Google’s page cache can be a lifesaver. However, the method for accessing cached pages seems to change daily given the tech giant’s move to streamline search results and remove once-notable features such as Instant Previews, Quick View, and other similar, low-usage functions. Cached pages essentially function as quick data snapshots Google compares with your search query, providing a convenient means for accessing back-up versions of webpages that may have otherwise be taken down or are heavily congested due to an overwhelming amount of Web traffic. Although not completely necessary, viewing Google’s cached pages opposed to the regularly-formatted pages grants you quicker viewing access by reducing the site’s overall processing and subsequent loading time.
Additionally, it bestows the viewer with the ability to view earlier renditions of certain pages that may have been altered after their original publication or remain hidden behind a subscription-based pay wall, allowing viewers to see outdated or otherwise restricted content. Google certainly hasn’t indexed all sites on the Web — cached links are typically omitted for sites that specifically request their content not be stored or cached — but most cached pages are available through various links embedded in the search results or directly accessible through the address bar. However, finding the cache can be considered more of a cache-22 of of sorts than an everyday walk in the park.
Here’s our brief guide on how to directly access Google’s cached pages, so you can load pages quicker and discover older content you may have missed. Additionally, check out our guides on how to clear your browser’s cache if you’re looking to retrieve the latest website content, or our guide on how to enable browser cookies if you’re experiencing trouble accessing various elements within a site.
Nothing at Google remains the same for long. Although the company once offered the ability to view cached pages within the Instant Preview panel while hovering the mouse over a specified search result, that is no longer the case. However, users can still view cached pages from within the search results using the green drop-down arrow whenever available. It’s quick and easy, however restricted it may be at times.
Step 1: Perform a Google search — Navigate to the main Google homepage, enter your desired search query or sought information in the resulting text field below the logo, and click the gray Google Search button located in the bottom left, below the entry field.
Step 2: Access the desired cached page — Locate the the webpage you wish to view within the search results. Once found — and if available — click the small, green drop-down arrow located directly right of the webpage’s respective URL, beneath the blue heading title. Afterward, select the Cached option at the top of the resulting drop-down menu to view the cached version of said page. Although not always the case, a gray banner will typically appear at the top of the cached page indicating the exact date and time when the snapshot was taken. The banner will also supply links to the most recent version of the page, along with additional information from Google pertaining to cached links.
It’s not always necessary to search and discover the right webpage if you already have the exact URL in mind. Thanks to Google’s innate address-search omnibar, navigating to a cached page of said site is as simple as entering a word directly in front of the URL. It’s quicker, assuming you have the Web address in mind, if not more convenient.
Step 1: Locate the webpage — Whether you already have the URL on hand or discover the address through a quick search, locate the webpage you wish to view a cached version thereof. As previously mentioned, not all websites offer cached pages, but most offer some cached version of the page however dated it may be.
Step 2: Enter the “cache” in the address bar — Once the desired URL for the page you wish to view a cached version of is inserted in the address bar, enter “cache:” directly in front of the text. If you were viewing www.digitaltrends.com for instance, you would simply want to enter “cache:www.digitaltrends.com” in the address bar to view the cached page instead of the standard version. Although not always the case, a gray banner will typically appear at the top of the cached page indicating the exact date and time when the snapshot was taken. The banner will also supply links to the most recent version of the page, along with additional information from Google pertaining to cached links.
What do you think of our simple guide on how to directly access Google cached pages? Do you know of a better method? Let us know in the comments below.
The absolutely absurd idea of putting a touchscreen display on a mouse isn't exactly new. Turtle Beach already did it with its Command Series MC7, which features a 2.25-inch control screen. But apparently, even that wasn't ridiculous enough for Arctic Fox Technologies. Its new Super Mouse looks like someone took the chunky old Atari ST mouse, slapped a touchscreen and scroll wheel on it, and called it an upgrade.
The result is a rather unusual-looking mouse that is now on Kickstarter, starting at $199. And as ridiculous as it looks, some of its features are genuinely intriguing.
Apple is less than a day away from launching its highly anticipated OLED MacBook Pro with a touch-sensitive screen. But it appears that the upgrade is going to cost a pretty penny. According to a report by Bloomberg, Apple is reportedly eyeing a starting price of $2,899 for the 14-inch MacBook Pro, while the 16-inch version could start at $3,399 in the US.
"At $2,899, the 14-inch model would mark the highest starting price for a new MacBook Pro model, surpassing the $2,799 Apple charged for a 17-inch version introduced in 2006," says the report. The report claims that Apple is targeting a minimum price hike of $400 for its upcoming redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models.
I've spent a good amount of time digging into the spec sheet of the new M6 MacBook Pro (14-inch), and for all intents and purposes, this is a classic Apple "chip and connectivity" refresh. It's not a full redesign. The chassis, Liquid Retina XDR panel, speakers, ports, and battery, all of them carry over unchanged.
However, the M6 brings more cores, stronger on-device AI, higher memory bandwidth on the larger configs, and modern wireless. Here’s the practical rundown of what actually improved, and whether those gains are worth your money.