When you visit a website for the first time, Google Chrome automatically downloads hundreds of tiny files (like company logos, background images, and font styles) and stores them directly on your hard drive in a folder called the “Cache.” The next time you visit that exact same website, Chrome loads the images locally from your hard drive rather than re-downloading them over the internet, making the page load incredibly fast.
However, if a website developer completely redesigns their homepage, but your Chrome browser stubbornly loads the old, saved files from your cache, the website will appear completely broken or garbled. To fix this, you must clear the cache, forcing Chrome to download the fresh, updated files directly from the server.
How to Clear the Cache (The Keyboard Shortcut)
Because clearing the cache is the number one troubleshooting step for any broken website, Chrome has a dedicated keyboard shortcut that instantly opens the correct menu, bypassing all the confusing settings.
- Open Google Chrome.
- If you are using a Windows PC, hold down Ctrl + Shift and press Delete.
- If you are using an Apple Mac, hold down Command + Shift and press Delete.
- A new tab will instantly open, floating the “Clear browsing data” box in the center of the screen.
How to Navigate the “Clear Browsing Data” Menu
If you don’t like keyboard shortcuts, you can find this exact same menu by clicking the three vertical dots in the top right corner of Chrome > More tools > Clear browsing data.
Once the box is open, you must make a critical decision before you click the blue button, or you will accidentally delete things you want to keep.
1. Choose the Time Range
Look at the very top of the box for the Time range drop-down menu. By default, it might be set to “Last hour.” If you want to completely purge your browser of all corrupted files, click the menu and change it to All time.
2. Select What to Delete (The Crucial Step)
You will see three checkboxes. You must understand exactly what each one does.
- Browsing history: This deletes the massive list of every URL you have ever visited. (You usually do not need to check this to fix a broken website).
- Cookies and other site data: This is a massive “nuclear option.” Cookies are the tiny files that keep you logged into Amazon and Netflix. If you check this box, you will be instantly logged out of every single website on the internet, and you will have to re-type all your usernames and passwords. Only check this if the website is specifically throwing a “Login Error.”
- Cached images and files: This is the box you want. This deletes the old, corrupted logos and background images that are making the website look garbled. Checking this box will not log you out of your accounts.
3. Execute the Purge
Once you have selected All time and checked only the Cached images and files box, click the blue Clear data button.
The box will spin for a few seconds (or up to a minute, depending on how much junk was stored on your hard drive). Once it finishes, the box will disappear. Go back to the broken website and click the refresh button; it should now load perfectly.