How to Force Refresh in Your Internet Browser

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This wikiHow teaches you how to force a webpage to refresh so it displays the most up-to-date information. Forcing a refresh clears the page's data cache and reloads it from the website. You can do this in Google Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer, and Safari desktop browsers. To force refresh a web page on mobile devices, you need to clear your browser data for all web pages.

Things You Should Know

  • In any computer browser, press and hold Ctrl (Windows) or ⇧ Shift (Mac). While holding, press refresh ⟳ .
  • Using Chrome on mobile, go to ⋮ (Android) or … (iOS) > Settings > Privacy > Clear Browsing Data > Clear Browsing Data (iOS) or Clear Data (Android).
  • Using Safari on iOS go to
    iPhone Settings App Icon
    > Safari > Clear History and Website Data > Clear .
  • Go to the URL of the page you want to force refresh. After clearing your data, the latest version of the page will load.


Method 1
Method 1 of 5:

Using Windows or macOS

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  1. You can force refresh a web page using these steps on Google Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer, and Safari.
  2. Enter the address of the page you want to force refresh in the address bar at the top of your web browser.
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  3. Holding "Ctrl" or "Shift" can unlock added functionality on your computer keys or desktop icons.
  4. It's the icon that resembles a circular arrow to the left of the address bar. Clicking this icon while holding "Ctrl" on Windows, or "Shift' on Mac will refresh your browser and clear your browser cache for the website you are visiting.
    • Alternatively, you can press "Ctrl" and "F5" on PC, or "Shift" and "R" on Mac to force refresh your browser. [1] [2]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 5:

Using Google Chrome on Android, iPhone, or iPad

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  1. It has an icon that resembles a red, yellow, and green wheel with a dot in the middle.
  2. It's the icon with three dots in the upper-right corner of Chrome. This opens the menu.
  3. It's near the bottom of the menu.
  5. This displays a list of items that will be cleared when you clear your browsing data.
    • You can tap the checkmark icons next to any data items you want to keep.
  6. This clears your browsing data. On iPhone and iPad, it's the red text at the bottom of the menu. On Android, it's the blue button in the lower-left corner.
  7. This confirms that you want to clear your browser data.
  8. With your browsing data cleared, it will load the latest version of the website. [3]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 5:

Using Safari on iPhone and iPad

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  1. It has an icon that resembles two silver gears, and you'll find it on the home screen or in a folder.
  2. It's next to an icon that resembles a blue compass in the Settings menu. This opens the Safari settings menu.
  3. It's near the bottom of the Safari settings menu.
  4. It's the red text in the pop-up menu. This confirms that you want to clear your browser data.
  5. It has an icon that resembles a blue compass, and you'll find it on your home screen.
  6. Enter the address you want to visit in the address bar at the top. After clearing your browser data, this will load the latest version of the webpage.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 5:

Using Firefox on Mobile

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  1. It has an icon that resembles a purple globe with a flame surrounding it. You'll find it on the home screen or in the app drawer.
  2. On Android, it's an icon with three dots. On iPhone and iPad, it's an icon with three lines.
  3. It's near the bottom of the menu that pops out when you tap the icon in the upper-right corner.
  4. If you are using an iPhone or iPad, tap Data Management under "Privacy".
  5. It's at the bottom of the Data Management menu on iPhone and iPad, and at the bottom of the Settings menu on Android.
    • You can tap the checkboxes next to the data items you do and do not want to delete.
  6. This confirms that you want to clear your browser data.
  7. Enter the address for the web page in the address bar at the top of Firefox. After clearing your browser data, this will force the web page to refresh the latest version of the web page.
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Method 5
Method 5 of 5:

Using Samsung Internet Browser for Android

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  1. It has a purple icon that resembles a planet. This is the default web browser on Samsung Galaxy phones and tablets.
  2. It's in the lower-left corner of the web browser. This opens the menu.
  3. It's below an icon that resembles a gear on the menu.
  4. It's below "Advanced" in the Settings menu.
  5. It's below "Personal data" in the "Privacy and Security" menu.
  6. It's at the bottom of the pop-up menu. This clears your internet browsing data.
    • You can also tap the radio buttons next to the items you do and do not want to delete.
  7. Enter the address for the web page in the address bar at the top of the internet browser. After clearing your browser data, this will force the web page to refresh the latest version of the web page.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    How do I refresh on YouTube?
    Community Answer
    Go to the top left corner and click on the YouTube sign and it should take you to the main page that you started on. You can also refresh the page you are on by using the refresh sign found on your browser. It is usually found in the top left or right corner.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
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    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 7
  • Question
    How do I make Facebook reload? I have Safari on Mac.
    PorkeyPihg
    Community Answer
    In the URL bar there is a circular arrow. Click that and you will force the page to reload. Alternatively you can press Command + R.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 1 Helpful 3
  • Question
    How do I refresh a page on my iPhone?
    Community Answer
    You can simply hit the refresh button in the top left corner (assuming you are using Safari). It looks like a circle with an arrow inside it.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 2 Helpful 2
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      Warnings

      • Force-refreshing some pages, such as account creation pages, will cause them to forget information you've already entered.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.getfilecloud.com/blog/2015/03/tech-tip-how-to-do-hard-refresh-in-browsers/#.XdXPlVdKiUn
      2. ↑ https://www.auslogics.com/en/articles/how-to-do-hard-refresh-in-browser/
      3. ↑ http://hypercube.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/4000096487-how-to-do-a-force-refresh-of-your-browser

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open your browser.
      2. Go to the page you want to refresh.
      3. Press and hold Ctrl (PC) or Shift (Mac).
      4. Click the curved arrow on the address bar.

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