What To Do If A Page Won't Load

If you're experiencing trouble with a page not loading, you may see a loading icon in the center of the screen. It is also possible a page just simply won't load at all. The most common resolution for this is to clear your cache/cookies/history. The steps vary slightly depending on what web browser you're using. Here are steps for how to resolve in a Google Chrome browser, the most common option for users of Referins. (Scroll down for some Safari troubleshooting tips.)

Step 1: Clear Your Site Data.

• Right-click on the screen.
• Select "Inspect" > "Application".
• (You may need to click the >> to view "Application").
• Choose "Storage" from the menu.
• Click the "Clear Site Data" button

Step 2: Clear Your Cookies.

• Click the lock icon next to the URL of the page (in this example we use google.com but you'll want to use the actual page that isn't loading)
• Select "Cookies".

• Click the "Remove" button in the popup window that appears.

Step 3: Do a hard refresh of the web browser.

• On a PC, use the command Control + F5.
• On a Mac, use the command Command + R.

Step 4:  Reset Chrome Flags.

• If the hard refresh of the web browser still didn't work, enter this into your search bar: chrome://flags/

• When the page loads, reset all to default.
• Then do another hard refresh of the browser.

Steps to clear Safari cache:

Step 1: Click the "Safari" drop-down menu.

Step 2: Select "Preferences". Click on the "Advanced" tab.

Step 3: Choose the "Show Develop" menu in the menu bar checkbox, and then close the Preferences window.

Step 4: Choose the "Develop" drop-down menu.

Step 5: Click "Empty Cache".

Step 6: Refresh your web browser

FAQ:

5. How do I know if a browser extension is causing the issue?
Try disabling all extensions and then reloading the page. If the issue is resolved, re-enable extensions one by one to identify which one is causing the problem.

6. What is a hard refresh, and how is it different from a regular refresh?
A hard refresh bypasses the cached files and forces the browser to load the most recent version of the page from the server.

7. Can I follow the same steps to clear cache and cookies in other browsers like Firefox or Edge?
The steps are similar but may vary slightly. In most browsers, you can access these settings through the menu options or by right-clicking on the page and selecting developer tools.

8. Will clearing cookies log me out of websites?
Yes, clearing cookies will likely log you out of websites as it removes stored login sessions and preferences.

9. How often should I clear my cache and cookies to avoid loading issues?
While there’s no strict rule, clearing cache and cookies every few weeks or when you notice loading problems can help prevent issues.