Home » Misc » How to clear facebook share cache

How to clear facebook share cache


caching - How to clear Facebook's image cache

Asked

Modified 2 years, 8 months ago

Viewed 69k times

28

New! Save questions or answers and organize your favorite content.
Learn more.

I have a Facebook application that's created several wall-posts on behalf of my users. The image in the wall posts is cached by Facebook's servers. I've replaced the original image on my server and I would like to clear Facebook's image cache so all of the other wall posts update with the new image.

What Facebook has cached: http://platform.ak.fbcdn.net/www/app_full_proxy.php?app=236915563048749&v=1&size=z&cksum=aebffc27f986977797a9903c2b6e08df&src=http%3A%2F%2Fvcweb2.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fassets%2Fweb%2Fimages%2Ficon_square.png

Original cached URL, now updated with new image. http://vcweb2. s3.amazonaws.com/assets/web/images/icon_square.png

Is this possible? Thanks!

  • facebook
  • caching
  • facebook-graph-api

1

The way to "force" facebook to clear their cache for a specific url is to use the Debugger tool.

I tried using the debugger with the url of the image and it shows the new image and not the old one, though when trying the cached link you posted the old image still appears.

I suspect that if you try to post new posts the new icon will be used and not the old cached version, but that link you posted probably won't be changed.

2

In my experience, facebook doesn't dynamically update older saved images, although the data for a fan page for example, will show the current stats. I do a lot of promotion and seen older versions of messages and posts sent out, while newer page images exist. The fan page information is the same for the one now and six months ago, however.

Workaround without online debugger

You can force a refetch with the old ?v=randomhash cache invalidating trick. The only thing you have to be aware is that the URL param has to be added to every og: property.

If you have this URL: example.com/items/3, you need to do the followings:

  • Share it as example.com/items/3?v=g45f6d
  • Link the share image as <meta property="og:image" content="example.com/items/3/image?v=g45f6d" />
  • Update the URL: <meta property="og:url" content="example.com/items/3?v=g45f6d" />

Note: in this example g45f6d is a random generated hash.

This way it will appear to be an entire different page to facebook so it will crawl it just like one it sees for the first time.

Example:

http://www.example.com/pic001.jpg?fbrefresh=1201226471

That's the code you have to use. The 1201226471 is what you replace with your Facebook URL. You have to do it on every single page, which is quite tedious.

1

Facebook offers an online tool called Sharing Debugger that allows you to scrape the link with the latest settings.

Just paste in your link(s) in the Debug field and click debug. The magic is done!

https://developers.facebook.com/tools/debug/sharing/?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.iuoe115.ca%2Fprime-minister-trudeau-addresses-iuoe-canadian-conference%2F1

Sign up or log in

Sign up using Google

Sign up using Facebook

Sign up using Email and Password

Post as a guest

Email

Required, but never shown

Post as a guest

Email

Required, but never shown

How to Clear Facebook Cache and Improve App Performance

Sometimes the Facebook app can act a little crazy. Links won’t show the proper preview image, edited comments don’t update, and profile photo changes don’t go into effect. Typically, these issues are all caused by an overloaded cache.

In fact, many problems with the mobile app can be linked back to a lack of storage maintenance. But how can it be fixed?

Today, let’s look at how to clear Facebook cache to improve users’ social media experience.

Table of Contents

  1. Why Does Facebook Store Information?
  2. Why Delete FB Cache?
  3. How to Clear the Facebook App on iPhone
  4. Facebook’s Open Graph
  5. Don’t Forget to Clear Your Browser
  6. Using Facebook on iPhone Without the Native App
  7. Frequently Asked Questions
  8. The Final Word

Why Does Facebook Store Information in the Cache?

In computers and programming, a cache is a virtual location where data and information can be temporarily stored to speed up loading times.

Facebook uses this to maintain temporary data from all the links and files users upload to the site. It makes accessing things much faster because users don’t need to prompt Facebook to redownload the details whenever they want to view it.

This data includes information from:

  • Links clicked
  • Images uploaded
  • Pages visited, and more

By maintaining a file of all these actions, Facebook can make running the app a much quicker, streamlined experience. However, sometimes things can happen to the files, which creates a need to clear the data.

Why Should Users Clear Facebook Cache?

Social media is fantastic because it allows users to constantly contact others, promote brands and businesses, shop, read the news, and so much more. This is why Facebook, Instagram, and other social media outlets in 2021, are often some of the most visited apps and sites.

