How to Hard Refresh Chrome: Clear Cache & Fix Site Errors
Websites store files locally on your system. These stored files make it easier, and faster to load the website the next time you visit it. The cached files expire after a while and the website replaces them with new ones.
Hard refresh Chrome
The cache speeds up the load time for a website but it can also cause problems. If a website is loading data from the cache, it won’t always load new content. Websites that deliver a live feed don’t work this way but for most websites that aren’t delivering live content, the cached files can cause outdated content to appear and it can cause loading errors.
One simple way to fix this problem is to hard refresh the browser. A hard refresh forces the website to ignore the files in the cache and fetch new files from the server. When you perform a hard refresh, you will see a noticeable change in the time it takes for the website to load.
A hard refresh is;
- Specific to a website
- Does not change or impact other files in the cache
- Does not change how the browser behaves or its settings
Hard refresh Chrome – Windows
Follow these steps to perform a hard refresh in Chrome on Windows.
- Open Chrome.
- Navigate to the website that you want to hard refresh.
- Allow the website to load (don’t worry if you get a load error).
- Press Ctrl+F5 to perform a hard refresh.
- Alternatively, press Ctrl+Shift+R. You can also hold Shift and click the Reload button.
Note: On some laptops you may need to hold down the Fn key so that F5 works as a function key and not as a media/system key. On some keyboards Shift+F5 also works.
Hard refresh Chrome – macOS
Follow these steps to perform a hard refresh in Chrome on macOS.
- Open Chrome.
- Navigate to the website you want to hard refresh.
- Allow the website to load or to stop loading if you’re getting an error.
- Press the Shift+Command+R keyboard shortcut to perform a hard refresh. You can also hold Shift and click the Reload button.
Hard refresh Chrome – Linux & ChromeOS
On Linux distributions and Chromebooks, the shortcuts are the same as Windows:
- Ctrl+F5 or Ctrl+Shift+R to hard refresh.
- You can also hold Shift and click Reload.
Use DevTools: Empty Cache & Hard Reload (stronger reset)
If a standard hard refresh isn’t enough (e.g., because the site uses aggressive caching or a service worker), you can force Chrome to throw away cached files before reloading:
- Open DevTools (F12, Ctrl+Shift+I on Windows/Linux/ChromeOS, or Option+Command+I on macOS).
- Right-click (or click-and-hold) the Reload button in the toolbar.
- Choose Empty Cache and Hard Reload. See Google’s guide: Hard reload.
Tip: With DevTools open, you can also temporarily disable the cache so every reload fetches fresh files. Open the Network panel and check Disable cache (while DevTools is open) (DevTools network reference).
Mobile (Android & iPhone)
There is no hard-refresh keyboard shortcut on mobile. To force fresh content:
- Android (Chrome): Open Chrome > ⋮ > Settings > Privacy and security > Clear browsing data, select Cached images and files, then clear. Official steps: Delete browsing data in Chrome (Android).
- iPhone/iPad (Chrome): Use … > Clear Browsing Data and include Cached Images and Files. (For Safari, use Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data.)
Hard refresh vs Clear cache
It’s no secret that you can clear the cache in your browser. Doing so will delete every single file that’s been stored to the cache. As you browse the internet, the cache will be rebuilt over time. A hard refresh is specific to the website it is performed on while clearing the cache impacts every single website that has stored files to the cache.
If you do not want to lose your entire cache, you should perform a hard refresh on the website(s) that is giving you problems.
FAQs
No. A hard refresh bypasses cached files for that page but does not delete cookies, local storage, or saved logins. To fully reset a site’s stored data, use DevTools > Application > Clear storage or your browser’s clear-data options.
Some sites use service workers or a CDN that can keep copies longer. Open DevTools > Application > Service Workers and use Update on reload or Unregister, or choose Clear storage. See Google’s caching tips: Inspect, clear, and disable caches.
Yes. It first purges the page’s cached files and then reloads, which is stronger than just bypassing cache for one request. Learn more: Hard reload options.
Conclusion
All browsers have a hard refresh option. This isn’t a Chrome-specific feature. If you use a different browser, chances are the same keys that you use in Chrome will work in it as well.
What’s New in This Update
- Added Linux & ChromeOS shortcuts (Ctrl+F5 / Ctrl+Shift+R) and Shift+Click Reload method.
- Added a dedicated section on using DevTools “Empty Cache & Hard Reload” and Disable cache with official references.
- Expanded Mobile (Android & iPhone) guidance with official Delete browsing data steps.
- New FAQs covering cookies/login effects, service workers/CDN caching, and when to use Empty Cache & Hard Reload.
- Minor grammar fixes and clarified Windows notes for laptops where the Fn key modifies F-keys.
Last updated: October 23, 2025
