My changes aren't showing up
How to fix the common reasons why edits you make in WordPress don't appear on your live website.
- Difficulty
- Beginner
You saved your edits in WordPress, but when you look at the live website, nothing has changed. Or you see the old version. This is a very common experience, and it is almost always caused by caching — not a mistake on your part.
Quick summary
Most of the time, your changes saved correctly — they're just being hidden by a cache (a saved copy of your old site). Try a hard refresh first. If that doesn't work, clear your site's cache from the WordPress dashboard or your hosting account. Your changes should then appear.
What is a cache and why does it matter?
A cache (pronounced "cash") is a saved copy of your website stored either in your browser or on the web server. Caches make websites load faster by serving a pre-built copy instead of building the page fresh every time.
The downside: when you make a change, the cached copy might still show the old version — to you and to your visitors.
There are two main types:
| Type | Where it lives | Who it affects |
|---|---|---|
| Browser cache | Your computer or phone | Just you |
| Server/site cache | Your hosting server | All visitors |
Most of the time you only need to clear one of them.
Step 1: Hard refresh your browser
This is the fastest fix, and it often solves the problem.
Press Ctrl + Shift + R in Chrome or Edge. It forces your browser to download a fresh copy of the page. Other browsers may use a different shortcut.
Did that fix it?
If your changes now appear, you're done. No further action needed.
Step 2: Clear your site cache from WordPress
If a hard refresh didn't help, the cached copy is stored on the server — not just in your browser. You need to clear it from within WordPress.
Many WordPress sites use a caching plugin. Common ones include WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache, WP Super Cache, and LiteSpeed Cache. The exact steps and button names vary (clear, delete, flush or purge), but the process is similar:
Log in to WordPress. The address is usually yoursite.com/wp-admin.
Look at the bar across the top of the screen (the admin bar). Some caching plugins and hosts add an option there. For example, WP Rocket adds a WP Rocket menu with Clear and preload cache, and Kinsta adds a Clear Cache link. Click it.
Alternatively, find the plugin's settings. Look for your caching plugin in the left menu. Some sit under Settings instead (WP Rocket is at Settings → WP Rocket). Open it and find the option to clear or purge the cache.
Visit your live site and do a hard refresh (see Step 1 above). Your changes should now appear.
Not sure which caching plugin you have?
If you don't see a cache button anywhere, contact us. We'll clear the cache for you and confirm which plugin is in use.
Step 3: Check that you actually saved the changes
It happens to everyone: you edited a page but closed the tab before clicking Save or Publish.
Log in to WordPress and find the page or post you edited.
Look at the content. Does it reflect what you intended to change?
Re-save if the change is missing. If not, make your edits again and this time click Save (for pages that are already published) or Publish (for new content). On WordPress 6.5 and earlier, the button on published pages says Update.
If you're using the block editor, look for the Save button in the top right corner of the screen.
Step 4: Check if the page is set to draft
If a whole page is missing or not accessible, it might have accidentally been set back to draft (unpublished) mode.
Open Pages or Posts. In your WordPress dashboard, go to Pages or Posts.
Look for the affected page under the "Draft" link at the top of the list (it says "Drafts" when there's more than one). If it's there, open it and click Publish.
Step 5: Hosting-level cache
Some hosting providers, especially managed WordPress hosts like WP Engine, Flywheel, and Kinsta, have their own server-level cache that runs separately from your caching plugin. You clear it from your hosting dashboard (some hosts also add a button inside WordPress).
If you have access to your hosting account, look for an option to clear or flush the cache. Flywheel has a Flush Cache button on the site's Advanced tab. Kinsta and WP Engine each have a Cache or Caching page with an option to clear all caches. If you're not sure how to find it, contact us — we can clear it directly.
Common questions
My changes showed up for me but not for a colleague. Why?
Your colleague's browser probably still has the cached version. Ask them to do a hard refresh (in Chrome or Edge, Ctrl+Shift+R on Windows or Command+Shift+R on Mac; see Step 1 for other browsers). That should show them the new version.
The changes disappeared again after a while. Is that normal?
No, that is not normal. It can mean the cache is being rebuilt from an old saved copy. This is unusual and suggests a configuration issue. Please let us know — it needs investigation.
I cleared everything and changes are still not showing. What else could it be?
There are a few less common causes: a CDN (a global content delivery network) serving a cached version, a plugin conflict, or the page being reverted by a scheduled backup restore. Contact us and describe exactly what you changed and when.
How long does it take for changes to show up for everyone?
After you clear the cache, changes usually appear quickly for most visitors. If you're using a CDN (a global cache), it can take a little longer to catch up everywhere. Visitors whose browsers saved an older copy may also need to refresh.
Related guides
- How to clear your cache & hard refresh
- How to edit a page
- Drafts, previews, and publishing
- Page and post revisions
- Fixing the "white screen" error
Need a hand?
Learn more
Last updated