horizontal ellipsis on the upper right of the browser) and click on "History" (Shortcut: {{key press|Ctrl|H}}).
# Click on "Clear browsing data…" (Shortcut: {{key press|Ctrl|Shift|Del}}).
# Select the types of data you want to clear, include "Cached images and files" option.

If you would like to keep the data in your cache but test Wikipedia without using it, you can use the "incognito" browsing option.

'''To disable the cache:'''
# Open Developer Tools ({{key press|F12}}, {{key press|Ctrl|Shift|I}} or <code>Tools > Developer Tools</code>).
# Click on the three horizontal ellipsis on the upper right corner of the Dev Tools interface and select "Settings" (Shortcut: {{Key press|F1}}).
# Check the "Disable Cache" check-box.
'''Note:''' This method only works if the developer console remains open. Browser extensions are available for download that force the cache to be disabled at all times.

=== [[wikipedia:Microsoft Edge|Microsoft Edge]] ===
Click the ellipsis in the upper right-hand corner. Navigate to "Settings", "Clear browsing data" and then "Choose what to clear". Tick only the box: "Cached data and files"

=== [[wikipedia:Internet Explorer|Internet Explorer]] ===
'''To completely clear the cache in [[wikipedia:Internet Explorer 9|Internet Explorer 9]] and later versions:'''
# Click "Tools" (the Gear-shaped button on the top-right section of the browser), point to "Safety" and click "Delete Browsing History…" (keyboard shortcut: {{key press|Ctrl|Shift|Del}}).
# Select "Temporary Internet Files" at the top, and click "Delete". (If Wikipedia is in your list of favorites, you may need to turn off the "Preserve Favorites website data" at the top of the dialog box.)
# Internet Explorer will now silently delete the items you have chosen. Once finished, the notification bar appears at the bottom of the screen, stating that the selected browsing history has been deleted.

'''To completely clear the cache in [[wikipedia:Internet Explorer 8|Internet Explorer 8]]:'''
* Click the "Tools" menu then select "Delete Browsing History".

'''To completely clear the cache in [[wikipedia:Internet Explorer 7|Internet Explorer 7]]:'''
* Click "Tools" and select "Internet Options", choose the "General" tab and click "Delete Files" under the ''Temporary Internet Files'' section. If you want, you can also opt to delete cookies and browsing history.

'''To completely clear the cache in older versions of Internet Explorer:'''
* Click on "Tools" and then "Internet Options", and choose the "General" tab. Then click on "Delete…" under "Browsing history". In the "Temporary Internet files" section, click "Delete Files…". You will then get a dialogue box asking if you want to delete just the temporary files, or all off-line content. Choose the latter and click "OK".

'''To change cache settings (not recommended for most users):'''
* Select <code>Tools > Internet Options > Temporary Internet files > Settings…</code> to make advanced configuration changes to the cache.

=== [[wikipedia:Firefox|Firefox]] and other related browsers ===
'''To completely clear the cache:'''
* In Firefox Quantum click the "Open menu" button (three stacked, horizontal bars in the upper right corner). Select "Options", then the "Privacy & Security" section. Go to the "Cookies and Site Data" subsection and click the "Clear Data..." button. Make sure the box for "Cached Web Content" is checked and click "Clear", (be sure the "Cookies and Site Data" box is unchecked if you do not want to clear this data as well).
* In versions of Firefox that display a single, orange "Firefox" button: click the "Firefox" button and click "Options". Select the "Advanced" section, and go to the "Network" tab, and click the "Clear Now" button. Then click "OK".
* When Firefox displays a menu bar, from the "Edit" or "Tools" menu, choose "Preferences" or "Options". Select the "Advanced" section, and go to the "Network" tab. Click the button called "Clear Now". Then click "OK".

=== [[wikipedia:Safari (web browser)|Safari]] ===
'''To completely clear the cache:'''

* Use keyboard shortcut {{key press|Opt|Cmd|E}} to instantly clear all caches

Alternatively:

# From the "Safari" menu, choose "Preferences..." (Shortcut: {{key press|Cmd|,}})
# Click on the "Advanced" tab
# Check the box at the bottom next to "Show Develop menu in menu bar"
# Close preferences and click '''Develop ‣ Empty Caches'''

=== [[wikipedia:Opera (web browser)|Opera]] ===
'''To completely clear the cache:'''
* From the "Tools" menu, choose "Preferences". Expand the "Advanced" options and choose "History". Click the "Empty now" button.
* Alternatively, you can clear the cache, history and cookies: From the "Tools" menu, choose "Delete private data". Click "Details", make sure that "Delete entire cache" is selected, and then choose any other data you want to remove.

'''To disable the cache permanently (not recommended for most users):'''
* From the "Tools" menu, choose "Preferences". Expand the "Advanced" options and choose "History". Click on the dropdown menu for "Disk Cache" and select "Off".
Note: On a Mac the "Tools" menu does not have a "Preferences" option. "Opera &rarr; Preferences" is the correct menu item.

== Purging Gem wiki's server cache ==
The Gemini Station wiki rely heavily cached versions of articles to greatly improve performance. When improperly displayed content is contained in a [[Help:Templates|template]] or other [[GS:Transclude|transcluded]] page, bypassing your own cache might not be enough. You may need to [[GS:Purge|purge]] the server cache of old page versions.

The server can be instructed to refresh its cache of a page's contents with the <code>action=purge</code> web address parameter. Add this to the end of the address. For example, to purge this page, visit one of the following:

* [{{fullurl:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|action=purge}} {{fullurl:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|action=purge}}]
* [{{fullurl:{{FULLPAGENAME}}}}?action=purge {{fullurl:{{FULLPAGENAME}}}}?action=purge]

For pages you think may need to be purged on a regular basis, include {{tl|purge}}, which provides readers with an easily-accessible purge link. Don't put this on article space pages.

== See also ==
* [[wikipedia:Cache manifest in HTML5]]
* [[wikipedia:Wikipedia:Purge]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Wikipedia|Wikipedia:Bypass your cache}}
{{Help}}