Troubleshooting Version Updating Modal

Troubleshooting Update & Caching Issues


If Watchtower isn't loading the latest version or behaving unexpectedly, your browser's service worker cache may be out of date. Follow these steps to resolve the issue.


Symptoms


  • You see a "New Version Available" banner that won't go away after clicking
  • Features appear missing or broken
  • The app shows "Issue Updating" message
  • Pages display outdated information


Step 1: Click the Update Banner


When a new version is available, a banner appears in the bottom-left corner. Click "Click to Force Reload" to download and install the update. Your browser will refresh automatically once the download completes.


Step 2: Wait for the Download


After clicking, you'll see a spinner with "downloading new version." This typically takes a few seconds. If it takes longer than 10 seconds, click the banner again to force a reload.


Step 3: Clear Cache (If Update Fails)


If you've clicked the update banner twice and still see the "Issue Updating" message:


  1. Click the "Click to Clear Cache" button
  2. This opens a special page that unregisters the service worker
  3. Once complete, you'll be redirected to a fresh version of Watchtower


Still Having Issues?


If the above steps don't work, try these manual fixes:


Clear Service Worker Directly


Visit app.yourwatchtower.com/clearsw.html to unregister the service worker and clear the cache automatically.


Hard Refresh


  • Windows/Linux: Press Ctrl + Shift + R
  • Mac: Press Cmd + Shift + R


Clear Browser Cache Manually


  1. Open your browser settings
  2. Navigate to Privacy/Security → Clear Browsing Data
  3. Select "Cached images and files"
  4. Click Clear Data
  5. Reload Watchtower


iOS Safari Issues


Important: Many service worker issues on iOS are caused by bugs in older Safari versions. Apple has fixed several critical issues in recent updates. We strongly recommend updating to iOS 17.4 or later for the most reliable experience with Watchtower.


To update: Go to Settings → General → Software Update



iOS Safari handles service workers differently than other browsers, which can cause updates to get stuck. Common causes include:


  • Home Screen apps cache aggressively – PWAs added to the home screen maintain their own separate cache that doesn't sync with Safari
  • Background refresh limitations – iOS restricts background processes, preventing service worker updates
  • Storage pressure – iOS may evict service worker caches when storage is low, then serve stale content


iOS Troubleshooting Steps


  1. Close and reopen Safari completely


  • Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the app switcher
  • Swipe Safari away to force-close it
  • Reopen Safari and navigate to Watchtower


  1. Clear Safari website data


  • Go to Settings → Safari → Advanced → Website Data
  • Search for "watchtower" and swipe to delete
  • Reload the app


  1. If using "Add to Home Screen" app
  • Delete the home screen icon
  • Clear Safari website data (step above)
  • Re-add the app to your home screen from Safari


If problems persist after trying all steps, contact support with your browser name, version, and a screenshot of the update banner.


Updated on: 15/01/2026

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