Fix Whiteboard Loading Issues – Clear Cache & Cookies
If your online whiteboard is not loading correctly, clearing your browser cache and cookies usually fixes the problem in under 2 minutes. Here is how to do it in every major browser.
Why Clearing Cache Fixes Whiteboard Issues
Your browser stores cached files from websites to load them faster. Sometimes this cached data becomes outdated or corrupted — causing tools like our online whiteboard to fail to load properly, display incorrectly, or behave unexpectedly.
Clearing the cache forces your browser to download fresh files from the website. In most cases, this instantly resolves loading problems, blank screens, or tools that appear broken.
How to Clear Cache in Google Chrome
Open Clear Browsing Data
Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + Shift + Delete (Mac). Or go to the three-dot menu → Settings → Privacy and Security → Clear browsing data.
Select "All Time" and Check the Boxes
Set Time range to All time. Check Cached images and files and Cookies and other site data.
Click "Clear data"
Click the Clear data button. Wait for Chrome to finish (usually a few seconds).
Restart Chrome and Try Again
Close Chrome completely and reopen it. Visit onlinewhiteboard.org/whiteboard/ — it should now load correctly.
How to Clear Cache in Mozilla Firefox
Open Clear Data Dialog
Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + Delete (Mac). Or go to the hamburger menu → Settings → Privacy & Security → Clear Data.
Check Cache and Cookies
Ensure Cached Web Content and Cookies and Site Data are checked. Set Time range to Everything.
Click "Clear Now"
Click Clear Now. Restart Firefox and reload the whiteboard.
How to Clear Cache in Apple Safari
Open Preferences
In the menu bar, click Safari → Settings (or Preferences on older macOS).
Go to Privacy Tab
Click the Privacy tab. Click Manage Website Data then Remove All to clear all cached data and cookies.
Also Clear Cache via Develop Menu
Enable the Develop menu in Safari Advanced settings. Then click Develop → Empty Caches. Restart Safari and reload the whiteboard.
How to Clear Cache in Microsoft Edge
Open Clear Browsing Data
Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete. Or click the three-dot menu → Settings → Privacy, Search and Services → Clear browsing data.
Select Cache and Cookies
Set Time range to All time. Check Cached images and files and Cookies and other site data.
Click "Clear Now"
Click Clear now. Restart Edge and reload the whiteboard.
Other Fixes to Try
If clearing cache doesn't fix the issue, try these additional troubleshooting steps:
- Enable JavaScript: The whiteboard requires JavaScript. Go to your browser settings and ensure JavaScript is enabled.
- Try a different browser: If Chrome isn't working, try Firefox or Edge to isolate whether it's a browser-specific issue.
- Disable browser extensions: Ad blockers or privacy extensions can sometimes interfere with web apps. Try disabling them temporarily.
- Check your internet connection: A slow or unstable connection can cause loading failures. Try refreshing after a few minutes.
- Try Incognito/Private mode: Press Ctrl+Shift+N (Chrome) or Ctrl+Shift+P (Firefox) to open a private window with no extensions and fresh cache.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my online whiteboard not loading?
The most common causes are outdated cached files, JavaScript being disabled, or browser extensions blocking the page. Clearing cache and cookies (steps above) resolves most issues.
Will clearing cookies log me out of other websites?
Yes — clearing all cookies will log you out of other websites where you were signed in. If you want to avoid this, use your browser's option to clear data only for onlinewhiteboard.org specifically.
The whiteboard loads but the tools aren't working. What should I do?
Try a hard refresh first (Ctrl + Shift + R). If that doesn't work, clear cache fully and reload. Also ensure JavaScript is enabled in your browser settings.
The whiteboard doesn't work on my school Chromebook. How do I fix it?
School Chromebooks may have web content filters active. Ask your teacher or IT administrator to allow onlinewhiteboard.org. Once allowed, it will load normally in Chrome.