So, day in and day out as a user clicks links, uploads data, and generally interacts with a platform, the temporary file storage begins to fill. Letting these files remain in a webpage’s possession is a privacy risk. What’s even worse, is sometimes they can become corrupted and create some majorly apparent problems that can cause the user to clear Facebook cache.

Some signs that the files have to be cleared are:

  • Facebook does not appear properly in a web browser
  • Updated information is not displaying after saving
  • Profile and headline photos do not update after changing
  • Edited comments are not showing changes
  • The Facebook app is taking up more storage than usual

How to Clear Facebook Cache on the iPhone App

There are two approaches to clear FB cache on iPhone – through the app and the phone’s settings. If the Facebook app is accessible, doing it is a simple method of handling the problem.

However, sometimes Facebook is completely unable to be opened due to the corrupted files. In that case, a user will want to delete them through the iPhone app settings menu.

Clearing the Facebook Cache Through the App

If the 2021 native application has some issues but is still accessible – be certain to log in, then follow these steps: 

  1. Tap the three lines button in the top right corner.
  2. Locate and select “Privacy and Settings.”
  3. This will generate a drop-down menu. Choose “Settings.”
  4. Find “Browser.” Select it.
  5. Locate the option “Clear browsing data.”

Erasing Facebook Cache Data through the iPhone App Settings

Sometimes, it isn’t an option to clear Facebook app cache. Additionally, it can still leave behind a lot of data that bogs down the iPhone’s storage.

Follow these steps to erase the rest of the data. 

  1. Open the “Settings” app on the iPhone.
  2. Navigate to “General,” then “Usage,” “Manage Storage,” and finally, “Facebook.”
  3. Select “Delete App” and uninstall the application from the iPhone.
  4. Reinstall the application through the app store. The files will be cleared, and all Facebook. Profile information and uploads will be untouched.

How to Clear Cache on Facebook for Android

The method for how to clear cache on Facebook on Android is a little more straightforward. In fact, there is no need to log into the application at all.

Just follow these five steps.

  1. Locate and open the “Settings” app on the Android phone.
  2. Tap to open the “Apps & Notifications” option.
  3. Find Facebook in the apps list and select it. It may be in the recent apps, or the user may need to select “Show All” to locate it.
  4. Press “Storage” or “Storage & Cache,” depending on the Android version.
  5. Simply select “Clear Cache.”

Emptying Facebook’s Open Graph Cache

Open Graph API is a technique for users to add tags to their Facebook data that tells other websites what to show and say when they are shared. This is super important for SEO and brand expansion.

Unfortunately, when the cache for these tags is overfilled, the information on the summary cards and the images themselves may not be displayed correctly, which is a huge problem. To locate where issues lie, users can use a Facebook link scraper and debugger.

What are Social Media Summary Cards?

Summary cards are the displayed bits of text next to an image when a post is shared on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. This information is curated explicitly by the linked blog or article’s creator, which is why it is important to them that the information display accurately.

Often, creators have to update summary cards to reflect changing information or implement more effective keywords. When these changes do not correctly display, it can hurt their engagement and site traffic.

Clearing Open Graph Cache with a Debugger

When these problems arise, it is typically handled through the use of a sharing debugger. This Facebook debugger is a convenient option for locating the source of any issues in the way a summary card is displayed.

The tool can be accessed through Facebook for Developers.

Once on the developer website, follow these steps:

  1. Locate “More” at the top of the page and select it.
  2. Choose “Tools.”
  3. Click “Sharing Debugger.”
  4. Sign in to Facebook.
  5. Make sure the webpage is on the “Sharing Debugger” tab.

Once on the debugger tab, the program will ask the user to insert a link to the malfunctioning post.

The tool then works by:

  • Pulling the information stored in the URLs
  • Identifying any errors or concerning the stored items
  • Alerting the user to the issues as well as any missing Facebook application IDs
  • Displaying a breakdown of any errors and a log showing when and how the URL was last scraped.

From there, the Facebook image debugger will allow the user to preview how the summary card currently looks. If the card is incorrect, the user can choose “Scrape Again,” forcing the debugger to delete the link cache and correct any issues.

Clear Multiple Links’ Cache at Once

The Facebook debugger is a great tool that can offer in-depth insight into a malfunctioning summary card. However, if there are issues with multiple links and time is of the essence, the multi-batch method is a faster way to go.

This tool is called the batch invalidator, and it is located on the tab directly to the right of the sharing debugger.

Here, the user can enter as many URLs as they need and follow the same steps to clear all the link’s caches simultaneously.

Don’t Forget to Clear Your Browser Cache

Whether using Facebook or any other website, clearing the browser is a great way to boost speed, enhance privacy, and optimize functionality. There are many different browsers out there, but here are the methods for the five most popular options.

