Why Your Website Shows Old Content on the Frontend but Updates in the Backend: Causes and Fixes

When importing a website into a new environment or updating an existing site, a common issue developers encounter is the mismatch between the frontend (what visitors see) and the backend (admin dashboard). This problem can be frustrating, especially when you know you’ve applied changes in the backend, but the frontend stubbornly displays outdated content.

This post will explore the root causes of this issue and provide step-by-step solutions to resolve it.

Causes and Fixes: Why Your Website Shows Old Content on the Frontend but Updates in the Backend

Why Does This Happen?

1. Caching Issues

One of the most common culprits is caching. Caching mechanisms store static versions of your website to improve performance and reduce server load. These caches can sometimes fail to refresh after updates, causing the frontend to show old content.

Browser Cache: Your browser may still display an old version of the site stored locally.
Server Cache: Hosting environments often implement server-side caching, such as Varnish or NGINX FastCGI cache.
Plugin or CDN Cache: If you use plugins like WP Super Cache or a Content Delivery Network (CDN) like Cloudflare, they may not update the cached content.

2. Database Import Errors

When importing a website, the database migration might not fully sync between the old and new site environments. This can result in frontend pages pulling old data while backend updates reflect correctly.

3. Broken Links Between Files

During an import, paths to themes, stylesheets, or scripts may not update properly. If the frontend is pulling resources from the wrong location, it could lead to the display of outdated content.

4. Incorrect Domain Mapping

If the domain or URL settings in the database or configuration files don’t point to the new environment, the site may still serve content from the old domain, even if the backend updates work.

5. Delayed DNS Propagation

After pointing your domain to a new host, DNS propagation can take 24–48 hours. During this time, some users might still access the old server, leading to discrepancies between the frontend and backend.

6. Theme or Plugin Conflicts

If the imported site’s theme or plugins rely on older configurations, they may fail to render updated changes properly on the frontend.

Solutions to Fix the Website Frontend-Backend Mismatch: Why Your Website Shows Old Content on the Frontend but Updates in the Backend

1. Clear All Caches

Start by clearing all levels of cache to ensure the frontend displays the latest updates.

Browser: Clear your browser cache or open the site in incognito mode.
Server: Log in to your hosting control panel and clear server-side cache. (See details below for wp)
Plugin: If using caching plugins, purge the cache from the plugin settings.
CDN: Access your CDN dashboard (e.g., Cloudflare) and clear cache files.

Server side cache clearance: Using the LiteSpeed Web Cache Manager Plugin

LiteSpeed Cache (LSCache), a built-in plugin for LiteSpeed servers, is one of the most efficient tools for WordPress websites. However, due to differences in how Apache and LiteSpeed servers are configured, your website may require adjustments to fully leverage LiteSpeed’s features.

Managing LSCache: Enable, Disable, or Flush

Below are simple steps to help you enable, disable, or flush LiteSpeed Cache for your website.

How to Enable or Disable LSCache

If you need to turn off LSCache for a particular website or reactivate it, follow these instructions:

Log in to your cPanel.
Navigate to the Advanced section.
Select LiteSpeed Web Cache Manager.

This will allow you to modify the cache settings according to your preferences.

How to Flush LSCache

To ensure your site reflects the latest updates, clearing the cache can be helpful:

Open the LiteSpeed Web Cache Manager in your cPanel.

Click the option to Purge All Cache to remove all cached files and instantly update your site’s content.

Confirm the Action

Completion Message
- Once the process is complete, you will see a message that says: Cache Files Successfully Flushed.
That’s it—you’re done! All cache files for your websites have been cleared, and your updated content will now display properly.

Site should show normal now but if not, then try the next processes below

2. Verify Database Migration

Ensure that all tables and settings were correctly imported during the migration.

Log in to your database manager (e.g., phpMyAdmin).
Check for discrepancies in key tables such as wp_options (for WordPress).
Ensure that the siteurl and home values match the new site URL.

3. Update File Paths

Manually inspect and update file paths if necessary.

Verify that your theme and plugin files are pointing to the correct location on the new server.
If the paths are hardcoded in the database, use a search-and-replace tool to update them.

4. Update Permalinks

For WordPress users:

Go to Settings > Permalinks in the dashboard.
Click “Save Changes” to flush and regenerate the permalinks.

For other CMS platforms, check the URL or routing configurations.

5. Check Domain and URL Settings

Confirm that the new domain is correctly mapped.

For WordPress: Update the siteurl and home fields in wp-config.php or the database.
For custom setups: Edit the configuration files to match the new domain.

6. Wait for DNS Propagation

If DNS changes are recent, you might need to wait for the changes to propagate fully. Use tools like DNS Checker to verify propagation status.

7. Debug Theme and Plugins

Deactivate all plugins and switch to a default theme temporarily to see if the frontend updates. If this resolves the issue:

Reactivate plugins one by one to identify the culprit.
Update outdated themes or plugins to the latest versions.

Preventing Future Issues

To avoid similar problems in future migrations:

Use Reliable Migration Tools: Use plugins like Duplicator, All-in-One WP Migration, or manual scripts for seamless transfers.
Test in a Staging Environment: Always test changes in a staging site before going live.
Document Your Process: Keep a checklist for migrations, including cache clearing, database updates, and DNS checks.

Conclusion

The mismatch between frontend and backend during a site import is often caused by caching, database inconsistencies, or domain configuration issues. By identifying and addressing these causes systematically, you can ensure a smooth transition for your website. Follow the solutions outlined above, and your site will be up and running flawlessly in no time.

For expert advice or assistance, feel free to reach out to me. Let’s ensure your website migration is a success!

Read also:

Why Your Website Shows Old Content on the Frontend but Updates in the Backend: Causes and Fixes