PrestaShop changes not showing on the site? Check 5 layers of cache
When your PrestaShop changes aren't showing, the old version of the page is sitting in one of five cache layers: the browser, a CDN such as Cloudflare, the Smarty templates and combined CSS and JS files, the Symfony cache, or the server cache. Check from the nearest outwards, because you can check the first two in a minute without logging in to the admin.
Author: The TellMyShop team. A guide for PrestaShop store owners: the cause, the manual fix and the same work in a chat conversation.
Last updated: · 4 min read
Why doesn't a saved change appear in the store?
Because between the database and the customer's screen there are several places that remember ready-made pages and files so the store runs faster. A change saved in the admin goes into the database straight away. The ready version of the page in the cache doesn't know about it yet.
The closer a change is to the design, the more layers need to hear about it. A new product description usually shows straight away. A fix in the theme's CSS file passes through every layer, so that's the one that most often “doesn't work”.
Five layers: where to look for the old version
| Layer | What it remembers | How to recognise it | How to clear it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Browser | CSS, JS, images | the change is visible in a private window | reload bypassing the cache (Ctrl+F5, on a Mac Cmd+Shift+R) |
| 2. CDN, such as Cloudflare | whole pages and files | still the old version on a phone using mobile data | clear it in the CDN panel |
| 3. Smarty and CCC in PrestaShop | compiled templates, combined CSS and JS | a change in a .tpl or .css file doesn't show anywhere | the button in Advanced Parameters > Performance |
| 4. Symfony (var/cache) | configuration, routes, parts of the admin | changes to module or admin settings take effect late | the same button, or deleting the contents of var/cache |
| 5. Server (OPcache, Varnish, host cache) | compiled PHP, whole responses | nothing above helped | the hosting panel or your host's support |
The PrestaShop documentation describes the settings for layers 3 and 4 on the Performance page: forced template compilation, the Smarty cache and CSS and JS combining.
In what order should you check?
- Open the page in a private browser window. Can you see the change? That's layer 1, and a reload bypassing the cache is enough.
- Open the page on a phone, without Wi-Fi. Still the old version? Is the store behind a CDN? Clear the CDN.
- Clear the cache in the admin, in Advanced Parameters > Performance.
- Check that you changed the right file: the active theme's, not the parent theme's or a backup copy. This happens more often than you'd think.
- If nothing helped, ask your host to clear the server-side cache.
When does the clear cache button lie?
When PrestaShop doesn't have permission to delete the files. The button shows a success message, but some files in the var/cache folder or the combined CSS and JS folder stay, because they belong to a different server user. This happens after moving the store, after an update run from the command line, and after uploading files by hand over FTP.
The symptom: you clear it several times, the message is green, and the page is still old. Similar stories keep coming up on the PrestaShop forum about CSS files (in Polish). In this situation only someone with server access can help, by fixing the owner and permissions of the files. You'll find an overview of other common faults after server changes in Zenbox's guide (in Polish).
How the chat helps when changes aren't showing
Your chat (Claude or ChatGPT) first checks where the problem lies, and only then clears anything. In TellMyShop Free, the store's technical review shows the Smarty cache and file combining settings, debug mode and errors from recent days. The chat can also fetch a store page the way a browser does and check what it returns: status, redirects, title and headings.
You: I changed the button colour in custom.css, but the store still shows the old one. Find out where the problem is.
Your chat: Your theme has CSS combining turned on, so the store sends one combined file saved before the change. The custom.css file in the active theme already has the new colour.
I suggest clearing the template and combined file cache. The first visits after clearing will be slower.
You: Do it.
Your chat: Cleared. On the first visit the store will build a new combined file, with the new colour. If you still see the old one, reload your browser bypassing the cache, then check whether the store sits behind a CDN.
Clearing the cache works in TellMyShop Pro with the Theme switch on. The cache rebuilds itself, so this action isn't in the change history and there's nothing to undo. You'll find an example request in the use case refreshing cached pages.
If the change was in the footer, also read how to remove “Powered by PrestaShop” so the change survives a theme update. And if instead of the old version you see a blank page or an error, read our post on the PrestaShop error 500.
Questions and answers
Where is the clear cache button in PrestaShop?
In the admin, go to Advanced Parameters, then Performance. The clear cache button is in the top right corner of the page. It removes compiled templates, the Smarty cache and combined CSS and JS files. It doesn't clear the customer's browser or the server and CDN caches, which work outside PrestaShop.
Can clearing the cache harm my store?
It doesn't delete any store data. The first visits after clearing are slower, because PrestaShop prepares the templates and files again. In a large store it's better to do it outside peak hours. Don't do it during a product import.
Why does nothing change after I edit the CSS?
Most often the store has CSS and JS combining turned on, so the browser gets the old combined file. Clear the cache in the admin, then reload the page bypassing the browser cache. If there's still no change, check that you edited the file of the active theme, not the parent theme or a copy.
Does debug mode help me see changes?
It turns off part of the cache and shows errors, so it makes diagnosis easier for a while. Don't leave it on in a live store, because it slows the site down and can show customers technical messages. Once you've checked, turn it off and clear the cache.
Can the chat clear the cache?
Yes, in TellMyShop Pro with the Theme switch on. You turn it on in the module panel for 24 hours, and it requires a database backup made the same day. In the free TellMyShop Free version, the chat checks the cache settings and shows which layer to suspect, but doesn't clear anything.
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