Google Chrome

Chrome 2021 has one of the lengthier techniques to delete the browser cache, but it is still fairly straightforward.

Begin by opening Chrome, then follow these steps:

  1. Click the menu button, which looks like three stacked dots, at the screen’s top right.
  2. Find the “Settings” option and select it.
  3. Scroll until you find “Clear browsing data.”
  4. In the new window, switch to the “Advanced” tab.
  5. Ensure that the “Cached files and images” selection is marked.
  6. Choose a time frame in the drop-down menu.
  7. Press “Clear data.”

Safari

Safari has the right idea when it comes to deleting browsing data. That is, it is an easy 3-step process.

Open the browser, then follow these steps:

  1. Click the “Safari” menu.
  2. Choose “Clear history.”
  3. Select a time frame and select “Empty Cache.”

Mozilla Firefox

The 2021 version of Firefox has steadily become a popular choice in browsers due to its extensive add-on options, focus on privacy, and easily maintained features.

It is no surprise that clearing the browser’s temporary data is a breeze.

Simply:

  1. Click the three stacked lines in the top right corner of the browser.
  2. Select “Clear recent history.”
  3. Tap “Cache,” and feel free to uncheck all other options.
  4. Press “Clear now,” then “Done.”

Opera

Opera is a highly customizable browser that has multiple menu options. This means there are two different ways to access the cache information. To start, if you use the horizontal menu, press “Tools.” If you use the side menu, press “Settings.”

Now, follow these steps:

  1. Choose “Preferences,” then “Advanced.”
  2. Select the “History” tab.
  3. Click “Disk cache,” then “Empty now.”
  4. Press “OK.”

Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer is a classic browser that uses a lot of keyboard commands to enter menus.

So to begin clearing the cache: 

  1. Click [ctrl], [shift], [del] at the same time.
  2. Select “Delete browser history.”
  3. Choose “Temporary Internet files.”
  4. Click “Delete.”

Using Facebook on the iPhone Without the Native App

Constantly monitoring Facebook’s app cache can take away the joy of using the platform. Luckily, there is a method for iPhone users to enjoy Facebook without opening the app at all. This is done by adding a bookmark to the home screen.

Here is how to create that direct link:

  1. Open Safari for iPhone.
  2. Navigate to Facebook.com and log in.
  3. Click “Share.”
  4. Search through the options for “Share to home screen.”

Once the page is shared to the home screen, a user can click the shared link to access a Facebook version that doesn’t collect data.

FAQ

How Do I Find Facebook Cache?

To locate a cached version of Facebook, a user must want to do a little digging. Popular websites dedicated to storing internet archives are no longer indexing Facebook. Instead, users must rely on search engines alone.

Here is how it is done:

  1. Open up a search engine.
  2. In the search dialogue box type, “site:facebook.com”
  3. After typing the command enter a space, then type in the profile name of the Facebook user
  4. Click the “Search” button
  5. Carefully search the results page until the cached information is located.
  6. Click the cached version of the link. On Google, this is an option on the right; on Bing, this looks like a download button.

What Happens if You Clear Cache on Facebook App?

Doing it removes broken temporary files and increases load speeds, app reliability, and functionality. It does not delete profile photos, saved profile information, or other important Facebook page details.

How Often Does Facebook Clear Cache?

Typically, temporary items are stored for about 30 days. However, when they become corrupt or other errors occur, these can accumulate and cause problems that require the user to manually help Facebook clear cache files.

How Often Should You Clear Facebook Cache?

It is recommended that users do it at least once a month. This allows for the deletion of corrupt files not removed by the standard flushing performed by apps. For browsers and apps used frequently, consider clearing the cached every two weeks.

Improve Your Social Media Experience

No matter where Facebook is accessed, there is a functional need for the platform to collect data pieces. When these bits pile too high, things can begin acting pretty strangely.

Following the steps to empty temporary files is a great way to get the platform working properly again and get users back to happily scrolling feeds and connecting with friends.

Do you have any great tips for maintaining the Facebook app? Leave your suggestions in the comments.

Published: February 10, 2021Updated: February 10, 2021

Matt Robinson

Matt is an experienced technical writer and translator skilled in writing targeted texts for a variety of audiences. He has a diversified background, including social media management of various products. He is a data-driven strategist and a passionate story-teller. He posts about all social innovations and delivers high-quality research and content to our readers.

