Removing HTML5 Offline AppCache

Asked 29/10, 2011 at 8:13 Answered 10/10, 2014 at 20:0

Solved html offline-caching manifest.cache cache-manifest html5-appcache

I have an HTML document with an associated appcache manifest. But now I want to get rid of offline application caching for a while.

If I remove mention of the manifest from the <html> tag, browsers that already have a cached version will continue to use that cached version.

If I update the appcache manifest, well, whatever, there is still an appcache.

What is the most sensible way to go about removing offline application caching? I suppose that I could just change the manifest to have no entries other than:

NETWORK:
*

Then it won't actually cache anything.

But surely there must be a way to get rid of the appcache and the manifest file altogether, no?

Amora answered 29/10, 2011 at 8:13 Comment(3)

possible duplicate of Removing HTML5 Appcache Manifest, Permanently – Peden 31/7, 2012 at 18:11

@KyleTrauberman This question was asked on October 29, 2011. The duplicate you suggest was asked this year (2012), after this question was asked. – Amora 31/7, 2012 at 18:40

interesting. I didn't select it, it was automatically suggested by the new beta review system. It looked like a good match, so I voted on it. – Peden 31/7, 2012 at 18:45

You simply need to remove the appcache manifest from your server. If the browser can't access the manifest file, it will stop caching your app and remove all cached data.

Some useful information from two sites:

If the manifest file itself can't be retrieved, the cache will ignored and all cached data associated with it will be disregarded.

http://appcache.offline.technology/

Application caches can also become obsolete. If the manifest is removed from the server, the browser removes all application caches that use that manifest, then sends an "obsoleted" event to the application cache object. Then the application cache's status is set to OBSOLETE.

https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Offline_resources_in_Firefox

Cruces answered 29/10, 2011 at 20:52 Comment(4)

after deleting it, you can test for it with this line of js; when the 404 from the deleted manifest returns, this is fired off: appCache.addEventListener('obsolete', handleCacheEvent, false); – Swart 29/10, 2011 at 20:55

maybe you could help me? #9287544 – Mcevoy 15/2, 2012 at 3:26

This didn't work in Firefox for me. Firefox continued to use the cached appcache when it received a 404. Solution here: https://mcmap.net/q/503509/-removing-html5-appcache-manifest-permanently – Liberality 26/6, 2015 at 22:42

This answer is incorrect, the correct solution is detailed here: https://mcmap.net/q/489124/-removing-html5-offline-appcache – Tetrastichous 26/6, 2020 at 3:41

FOR anyone coming across this question and who've deleted the appcache manifest, deleted the browser's cache and removed the manifest from the server and the reference to it in the HTML: If this still did not cause your HTML document to load the update version in Google Chrome, you can go to chrome://appcache-internals/ in your browser and click REMOVE next to the manifest you wish to get rid of.

Miliary answered 28/12, 2012 at 13:55 Comment(1)

The only situation I can imagine this happening in is if you have not set the conventional HTTP cache expiration for your manifest to immediate expiration. Also, and minor point perhaps, but this answer isn't really an answer to the question asked. It's an answer to "how do I remove it from my browser", not how to remove it for everyone who visits my site. Still, very useful info for Chrome users! – Amora 28/12, 2012 at 20:51

Manually delete app cache: Only for Chrome

Enter the follow URL in your chrome browser: chrome://appcache-internals/

There you will see a list of every application cache you have in storage with the possibility to remove any of them.

Reference

Stacee answered 10/10, 2014 at 20:0 Comment(0)

In modern Firefox you can manipulate the offline cache with Edit Preferences Advanced Network.

In windows it is now (v27.01) Tools Options Advanced Network

Hummocky answered 25/9, 2013 at 15:44 Comment(0)

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