How to Delete WordPress Cache Step-by-Step?

If you’re working on your WordPress site and noticing that changes aren’t appearing immediately, you’re not alone.

This is a common issue caused by caching, a process that stores a version of your site to improve speed. However, this can be frustrating when you’re trying to see updates right away.

Many beginners encounter this issue and often don’t realize that clearing the cache is the solution. Whether you’re tweaking your design, adding new content, or optimizing your site, the last thing you want is to be stuck looking at an old version.

The good news? Clearing your WordPress cache is easier than you might think.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through different methods to delete WordPress cache, whether you’re using a caching plugin, managed hosting, or even a content delivery network (CDN).

By the end of this post, you’ll have the tools and knowledge to ensure your site is always displaying the most up-to-date version.

Using a Caching Plugin

One of the most common ways to manage caching on a WordPress site is through a caching plugin. These plugins store static versions of your pages to improve load times, but they also offer easy ways to clear the cache when needed.

LiteSpeed Cache

1. Login to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Navigate to WP Admin > LiteSpeed Cache.
3. Under the “Cache” tab, click the “Purge All” button. This will clear the entire cache, ensuring that all recent changes are visible.
4. If you want to clear specific cache types (like pages or objects), use the other buttons provided.

Swift Performance

1. Go to WP Admin > Swift Performance.
2. Click the “Cache” tab.
3. Under “Empty Cache,” choose the cache types you want to clear (e.g., Page Cache, Database Cache).
4. Click the “Empty Cache” button to complete the process.

WP Super Cache

1. Login to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Navigate to Settings > WP Super Cache.
3. Click the “Delete Cache” button to clear the cache quickly.

WP Fastest Cache

1. Go to WP Fastest Cache in your dashboard.
2. Select the “Delete Cache” tab.
3. Click the “Delete Cache” button.

W3 Total Cache

1. In your WordPress dashboard, go to Performance > Purge All Cache.
2. Confirm cache deletion by clicking the button.

General Process for Other Cache Plugins

1. Login to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Navigate to the plugin’s settings page. This will vary depending on the plugin you use.
3. Look for a button or option labeled “Clear Cache” or “Purge Cache.”
4. Click the button to clear the cache.

Using Managed WordPress Hosting

Many managed WordPress hosting providers offer built-in caching solutions to optimize your site’s performance. These hosting platforms often make it simple to clear the cache directly from their control panel.

1. Login to your managed hosting provider’s control panel.
2. Locate the section for managing your WordPress site. This might be called “WordPress,” “Websites,” or something similar.
3. Look for a caching option or tool. This might be labeled “Clear Cache,” “Purge Cache,” or something similar.
4. Follow the instructions provided by your hosting provider to clear the cache.

Common Issues:
Sometimes, clearing the cache from your hosting control panel might not reflect changes immediately. In such cases, try clearing your browser cache or disabling the caching option temporarily to see if the issue resolves.

Manually Deleting Cache Files (For Advanced Users)

For those comfortable with a more hands-on approach, you can manually delete cache files from your WordPress installation. However, this method comes with risks—deleting the wrong files can break your site.

Warning: This method is for advanced users and should be done with caution. Incorrectly deleting files can break your website.

1. Use an FTP client like FileZilla or Cyberduck to connect to your WordPress hosting server.
2. Login using your FTP credentials (username and password).
3. Navigate to the wp-content directory on your server.
4. Look for a folder named cache. This folder might be created by your caching plugin or theme.
5. Right-click on the cache folder and select “Delete.”
6. Be extremely cautious not to delete any other folders or files within the wp-content directory.

Backup First: Always make sure to back up your site before attempting to manually delete cache files. This way, you can restore your site if anything goes wrong.

Clearing Your Browser Cache

While clearing your WordPress cache is essential, sometimes the problem lies with your browser cache. Clearing your browser cache ensures that you’re seeing the latest version of your site, not an outdated one.

Chrome

1. Click the three-dot menu (⋮) in the top right corner.
2. Choose “More tools” and then “Clear browsing data.”
3. Select the time range and ensure “Cached images and files” is checked.
4. Click “Clear data.”

Firefox

1. Click the three-bar menu (≡) in the top right corner.
2. Go to “History” and then “Clear Recent History.”
3. Under the “Time range to clear” dropdown, choose “Everything.”
4. Check the box for “Cache.”
5. Click “Clear Now.”

Safari

1. Go to the “Safari” menu and select “Preferences.”
2. Click the “Privacy” tab.
3. Click “Manage Website Data.”
4. Search for your website or select “Remove All.”
5. Click “Done.”

General Process for Other Browsers

1. Open your web browser.
2. Locate the settings menu (usually represented by three dots or lines).
3. Navigate to the “Privacy” or “History” section.
4. Look for an option to “Clear Browsing Data” or “Clear Cache.”
5. Choose a time range for what data to clear (e.g., “All Time”).
6. Make sure “Cached images and files” is selected.
7. Click “Clear Data” or “Clear Cache.”

Clearing Cache from a CDN (Content Delivery Network)

If you’re using a CDN to deliver your site’s content globally, clearing the CDN cache is crucial to ensure your updates are propagated across all servers.

BunnyCDN

1. Login to your BunnyCDN dashboard.
2. Click on the “Storage” tab.
3. Select the domain for your WordPress site.
4. Click the “Purge” button.
5. BunnyCDN offers various purge options (by URL, path, etc.). Choose the most suitable for your needs.

Quic Cloud

1. Login to your Quic Cloud dashboard.
2. Navigate to the “Zones” section.
3. Select the zone associated with your WordPress site.
4. Click on “Purge Cache.”
5. Quic Cloud integrates with LiteSpeed Cache, so purging options might be similar within the LiteSpeed plugin settings.

Cloudflare CDN

1. Login to your Cloudflare dashboard.
2. Select the website you want to manage.
3. Go to the “Caching” tab.
4. Click the “Purge Everything” button to clear the entire cache.
5. Alternatively, use the “Purge By URL” option to target specific content.

General Process for Other CDN Providers

1. Login to your CDN provider’s control panel
2. Locate the section for managing your WordPress site or domain.
3. Look for a “Purge Cache” or “Invalidate Cache” option.
4. Follow the instructions provided by your CDN provider to clear the cache.

Important Note: Always consult your plugin or CDN provider’s documentation for the latest and most accurate instructions.

Conclusion

Clearing the cache on your WordPress site is a crucial step in ensuring that your visitors see the most up-to-date content and that your site runs smoothly.

Whether you’re using a caching plugin, managed hosting, or a CDN, knowing how to manage your cache is key to maintaining your site’s performance.

Have you tried any of these methods, or do you have a preferred way to clear your WordPress cache?

Let me know in the comments below. And don’t forget to explore our other blog articles related to WordPress for more tips and tricks!