How to Clear the Facebook App Cache on iPhone - Explained

Clearing the app cache should generally be part of your routine - it helps the app a lot and is always useful as it frees up phone memory. Yes, the cache is designed to make the app load faster when you launch it, but often the cache becomes clogged and you still have to clear it, if not manually, then through a special built-in app cleaner.

They are usually built into the smartphone and always offer to clear the memory after a certain time, simply by clearing all the garbage that is stored in the cache of various applications.

The purpose of this article is to help you clear the Facebook cache on your iPhone. There are several methods to clear the cache on iPhone:

  • Clear the cache using the Facebook app
  • Clear the entire cache of the phone using the iPhone Cleaner Software
  • Clear the cache by completely uninstalling the app
  • Clear the cache if you are using any browser

How to clear the cache through the Facebook app

The Facebook app includes a built-in clear cache feature for when you need it. Here's how to do it:

  • Open the Facebook app on your iPhone
  • There, in the iPhone Facebook app, tap Learn more > Settings > Account settings
  • Select option Account settings and scroll down to Browser
  • On this page, click option Clear data, to clear your phone's cookies and cache. (Sometimes these caches and cookies accumulate on websites you visit with Facebook)

How to clear all your phone's cache with iPhone Cleaner Software

Similarly, with Facebook, you can use a third-party iPhone app. It's pretty simple - all you need to do is download the manager software on your PC and connect your iPhone to your PC via a USB cable to scan the device. You can use this manager software to free up space on your device. For example, you can download these applications:

  • Syncios iOS Eraser
  • iOTransfer

How to clear the cache by completely uninstalling the application

If none of the above helps and the memory is still full, then deleting Facebook from the phone will be a radical way. Don't worry, your Facebook data won't go anywhere, but the cache and all data associated with the smartphone app itself will be deleted. When you reinstall Facebook, everything will return to its place and the cache will be cleared. Here's how to do it:

  • Go to Settings , click General > Storage > Manage storage
  • Find Facebook, then click
  • After clicking the Facebook button, you can delete the application again
  • install Facebook

How to clear your browser cache

Using Facebook through the app will help you save space on your phone, but the experience of using the Facebook app is much nicer than using the browser. But still, here's how to clear the cache in the browser.

To clean the cache in Safari:

  • Go to Settings > Safari > Additional > Web Sit Remove all data from the site >
Chrome app > In the lower right corner, click on 3 dots To clear the cache in Google Chrome:

  • (More) button
  • Go to Settings > Privacy > Clear browsing data
  • Clear browsing data (make sure Browsing history, Cookies, Site data, Cached images and files").

Now you can delete or free up space on your phone, control its performance and speed by simply periodically clearing the application cache.

Discuss

Similar articles

More for you

A specific guide to clearing the Facebook cache for Windows/Mac/Android/iOS

Is your Facebook getting slower and slower? You must be wondering how to clear the Facebook cache. There are different solutions for different devices. On Windows and Mac, you really need to clear the Facebook cache by clearing the File Explorer cache and cookies. But on smartphones, you just need to clear the cache of the Facebook app. This article provides solutions for all platforms to clear the Facebook cache.

  • Part 1: 2 Ways to Clear Facebook Cache on iOS
  • Part 2: How to Clear Facebook Cache on Android
  • Part 3: 3 Methods to Clear the Facebook Cache in Different Browsers on Windows
  • Part 4: How to Clear Facebook Cache on Mac
  • Part 5: Frequently asked questions about clearing the Facebook cache

Part 1: 2 ways to clear the Facebook cache on iOS

There are three ways to clear the Facebook cache on iOS. You can choose the one you like.

Method 1: Clear Facebook Cache with Aiseesoft iPhone Cleaner

Aiseesoft iPhone Cleaner is the best tool to clear Facebook cache. It cleans not only the Facebook cache but also other junk files including crash logs, iOS junk files, app caches and temporary files on your iPhone. You can also use it to backup and restore your iPhone and manage your photos and videos in a very efficient way.

Download

Aiseesoft iPhone Cleaner

  • One-click to clear Facebook cache without complicated operations.
  • Identify and delete junk files on your iPhone to free up space.
  • Ability to scan and present all applications on your iPhone.
  • Efficiently manage your album by compressing and exporting photos.

Step 1.

Download this best iPhone cleaner from the official website and launch it. Connect your iPhone to your computer with a USB cable. Also make sure iTunes is already installed on your computer.

Step 2.

When a notification appears on the iPhone screen, tap the Trust button.

Step 3.

You should now see a Quick Scan button on the program's main interface. Click on it.

Step 4.

When the scan is completed, locate the Erase Junk Files section and click the Erase button to clear the Facebook cache.

