What clearing cache means and why you might need to

Cache is temporary data your browser stores so websites load faster the next time you visit. When you clear cache on a Squarespace site, you're telling your browser to forget the old version and read the fresh one. This matters because Squarespace sometimes updates your site — new images, text changes, design tweaks — but your browser keeps showing you the old cached version instead of what's actually live.

You'll notice this most often after you publish changes to your Squarespace site and they don't appear on your screen, even though they're live for everyone else. Or you might see a broken image, a missing page, or styling that looks wrong. Clearing cache fixes these problems because it forces your browser to fetch the current version from Squarespace's servers instead of using what it saved locally.

Key Takeaways

  • Browser cache stores old versions of websites, so clearing it shows you the live version of your Squarespace site after updates.
  • The fastest method is a hard refresh using Ctrl+Shift+R on Windows or Command+Shift+R on Mac, which clears cache for just that page.
  • For a complete cache clear, go to your browser settings and delete cached images and files from the beginning of time or the last week.
  • If you're editing a Squarespace site, clearing cache after publishing ensures you see your changes when ready instead of waiting for automatic updates.
  • Different browsers store cache in different places, so the exact steps vary between Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.

Hard refresh: the fastest way to clear cache for one page

A hard refresh clears cache for just the page you're viewing without touching anything else. On Windows, hold Ctrl and Shift and press R. On Mac, hold Command and Shift and press R. Your browser will reload the page and fetch the current version from Squarespace instead of using what it saved.

This works when ready and is the first thing to try when you publish changes and don't see them on your screen. The page will reload and usually show your updates within a few seconds. If you're working on a Squarespace site and making frequent edits, a hard refresh after each publish takes five seconds and saves you the confusion of thinking something didn't work when it actually did.

Clear cache in Chrome

Open Chrome and press Ctrl+Shift+Delete on Windows, or Command+Shift+Delete on Mac. A window titled "Clear browsing data" will open. Make sure the time range at the top says "All time" — this clears everything. Check the boxes next to "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files," then click the blue "Clear data" button.

If you only want to clear cache from the last week or day instead of everything, click the dropdown that says "All time" and choose a shorter period. This is useful if you want to keep your passwords and login information but just refresh what the browser has saved from websites. After you click "Clear data," the cache is gone and Chrome will read fresh versions of everything you visit next.

Clear cache in Firefox

Open Firefox and press Ctrl+Shift+Delete on Windows, or Command+Shift+Delete on Mac. The "Clear Recent History" window appears. At the top, make sure the dropdown says "Everything" so you clear all cached data. Check the box next to "Cache," then click the blue "Clear Now" button.

Firefox also lets you clear cache automatically every time you close the browser if you want. Go to Settings, click Privacy & Security on the left, scroll to the Cookies and Site Data section, and check "Clear cookies and site data when Firefox is closed." After that, you won't have to manually clear cache — Firefox does it for you.

Clear cache in Safari

Safari doesn't have a traditional "clear cache" button like Chrome or Firefox. Instead, go to the Safari menu at the top left and click "Clear History." A dropdown appears asking how far back to clear — choose "All history" to clear everything. Click "Clear History" and Safari removes cached data along with your browsing history.

If you want to clear cache without deleting your browsing history, use a hard refresh instead (Command+Shift+R). Safari will fetch the fresh version of the page without you having to go into settings. This is often faster than clearing all history, especially if you want to keep your browsing record intact.

Clear cache in Microsoft Edge

Open Edge and press Ctrl+Shift+Delete on Windows. The "Clear browsing data" window opens. Make sure the time range says "All time" at the top. Check the boxes next to "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files," then click the blue "Clear now" button.

Edge also offers the option to clear cache automatically when you close the browser. Go to Settings, click Privacy, search, and services on the left, scroll to Clear browsing data, and toggle on "Choose what to clear every time you close the browser." After that, Edge will ask you what to clear each time you close it, or you can set it to clear automatically without asking.

When to clear cache and when it won't help

Clear cache after you publish changes to your Squarespace site and don't see them appear. Clear it if an image looks broken, a page won't load, or the design looks wrong. Clear it if you're logged into multiple accounts on the same site and seeing the wrong account's information. These are all situations where your browser is showing you old data instead of what's actually live.

Clearing cache won't help if the problem is on Squarespace's end — if their servers are down, if there's a bug in the site code, or if you're trying to access a page that doesn't exist. It also won't help if the problem is your internet connection. If clearing cache doesn't fix the problem after two tries, the issue is probably something else. Try accessing the site from a different browser or a different device to see if the problem follows you, which tells you whether it's a cache issue or something bigger.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing cache delete my passwords or login information?

Not if you uncheck the "Cookies and site data" box and only check "Cached images and files." Passwords and logins are stored in cookies, so leaving that box unchecked keeps them. If you check both boxes, you'll clear everything and have to log back in to sites you use regularly.

How often should I clear cache?

Most people don't need to clear cache regularly. Clear it when you notice a problem — changes not showing up, broken images, or login issues. If you're editing a Squarespace site frequently, a hard refresh after each publish is faster than clearing all cache. If you want cache cleared automatically, set your browser to do it when you close it.

Does clearing cache make my computer faster?

Slightly, because cache takes up storage space. But the difference is usually small unless you haven't cleared cache in years. Clearing cache is more useful for fixing display problems on websites than for speeding up your computer overall.

What's the difference between clearing cache and clearing cookies?

Cache stores images, files, and page data so websites load faster. Cookies store your login information, preferences, and tracking data. Clearing cache doesn't log you out of sites, but clearing cookies does. Most browsers let you clear them separately so you can choose what to delete.

If I clear cache, will I lose anything important?

No. Cache is temporary data your browser stores — it's not your files, photos, or documents. Clearing it just means websites will take a few extra seconds to load the next time you visit because your browser has to read everything fresh instead of using what it saved.