When you update your WordPress site, you expect to see your changes reflected immediately. However, there are times when updates, such as new posts, page edits, or design adjustments, need to not appear on the live site. This common issue can be frustrating and may slow your website’s functionality. In most cases, it’s due to caching, whether it’s in your browser, your site’s cache, or your CDN.
What is WordPress Cache?
WordPress caching saves some parts of your website so they don’t have to be loaded from scratch whenever someone visits it. This saves time and effort and makes the page load faster.
Why Can’t I See My WordPress Changes?
Caching speeds up your website and provides a better experience for your visitors. It also lessens the load on your web server, which can help your site handle more visitors at once. Using a CDN (Content Delivery Network) for caching also helps save bandwidth by storing static parts of your site (like images and scripts) on servers worldwide. That means visitors get data from a server close to them, making your site even faster.
- Caching Plugin: Plugins like WP Fastest Cache or WP Super Cache save copies of your site’s files to make it load faster. However, if you update your site and don’t clear these saved copies, your changes won’t appear.
- Browser Cache: Your web browser keeps a copy of the pages you visit to load them faster next time. That can cause a problem if it shows you an old saved version instead of the new one after updates.
- CDN Cache: Using a CDN (Content Delivery Network) helps your site load faster by storing files like images across the globe. However, if the CDN has old copies, you won’t see recent changes until you clear its cache.
- Server Cache: Sometimes, your hosting service might store cached versions of your site to increase loading speed. If this cache isn’t cleared after updates, your new changes might not appear.
- Plugin or Theme Cache: Some themes or plugins might have their caching systems. If you’re using such a theme or plugin, check its settings or documentation for instructions on how to clear its cache.
Note: It’s a good idea to back up your website before you make any changes. You can quickly restore something to its previous state if something goes wrong. You can use WP Staging for easy automatic backups. Check out the backup and restore guide for more help.
1. Reload the Page
Reloading the page can sometimes resolve the cache issue in WordPress, mainly if temporary server glitches or outdated cache data cause it.
By performing a simple reload or a hard refresh (using Ctrl + Shift + R on Windows or Command + Shift + R on macOS), You can ensure that your browser fetches the latest data from the server.
This method is quick, easy, and often effective, making it a significant first step in troubleshooting before moving on to more complex solutions.
2. Clear Browser Cache and Cookies
Sometimes, your browser’s cache and cookies can get corrupted, leading to a ‘Cache’ issue. Clearing them can often fix the problem.
Open your browser, click the three dots in the upper right corner, then select “Delete browsing data.”
Select the time range, check “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files,” then click “Delete data. “
After clearing the cache and cookies, restart your browser and try revisiting your WordPress site. This often fixes the ‘Cache’ issue because it lets your browser start fresh without mistakes.
Clear Your WordPress Cache
Sometimes, cached versions of your website can cause issues. Clearing your cache ensures you see your site’s most current version. Here’s a step-by-step guide to clearing cache issues:
Log in to your WordPress dashboard, find the “Plugins” section in the left-hand menu, and click “Installed Plugins” to see a list of all installed plugins.
Find your caching plugin in the list and click the option to clear or purge the cache, usually labeled “Clear Cache,” “Purge All Caches,” or “Delete Cache.”
Clearing your site’s cache can often fix problems on your WordPress site. This ensures you see the most up-to-date version of your site.
Check your CDN Settings
If you’re using a Content Delivery Network (CDN) like Cloudflare, ensure it’s configured to purge the cache when updates are made to your site. Some CDNs may cache your website content, which can cause delays in updates being reflected.
- Access your Content Delivery Network (CDN) settings, such as Cloudflare.
- On the left sidebar, click “Caching” to reveal additional options, then choose “Configuration.”
- Click the “Purge Everything” button to clear the CDN cache.
Following these steps should help you pinpoint and fix the issue of your WordPress website not updating immediately.
Inspect Browser Developer Tools
Use your browser’s developer tools to inspect network activity and check if the updated content is being loaded or if any errors prevent it.
- Open your web browser and navigate to the webpage you want to inspect.
- Right-click on the webpage, select “Inspect,” or press Ctrl+Shift+I (Cmd+Option+I on Mac) to open the browser’s developer tools.
- In the developer tools window, navigate to the “Network” tab.
- Refresh the webpage to capture the network activity.
Review network activity to ensure updated content loads are correct. Check for errors or failed requests and troubleshoot to ensure proper loading.
Update WordPress and Plugins
Ensure that both WordPress core and all plugins are up to date. Outdated software can sometimes cause compatibility issues, leading to delays in updates.
- Access your WordPress dashboard and navigate to the “Updates” section.
- Check for available updates for WordPress core and plugins.
- Select “Update Now” for WordPress core updates and individually update each plugin if updates are available.
After updating, refresh your website to ensure all changes take effect. Also, regularly check for updates to maintain compatibility and prevent delays.
Check for Plugin Conflicts
Sometimes, plugins can interfere with the update process. Temporarily deactivate all plugins and see if the updates appear immediately. Here are the steps to do it:
- Access your WordPress dashboard and navigate to the “Plugins” section.
- Select “Installed Plugins” to view all installed plugins.
- Check the box next to each plugin to select all.
- From the “Bulk Actions” dropdown menu, choose “Deactivate.”
- Click the “Apply” button to deactivate all selected plugins.
After deactivating the plugins, refresh your website to see if the updates appear instantly. Then, reactivate plugins one by one, refreshing your site each time to pinpoint the problematic one. Repeat this process until you find the culprit, and consider updating, replacing, or contacting the plugin developer for help.
Check for Theme Issues
Another way to troubleshoot why the WordPress website is not updating immediately is to switch to the default WordPress theme, like Twenty Twenty-Four, and check if updates appear immediately. If they do, your theme may be causing the issue.
- Access your WordPress dashboard and navigate to the “Appearance” section.
- Select “Themes” to view available themes.
- Activate the default WordPress theme, such as Twenty Twenty-Four.
After refreshing your website to check for immediate updates, if they are visible with the default theme, it suggests a potential issue with your current theme.
In such cases, it’s advisable to troubleshoot the theme or contact the theme developer for assistance in resolving the problem.
Conclusion
If you need to see updates on your WordPress site, the issue often involves caching problems, specifically with your browser, WordPress caching plugins, or your CDN. To fix this, you should clear your browser caches and any WordPress plugins you use, such as WP Fastest Cache. Also, if you’re utilizing a CDN, purge its cache. Lastly, check for any conflicts with other plugins that might be preventing your changes from showing. This approach ensures that your site displays the most current content for you and your visitors.