Heavy Technology Group

Hard-refresh first. If the app still looks old, clear site data for this site only — then reload. You usually do not need to clear your entire browser history.

What this is for

Web apps are cached by your browser so pages load quickly. After an update is released, that cache can keep showing the old version until you force a fresh download.

Order of operations

1. Hard refresh (this page only)
2. If still stale, clear cache / site data for this site
3. Reload and sign in again if asked

You do not need to reinstall anything.

1. Refresh without cache

A normal refresh (the circular arrow, or F5) often reuses cached files. A hard refresh asks the browser to ignore cache for this tab and pull the latest files.

Tip: Open the web app first, click once on the page so the browser window is focused, then use the shortcut. If a keyboard shortcut does nothing, use the menu method under the same browser.

a. Windows

Chrome

Shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + R  or  Ctrl + F5

1. Open the web app in Chrome.
2. Press Ctrl + Shift + R (or Ctrl + F5).
3. Wait for the page to finish loading, then check whether the update appears.

Menu method: Open DevTools with F12 (or right-click the page → Inspect). Right-click the refresh button in the address bar → choose Empty Cache and Hard Reload. (DevTools must stay open for that option to appear.)

Edge

Shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + R  or  Ctrl + F5

1. Open the web app in Microsoft Edge.
2. Press Ctrl + Shift + R (or Ctrl + F5).
3. Confirm the page reloads and shows the latest changes.

Menu method: Same as Chrome — F12 to open DevTools, then right-click the refresh button → Empty Cache and Hard Reload.

Firefox

Shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + R  or  Ctrl + F5

1. Open the web app in Firefox.
2. Press Ctrl + Shift + R (or Ctrl + F5).
3. Allow the page to reload fully before testing.

Menu method: Hold Shift while clicking the refresh button on the toolbar.

b. Mac

Safari

Shortcut: Option + Command + E, then Command + R

1. Open the web app in Safari.
2. Press Option + Command + E to empty caches.
3. Press Command + R to reload the page.

Menu method: If the Develop menu is visible: Develop → Empty Caches, then View → Reload Page. To enable Develop: Safari → Settings (or Preferences) → Advanced → check Show features for web developers (wording varies slightly by macOS version).

Alternate hard reload: Option + Command + R reloads without using cached page content on many Safari versions.

Chrome

Shortcut: Command + Shift + R

1. Open the web app in Chrome.
2. Press Command + Shift + R.
3. Wait for a full reload, then verify the update.

Menu method: Option + Command + I opens DevTools. Right-click the refresh button → Empty Cache and Hard Reload.

Firefox

Shortcut: Command + Shift + R

1. Open the web app in Firefox.
2. Press Command + Shift + R.
3. Confirm the latest UI or content appears.

Menu method: Hold Shift while clicking the refresh button.

Done? If the app looks correct after a hard refresh, you can stop here. No need to clear cache.

2. If refresh doesn’t work

Sometimes a hard refresh is not enough — especially if the browser stored a service worker, offline copy, or stubborn site files. Clear cached images and files (or site data) for this site, then open the app again.

Before you clear

• Prefer clearing data for this site only when the browser offers that choice.
• You may need to sign in again afterward. That is normal.
• You do not need to clear saved passwords for other sites, or wipe your entire browser history, unless support specifically asks you to.

How to clear browser cache — Windows

Chrome

Site only (preferred)

1. With the web app open, click the view site information icon left of the address (tune / lock / “Not secure”).
2. Open Site settings (or Cookies and site data → site settings, depending on version).
3. Click Delete data / Clear data, confirm, then close the tab.
4. Reopen the app URL and sign in if prompted.

Settings path (all cached files): Menu ⋮ → Settings → Privacy and security → Delete browsing data. Set time range to Last hour or All time as needed. Check Cached images and files. Uncheck History / Passwords unless you intend to remove them. Click Delete data, then reload the app.

Shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + Delete opens Delete browsing data.

Edge

Site only (preferred)

1. Open the app → click the lock / site controls icon in the address bar.
2. Choose Cookies and site data or Site permissions → manage / clear data for this site.
3. Confirm deletion, reopen the app URL.

Settings path: Menu … → Settings → Privacy, search, and services → under Clear browsing data, Choose what to clear. Select Cached images and files. Clear, then reload the app.

Shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + Delete.

Firefox

Site only (preferred)

1. With the app open, click the lock icon in the address bar.
2. Click Clear cookies and site data (or Connection secure → clear data), confirm.
3. Reload the app and sign in again if needed.

Settings path: Menu ☰ → Settings → Privacy & Security → under Cookies and Site Data click Clear Data…. Check Cached Web Content (and cookies only if site-only clear failed). Click Clear, then reopen the app.

Shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + Delete → choose cache / site data as appropriate.

How to clear browser cache — Mac

Safari

1. Safari menu → Settings (or Preferences) → Privacy.
2. Click Manage Website Data….
3. Search for the site name or domain of the web app.
4. Select it → Remove → Done.
5. Reload the app (Command + R). Sign in again if asked.

Broader clear: Safari → Settings → Advanced → enable the Develop menu if needed → Develop → Empty Caches, then reload. Or Safari → Clear History… and pick a time range (this also clears history for that range — use only if site-specific remove is not enough).

Chrome

Site only (preferred)

1. Open the app → click the tune / lock icon left of the URL.
2. Site settings → Delete data.
3. Reopen the app URL.

Settings path: Chrome menu → Settings → Privacy and security → Delete browsing data. Check Cached images and files. Click Delete data.

Shortcut: Command + Shift + Delete.

Firefox

Site only (preferred)

1. Open the app → lock icon in the address bar → Clear cookies and site data.
2. Confirm, then reload the app.

Settings path: Firefox → Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data → Clear Data… → Cached Web Content → Clear.

Shortcut: Command + Shift + Delete.

3. If it is still wrong

1. Confirm you are on the correct URL (bookmark vs. old link, www vs. bare domain, staging vs. production).
2. Try a private/incognito window. If the update appears there, the normal profile still has cached data — repeat the site-data clear.
3. Fully quit the browser (all windows) and reopen, then hard-refresh once more.
4. If your organization uses a managed device, VPN, or content filter, those can cache too — try another network or contact support with your browser name and version.

Quick reference