Sometimes your browser refuses to show the latest version of a website. Maybe it’s a style tweak, a new image, or a layout fix that you know should be there – but your browser stubbornly clings to the old version.
If you’ve ever been told to “force refresh” or “hard refresh” and didn’t know how to do it, this post is for you.
How to Force Refresh (By OS and Browser)
Here’s your quick reference guide to bypassing the cache and forcing a refresh, no matter what browser or operating system you’re using:
Windows Browsers
| Browser | Force/Hard Refresh Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Chrome | Ctrl + Shift + R |
| Firefox | Ctrl + Shift + R |
| Edge | Ctrl + Shift + R |
| Opera | Ctrl + Shift + R |
| Brave | Ctrl + Shift + R |
| Vivaldi | Ctrl + Shift + R |
MacOS Browsers
| Browser | Force/Hard Refresh Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Safari | Cmd + Option + R |
| Chrome | Cmd + Shift + R |
| Firefox | Cmd + Shift + R |
| Opera | Cmd + Shift + R |
| Brave | Cmd + Shift + R |
| Vivaldi | Cmd + Shift + R |
What Is a Hard Refresh?
A force refresh – also called a hard refresh or hard reload – tells your browser to completely reload a webpage while ignoring anything it might have cached. Caching helps web pages load faster by temporarily storing some files locally on your computer, but it can backfire when you’re trying to see recent updates. A force refresh essentially gets your browser to act like you’ve cleared your browser cache for a specific site, without actually having to clear your cache.
Even with cache-busting strings on CSS and JavaScript files, browsers sometimes insist on using a cached version. If your site uses a content delivery network (CDN), that can also cause problems. As a freelance web designer and developer, I often have to ask clients to force refresh a site so they can actually see the latest design or layout changes I’ve made.
It’s one of those quick fixes that can save a lot of head-scratching.
When Should You Force Refresh?
A force refresh is handy in all sorts of scenarios:
- You’re viewing a staging site and recent changes aren’t showing up
- Your web designer said they “just fixed it” but it still looks broken
- You’ve updated some content or styling and want to confirm it worked
- You’re seeing an outdated layout, broken styles or missing images
Any time things look out of date or weird, a force refresh is a solid first step.
Other ways to Force Refresh
In most browsers on Windows you can hard reload a page using Ctrl + F5. Although this key combination is shorter, on many laptops the function keys do double duty, adjusting things like the volume or screen brightness. You often also have to hold the FN key to access the standard function keys. That’s why I prefer the Ctrl + Shift + R combo – it works on desktops and laptops without ambiguity.
You can also do a hard refresh without using a keyboard shortcut at all. That’s particularly useful if you’re already in Dev Tools or prefer menus:
Chrome / Edge / Brave (Windows or Mac)
- Open Dev Tools (F12 or right-click → Inspect)
- Right-click the reload icon in the address bar
- Select “Empty Cache and Hard Reload”
Safari (Mac)
- Go to Safari > Settings > Advanced and enable the Develop menu
- Then go to Develop > Empty Caches, followed by a normal refresh
Force refreshing is a simple trick but you’d be surprised how often in comes in handy. Whether you’re reviewing a website build, checking your own updates, or troubleshooting a layout issue—it’s an easy way to rule out the browser cache as the culprit.
If you’re a client and you’re not seeing the changes I’ve mentioned, give Ctrl + Shift + R (or Cmd + Shift/Option + R) a go first. Still stuck? Try a ‘Private’ or ‘Incognito’ window.