Member Avatar for sree_ec

Where is the location for temporary files of Firefox in Windows xp. I am asking for latest versions of firefox( 5.0 or higher)

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Brief update (current Firefox behavior and practical steps)

Firefox keeps personal data (bookmarks, prefs, extensions) separate from large temporary files. In recent releases the on‑disk HTTP cache uses the cache2 format and is normally stored in the profile's Local AppData folder (a different place than the roaming profile where your settings live). Use the Troubleshooting Information / about:profiles page to open the Local Directory, or open about:cache to see the browser's disk cache device and its entries. (support.mozilla.org)

What you will find on disk and how to extract a file

A modern profile's cache2 folder contains subfolders such as entries and doomed plus index files; individual cached items are saved with opaque (hashed) names and often have no extension, so you will not see the original filename directly. To recover a specific resource: open a tab, go to about:cache, click “List Cache Entries” under the Disk cache device, find the Key (original URL), click it and look for the “file on disk” entry (or use the entry page’s hex dump). If a disk path is shown you can save that item (or right‑click the entry link and “Save Link As…” while Firefox is offline). (firefox-source-docs.mozilla.org)

Optional moves and caveats

If you prefer the physical cache on another drive create the browser.cache.disk.parent_directory string in about:config and point it at a folder — Firefox will create cache2 there after restart. Note: MSIX/Store builds and private‑browsing / “clear on exit” settings change where cache lives or whether it is on disk at all, so check about:profiles/about:support first. (support.mozilla.org)

Notes tied to earlier replies

was right that profile folders look like random strings; that is why the Local cache can be easy to miss. , use the about:cache/about:profiles steps above to locate the cache2 folder and the “file on disk” entries for extraction. If a GUI is preferred there are third‑party cache viewers (mentioned earlier), but the built‑in about pages are usually enough and are documented. (support.mozilla.org)

Recommended Answers

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Member Avatar for G_S

As far as I know, user configuration files are in c:\Documents and Settings\<UserName>\Application Data (<= or however that is called in your language)\Mozilla.

Inside that folder you'll find one folder for extensions and another one for firefox, the latter contains the profile folder, which in turn contais a folder with a random name, the cache files are in there.

The thing ios that Firefox seems to store the cache in a single big file, so it's not like internet explorer.

Member Avatar for sree_ec

In earlier versions of firefox I used to find a Cache folder where all my downloaded files are stored. But with the latest versions, I am able to find only some folders with random numbers inside Cache folder, I am not able to find the actual downloaded file.

The thing ios that Firefox seems to store the cache in a single big file, so it's not like internet explorer.

Do you mean to say, I wont be able to see the files as it is(May be wit some .tmp extension); seperate as in IE or even Chrome ?

Member Avatar for caperjack

In earlier versions of firefox I used to find a Cache folder where all my downloaded files are stored. ?

if you mean files you downloaded and not the saving of temp internet webpages ,then go to tools /general and it will show where all the files you downloaded are stored,not web pages, i personally don't use the term files when referring to web pages

Member Avatar for G_S

I think he means the cached files, not the downloaded ones.


And yes, you can't see Firefox's cached files as easily as you can see Internet Explorer's. But I found this, it could be useful: http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/mozilla_cache_viewer.html

Member Avatar for caperjack

yeah ,that works ,there is 16,097 files in mine lol.time to empty it i guess,as soon as i find out how

Edited by caperjack because: n/a
Member Avatar for sree_ec

Yeah .Right. It works. I dont know how I missed this. Infact, I have used videocacheview from the same company before and It is still there in my PC :'( Thanks a lot [+1] for reminding me about this and I need to upgrade my memory :-O

Member Avatar for G_S

yeah ,that works ,there is 16,097 files in mine lol.time to empty it i guess,as soon as i find out how

If you want to empty the cache just press control+shift+delete (in a PC), it will bring up a menu from where you can choose what to delete, including cache files.

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