Step 5.

Check all the boxes for Image Cache, iTunes Cache, Invalid Files, Downloaded Temporary Files, and Crash Log Files. Then just click on the Erase button in the bottom right corner.

You can also return to the main interface to use the other 3 Erase buttons to delete apps, delete large files and clean up photos for your iPhone.

Method 2: clear the cache in the Facebook app

The Facebook app also allows you to clear the Facebook cache.

Step 1.

Locate and tap the Settings button.

Step 2.

Select Account Settings.

Step 3.

Enter Browser and then click the Clear Data button.

Method 3: Clear the Facebook cache in iOS settings

If you uninstall Facebook and reinstall it, the cache will be deleted. This is also a practical method.

Step 1.

Enter the Settings app on your iPhone

Step 2.

Select the General option (gear icon).

Step 3.

Click iPhone Storage and search for Facebook. Here you can also see how much space your apps are taking up. Hence, you can get more space on iPhone.

Step 4.

Find and tap Facebook. Select Uninstall app at the bottom.

Step 5.

Open the App Store and reinstall Facebook. You have now completed the task of clearing Facebook cache on iPhone.

Part 2: How to clear the Facebook cache on Android

Unlike clearing the Facebook cache on a computer, you just need to clear the cache for the Facebook app on Android smartphones. Just follow these steps.

Step 1.

Click to enter Settings app

Step 2.

Select the Apps & Notifications option from the list.

Step 3.

Find Facebook in the application list and tap it.

Step 4.

Press storage. Then you simply select the Clear Cache option to clear the Facebook cache.

Note: The steps to clear the Facebook cache on Android may vary from model to model.

Part 3: 3 Methods to Clear the Facebook Cache in Different Browsers on Windows

On Windows and Mac, you must log in to Facebook through the browser. So clearing the Facebook cache means clearing the cache and cookies of the browser. Windows has many browsers. Take Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer 10, and Chrome as examples.

How to clear the Facebook cache in Microsoft Edge

Step 1.

Launch Microsoft Edge. Click the Settings icon and more button. The icon for it looks like three dots. Select Settings from the list.

Step 2.

Select the Privacy and Services tab in the sidebar on the left.

Step 3.

Click Choose what to clear the button.

Step 4.

You should be in the Clear Browsing Data window now. in the Time Range list, you simply select All Time.

Step 5.

Check the two boxes for Cookies and other site data and Cached images and other files. Then click the Now clear button.

How to clear the Facebook cache in Internet Explorer 10

Step 1.

Launch Internet Explorer on your computer.

Step 2.

Click the Tools (Alt + X) button in the upper right corner (gear icon).

Step 3.

Select Preservation and click Delete Browsing History.

Step 4.

Check Temporary Internet Files and Website Files box, Cookies and Websites box, and History box. Then click the Delete button at the bottom of the window. Click the button with three vertical dots in the upper right corner of the browser. Select More tools and then type Clear browsing data. ..

Step 2.

In the Time range box, select All time.

Step 3.

Check the Cookies and other site data and Cached images and other files box. Then click the Clear Data button in the lower right corner of the window.

Part 4: How to Clear the Facebook Cache on Mac

Just like on Windows, users can use different browsers to access Facebook. Clearing the Facebook cache on Mac is almost the same as clearing the Facebook cache on Windows. However, we need to talk about how to do this in Safari.

How to clear Facebook cache in Safari

Step 1.

Open Safari. Click the Safari icon tab in the top left corner. Select your preferences from the dropdown list.

Step 2.

Click Advanced tab. You should now see a window called Show Develop menu in menu bar. Check the box and close the window.

Step 3.

There is now a new menu called Develop in the menu bar. Click on it. From the drop-down list, simply click the Clear Caches button.

Part 5: Frequently Asked Questions about Clearing the Facebook Cache

Why clearing caches can fix everything?

When a website updates its backend, the new version of the website's caches are different from the old caches, so the conflict leads to some weird issues. Thus, clearing old caches can sometimes solve problems.

Do I need to clear my Facebook cache every day?

No. Clearing the Facebook cache is meant to be a quick fix for the problem. If you clear it too often, you will even spend more time waiting for the download.

Is it safe to clear the Facebook cache?

Yes, clearing the Facebook cache is safe. Only non-essential files are stored in the cache.

Conclusion

This article provides 8 ways to clear the Facebook cache on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. On Android and iOS, you can clear the Facebook cache both in the app and in the settings. However, on Windows and macOS, you must clear the Facebook cache by clearing your browser's caches.

Learn more