I’ve updated your website but I still see the old version

Check the obvious bits first

Before doing anything technical:

1. Make sure you’re looking at the correct page.
2. Check the change was actually saved and published, rather than left as a draft.
3. If I made the change for you, use the exact page link I sent you.

It sounds obvious, but checking the wrong page or an unpublished edit is more common than you’d think.

Refresh the page

Start with a normal refresh.

If that doesn’t work, try opening the page in a private or incognito window.

A private window is useful because it helps rule out something your browser has saved locally.

It won’t bypass every type of website cache, but it’s a good first check.

Try another browser or device

If you can, open the same page:

• in another browser;
• on your phone;
• or on another computer.

If the new version appears elsewhere, the problem is probably with the browser you were originally using.

If the old version appears everywhere, the website itself may still be serving a cached copy.

Clear the website cache only if you know how

Some websites I manage have a cache-clear option available to the client.

If your website handover specifically shows you how to clear the cache, you can use that once and then refresh the page.

If it doesn’t, don’t start changing caching plugins or settings at random.

Get in touch and I’ll check it.

Still seeing the old version?

Don’t keep making the same edit again.

That can leave you with several versions of the same change and make it harder to work out what’s actually happening.

Send me:

• the exact page address;
• what you expected to change;
• a screenshot of what you can currently see;
• which browser or device you’re using;
• and whether the new version appears in a private/incognito window.

That usually gives me enough to work out where the cached version is coming from.