The published link doesn't show my latest changes. Why?
Last updated
Symptom
In the tool, the app has the new changes. On your phone, through the published link, it's still the old version.
Cause
Preview and publishing are not the same thing. The preview is your workspace: it changes with every request, even when something breaks. The published link is the version other people see, and it only changes when you tell it to.
This separation is a safeguard. It lets you test freely without the people who use your app seeing things half-finished.
In Lovable, for example, the official documentation explains that the published site is a copy from the moment of publishing and that changes only go live when you publish again. In Bolt, after the first publish, the button is renamed “Update”.
If the published link is up to date but broken while the preview works, the cause is a different one. See Lovable preview works but the published site doesn’t.
Prompt to paste
Copy the text below, replace what’s in brackets and send it in the chat of the tool you’re using.
I made changes to the app, but the published link still shows the old version.
Explain, step by step and in plain English, how to update the published version in this tool.How not to burn credits
- Before asking the AI, look for the publish button and publish again. In Bolt, after the first publish, the button is renamed "Update". If that solves it, you didn't need to send any message.
- Reload the page or open the link in a private (incognito) window before you ask for a fix. The browser may be showing a saved copy.
- Don't ask the AI to "fix" the published site when it's only out of date. The code is fine; it just hasn't been published again.
How Lovable counts credits, and what the free plan includes: Lovable credits explained.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to publish again after every change?
You need to publish whenever you want people to see the changes. It's often better to gather a few tweaks, test everything in the preview and only then publish.
I already published again and it's still old. Now what?
Your browser may be showing a saved copy. Reload the page, open it in a private (incognito) window or wait a few minutes.