How to Clear Cache on WordPress

  • 5 min read
  • January 20, 2025
How to Clear Cache on WordPress

Keeping your WordPress website running smoothly is essential for providing a great user experience. One common task in website maintenance is clearing the cache. In this blog, we’ll explain what “clear cache” means, why it’s important, and how to clear cache on WordPress.

What Does ‘Clear Cache’ Mean?

Firstly, we need to know what cache is. Cache refers to a temporary storage area where data is saved for quick access. In the context of websites, caching stores frequently accessed files like images, scripts, and web pages. This allows websites to load faster because the browser or server retrieves stored versions instead of generating content from scratch each time.

So, when someone visits your website, WordPress generates pages dynamically by pulling content from its database. On their next visit, the page loads more quickly because it pulls data from the cache instead of downloading everything again.

However, cached data can sometimes cause problems:

  • Outdated Content: If you’ve updated your website but visitors still see old versions.
  • Design Errors: Changes to themes or plugins might not appear due to cached files.
  • Performance Issues: Caches can become overloaded, slowing down your website.

“Clearing the cache” involves removing temporary data stored to help your website load faster. When you clear the cache, you force your website to discard the old data and regenerate updated pages, ensuring visitors see only the latest content and features.

Why Clear Cache in WordPress?

A screenshot of the WordPress.org homepage

Regularly clearing your cache helps:

  • Display Recent Updates: Ensures visitors see your most current content.
  • Fix Website Errors: Resolves issues caused by outdated cached files.
  • Improve Site Speed: Prevents cache overload from slowing your website down.

How to Clear Cache in WordPress

There are two main ways to clear your WordPress cache:

  1. Via WordPress plugins
  2. Through your reputable hosting provider

KIJO PRO TIP: It is worth noting that the two can co-exist, so you may need to clear your cache on both!

1. Clear Cache via WordPress Plugins

WP Rocket - the WordPress plugin KIJO recommend for clearing cache

If you don’t want to work with your hosting provider to clear your cache, there are several plugins that make clearing your cache simple. At KIJO, we use WP Rocket

  1. Log into Your WordPress Dashboard.
  2. Navigate to ‘Settings’ > ‘WP Rocket’ in the WordPress admin menu.
  3. In the WP Rocket settings page, locate the ‘Dashboard’ tab (usually the default view).
  4. Click the ‘Clear Cache’ button to purge the cache for your entire site.

Alternatively, you can use the WP Rocket Admin Toolbar:

  • While viewing your WordPress site, click ‘WP Rocket’ in the admin toolbar at the top of your screen.
  • Select ‘Clear Cache’ from the dropdown menu.

This will ensure your website’s cache is cleared, and visitors see the most up-to-date version of your content.

2. Clear Cache Through Your Hosting Provider

Alongside caching management, KIJO's managed WordPress hosting service – KIJO Cloud – provides a scalable, secure, and high-performance solution. This is a screenshot of our KIJO Cloud landing page that reads "Blazing Fast WordPress Hosting That is Reliable, Secure and Hassle-Free". The image is hyperlinked so you can go and read the page for yourself.

Many reputable website hosts – like us here at KIJO – offer built-in caching tools, from storing to clearing. Clearing your cache via your host also takes this task off of your mind. That means you can focus on simply growing your business!

Alongside caching management, KIJO’s managed WordPress hosting service – KIJO Cloud – provides a scalable, secure, and high-performance solution. Our cloud-based infrastructure ensures reliable performance by scaling resources as needed (depending on traffic), reducing downtime during high-demand periods. With comprehensive features like automatic backups, advanced security protocols, and expert technical support, our team ensures your website runs smoothly and efficiently, always.

Read more about KIJO Cloud here.

Clear Browser Cache

A screenshot from Google Chrome on Mac after following the instructions on how to clear your browser cached images and files

If you or your hosting provider has cleared your WordPress cache but changes aren’t showing, try clearing your browser cache:

  • On Chrome, press ‘Ctrl + Shift + Del’ (Windows) or ‘Cmd + Shift + Del’ (Mac).
  • Choose ‘Cached images and files’ and click ‘Clear data’.

How Regularly Should You Clear Your Cache on WordPress?

The frequency of clearing your cache on WordPress depends on how often you update your website and the type of content you manage. Here’s a general guide:

1. Regular Content Updates (e.g., Blogs, News Websites)

  • Frequency: Clear the cache whenever new content is published or updated.
  • Why? This ensures visitors see the latest articles, announcements, or changes immediately.

2. eCommerce Websites

  • Frequency: Daily or after major updates (product additions, price changes).
  • Why? This keeps product listings, prices, and stock levels accurate for customers.

3. Business Websites with Static Content

  • Frequency: Monthly or after design, theme, or plugin updates.
  • Why? This prevents outdated cached versions from causing display or functionality issues.

4. After WordPress Website Maintenance or Troubleshooting

  • Frequency: After fixing website errors or making design adjustments.
  • Why? This clears out old data that may cause persistent issues.

Related Read: 10 WordPress Maintenance Tasks That Keep Your Site Running Optimally

KIJO Pro Tip: Use Automatic Cache Clearing

A screenshot from Kinsta's support pages 'Kinsta docs' explaining Server caching - their automated caching offering which removes the needs for plugins. The image is hyperlinked so you can go and read the page for yourself.

If you’re not going to work with your hosting provider to manage your caching, many caching plugins, like WP Rocket, offer automatic cache-clearing settings based on triggers like content updates or time intervals. This can save you the hassle of manual clearing while keeping your WordPress website fresh and fast. However, it’s worth noting that some plugins have a cache expiry. The hosting caches, such as Kinsta’s, are cleared after a page or post is updated automatically. 

Do your research on which caching plugin is right for you and your website’s needs and then consider automatic cache clearing.

Final Thoughts

Clearing your WordPress cache is a simple yet powerful way to keep your website performing at its best. Whether you use a caching plugin or your hosting provider’s in-built tools, regular maintenance ensures a seamless experience for your visitors and keeps your website running efficiently.

By understanding caching and managing it proactively, you’ll avoid common website issues and keep it running fast and responsive.

Book a Complimentary Consultation with KIJO’s Head of Partnerships

Need expert guidance on your next digital project, hosting or maintenance? Book a complimentary, 30-minute consultation with our Head of Partnerships & Co-Founder, Kirk Thompson. Let’s bring the vision of your brand to life—book your free consultation via the link below:

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