Refresh Page Shortcut Updated [top] (2024)
A standard refresh reloads the page while keeping some parts of the site (like images or scripts) in your browser's temporary storage (cache) to save time. Windows / Linux:
F5: The universal key for refreshing pages and file explorer windows.
Ctrl + R: An alternative shortcut supported by almost all browsers.
Fn + F5: Required on many modern laptops where function keys double as media controls. macOS: refresh page shortcut updated
Command (⌘) + R: The standard reload command for Safari, Chrome, and Firefox. 2. "Hard Refresh" (Bypassing Cache)
If a page isn't updating correctly or looks "broken," a hard refresh forces the browser to ignore its saved files and download everything fresh from the server.
The "UPDATED" Part: Hard Refresh & Cache Clearing
The biggest change in the last two years is how browsers handle cache-bypassing refreshes. If a website is broken or showing old data, you don't need to open developer tools anymore. A standard refresh reloads the page while keeping
2. Hard Refresh (Bypass cache)
Use this when a page looks broken or shows old content after an update. It forces the browser to download all assets from the server, ignoring cached files.
| OS / Browser | Shortcut | Notes |
|--------------|----------|-------|
| Windows / Linux: Chrome, Edge, Brave, Vivaldi | Ctrl + F5 | |
| Windows / Linux: Firefox | Ctrl + Shift + R | Ctrl + F5 also works in Firefox. |
| macOS (all major browsers: Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Edge) | Cmd + Shift + R | |
| ChromeOS | Ctrl + Shift + R | |
4. Microsoft Edge: The Sleeping Tabs Complication
Microsoft Edge shares the same Chromium engine as Chrome, so most changes above apply. However, Edge adds one unique twist: Sleeping Tabs. The "UPDATED" Part: Hard Refresh & Cache Clearing
Edge’s "Sleeping Tabs" feature puts inactive tabs to sleep after a set period. The refresh page shortcut updated in Edge addresses this:
- If you hit F5 on a sleeping tab, Edge now wakes the tab before refreshing. Previously, it would refresh in a semi-frozen state, causing errors.
- The updated behavior:
F5→ Wake tab → Wait 200ms → Reload.
Edge also introduced a new visual indicator. When you press Ctrl+Shift+R for a hard refresh, the address bar now flashes purple instead of blue, confirming that the cache was completely bypassed.
Google Chrome (Version 120+)
- New:
Ctrl + Shift + Rnow also clears the "back-forward cache" (bfcache). Previously, clicking back/after a hard refresh would restore the old page—not anymore. - Deprecated:
Ctrl + F5no longer works in Chrome's "Web App" mode (PWA). UseCtrl + Shift + Rinstead.