LaTeX PDF Not Updating? Complete Fix Guide

Why Won't My PDF Update?

You made changes. You hit compile. The PDF looks exactly the same. This maddening issue has caused researchers to question their sanity. Let's fix it.

Cause #1: Browser/Viewer Cache

The most common cause. Your PDF viewer or browser is showing a cached version.

Symptoms:

• Changes definitely saved in .tex file

• Compile says "success"

• PDF looks unchanged

Fixes:

• Browser: Hard refresh (Ctrl+Shift+R or Cmd+Shift+R)

• PDF viewer: Close and reopen the file

• Overleaf: Click the PDF panel, then refresh

• Octree: We handle cache invalidation automatically

Cause #2: Compilation Errors (Hidden)

Some errors don't stop compilation but prevent updates.

Symptoms:

• Compile completes

• Log shows warnings/errors you ignored

• Part of document looks old

Fix: Check the full compilation log. Look for:

• "Rerun to get cross-references right"

• "Label(s) may have changed"

• Package-specific errors

With Octree: Errors are highlighted in-editor. No need to hunt through logs.

Cause #3: Auxiliary File Corruption

LaTeX creates .aux, .toc, .lof, and other helper files. When corrupted, weird things happen.

Symptoms:

• Random behavior

• Cross-references broken

• Suddenly started after working fine

Fix: 1. Delete all auxiliary files: .aux, .toc, .lof, .lot, .bbl, .blg, *.out 2. Recompile from scratch

Octree approach: We manage auxiliary files automatically. One-click "clean compile" when needed.

Cause #4: Multiple Main Files

Some IDEs get confused about which file is the "main" document.

Symptoms:

• Compiling produces an old PDF

• Changes in chapters don't appear

• Works when compiling the chapter directly

Fix: Ensure you're compiling the main document, not a chapter.

Octree fix: Project structure is explicit. No confusion about main files.

Cause #5: Draft Mode

If you added draft to your document class, images might not render.

Symptoms:

• Images show as empty boxes

• Compile is fast

• Text is correct

Fix: Remove draft option from \documentclass.

Cause #6: \input / \include Issues

Changes in included files sometimes don't trigger recompilation.

Symptoms:

• Main file compiles fine

• Changes in included chapters don't appear

Fix:

• Force full recompile

• Touch the main .tex file (add/remove a space)

Octree fix: Our incremental compilation watches all project files automatically.

Nuclear Option: Full Clean Rebuild

If nothing else works:

1. Delete ALL generated files (everything except .tex, .bib, images) 2. Close and reopen your editor 3. Compile twice (for cross-references) 4. Hard refresh your PDF viewer

Prevention

• Use an editor with automatic cache handling (like Octree)

• Compile frequently to catch issues early

• Keep auxiliary files in a separate folder

• Don't ignore warnings

Never debug PDF caching again. Octree handles compilation intelligently so your PDF always reflects your latest changes. Try it free.