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• Prevents outdated templates from being served.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.