This article explains how to view the list of all temporary internet files that are stored by the browser on your computer. This is information that is stored locally in order to speed up the loading of the websites that are visited most frequently. It is not possible to view this type of file on mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.
Steps
Method 1 of 5: Google Chrome
Step 1. Launch Google Chrome by clicking the icon
It is characterized by a red, yellow and green circle with a blue sphere in the center.
Step 2. Select the Chrome address bar
It's located at the top of the Chrome window.
Step 3. Type the about: cache command into the address bar
This will display the list of temporary internet files directly within the Chrome window.
Step 4. Press the Enter key
All temporary internet files stored by Chrome will be displayed as a link within a list.
Select one of the links displayed to access detailed information about the chosen item and the site to which it belongs
Method 2 of 5: Firefox
Step 1. Launch Firefox
Double-click the blue globe icon surrounded by an orange fox.
Step 2. Select the Firefox address bar
It is located at the top of the Firefox window.
Step 3. Type the about: cache command into the address bar
This will display the list of temporary internet files directly within the Firefox window.
Step 4. Press the Enter key
The "Network Cache Storage Settings" page will be displayed.
Step 5. Select the blue "List Cache Entries" link
It is displayed in the "Disk" section in the center of the page. You will see a list of all temporary internet files stored by Firefox on your computer.
Method 3 of 5: Microsoft Edge
Step 1. Understand the mechanism Edge uses to store temporary internet files
Microsoft Edge stores this type of file within an inaccessible folder structure unless you know exactly the full path to the file you want to view. Fortunately, there is a program called "IECacheView", which can be downloaded for free, which allows you to view these files.
Step 2. Download IECacheView
Access the following website https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/ie_cache_viewer.html using one of the internet browsers installed on your computer. Scroll to the "Feedback" section at the bottom of the page, then select the link IECacheView download placed within the indicated section. The IECacheView installation file will be downloaded to your computer in ZIP format.
Depending on your internet browser settings, you may need to select the destination folder and press the button Download, OK or Save before the file in question is actually saved locally on the computer.
Step 3. Extract the contents of the IECacheView ZIP archive
Navigate to the folder where you saved the IECacheView ZIP archive, then follow these instructions:
- Double-click the "IECacheView" folder icon.
- Access the card Extract placed in the upper part of the appeared window.
- Push the button Extract everything located in the toolbar of the window in use.
- Push the button Extract located at the bottom of the pop-up window that appeared.
- Wait for the selected folder to be unzipped and its contents to be displayed in the window.
Step 4. Start IECacheView
Double click on the blue and pink icon named "IECacheView" visible inside the folder just extracted from the ZIP archive. After a few moments, the IECacheView program window will appear.
Step 5. Scroll the appeared table to the right to locate and select the Full Path column
It is located in the upper right of the IECacheView program window.
Step 6. Review the temporary files stored by Microsoft Edge on your computer
All files bearing the words "microsoft.microsoftedge_8wekyb3d8bbwe" within the address visible in the field Full Path are temporary Microsoft Edge files.
At this point you can access the complete path of the files in question to select the relative icon with the right mouse button and choose the option Open Cache Sub-Folder from the context menu that will appear.
Method 4 of 5: Internet Explorer
Step 1. Launch Internet Explorer
Click the relevant icon characterized by a light blue "e" surrounded by a yellow ring.
Step 2. Choose the "Settings" option by clicking the icon
It is located in the upper right corner of the Internet Explorer window. The browser main menu will be displayed.
Step 3. Select the Internet Options item
It should be the last option on the drop-down menu that appeared.
Step 4. Press the Settings button
It is located within the "Browsing History" section of the "Internet Options" window.
Step 5. Press the View Files button
It is located at the bottom of the newly appeared dialog.
Step 6. Examine temporary internet files
All the files in the folder that appeared have been stored by Internet Explorer and refer to the websites you have visited.
Method 5 of 5: Safari
Step 1. Understand the mechanism that Safari uses to store temporary internet files
Similar to Microsoft Edge, Safari also stores this type of file within a folder structure. In order to view all Safari temporary files you need to use a free program called "SafariCacheExplorer".
Step 2. Download SafariCacheExplorer
Access the website https://www.beecubu.com/desktop-apps/SafariCacheExplorer/ using your computer's web browser, then press the button Download located at the top right of the page.
Step 3. Install SafariCacheExplorer
Double-click the SafariCacheExplorer DMG file icon, authorize the installation if necessary, then drag the SafariCacheExplorer icon onto the one in the "Applications" folder.
Step 4. Launch SafariCacheExplorer
Access the Mac Launchpad, then select the SafariCacheExplorer program icon. Alternatively, open the search field Spotlight clicking the icon
type in the safaricacheexplorer keyword and select the program icon displayed in the results list.
Step 5. Choose the Display all cached files option
It is located in the upper left of the program window. This way SafariCacheExplorer will display all temporary internet files stored on the Mac by Safari.
Advice
Temporary internet files are of different nature and range from copying images and icons on the websites visited up to files that contain fragments of the latter's code
Warnings
- Some of the temporary files that are stored on your computer cannot be opened or used, as they are created to function exclusively within the context of the website to which they belong.
- Neither Chrome nor Firefox store usable or searchable files on the computer.
