# Clearing the Smarty cache in PrestaShop

> Clear PrestaShop's Smarty cache from the admin panel, the command line or cPanel so your theme changes show up on the site.

Source: https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/apps/prestashop/clearing-the-smarty-cache-in-prestashop/

PrestaShop themes use the **Smarty PHP template engine**. If you make modifications to a theme, you may need to clear the **Smarty cache** to see the changes. On **ruachost.com**, you can clear the cache either through the administration interface or manually via the command line/cPanel.

## Why Clear the Smarty Cache?

- Ensures theme modifications are visible immediately.
- Prevents outdated templates from being served.
- Improves troubleshooting when changes don’t appear.

## Methods to Clear the Smarty Cache

### Method 1: Using the PrestaShop Administration Interface

1. Log in to PrestaShop as the **administrator**.
2. On the left‑side menu bar, click **Advanced Parameters → Performance**.
3. In the **Smarty** section:

   - Under **Template compilation**, select **Force compilation**.
   - Under **Cache**, select **No**.
4. Click **Save**.
5. Refresh the pages you want to view — your changes should now appear.

**Tip:** After verifying changes, re‑enable Smarty caching to take advantage of performance benefits.

### Method 2: Using the Command Line or cPanel

If the PrestaShop admin interface is inaccessible, you can clear the cache manually:

1. Log in to your account using **SSH** or **cPanel File Manager**.
2. Navigate to the `public_html` directory.
3. In the directory where PrestaShop is installed, delete all content in the following folders **except** the `index.php` file:

   - `img/tmp`
   - `cache/smarty/cache`
   - `cache/smarty/compile`
4. Refresh your site pages — changes should now be visible.

## Important Notes

- Do not delete the `index.php` file in these directories.
- Always back up your site before making manual changes.
- Re‑enable caching after updates to maintain performance.