In need of a fast solution for a Firefox cache viewer? Firefox has a nice way to view files that are in both your memory and file cache. When using Firefox view cache by going to the the Address Bar, and type about:cache. This will take you to a page that allows you to view a summary of your browser cache and also will allow you to browse the files stored in the cache. There are various reasons why you might want to view Firefox cache–for example if you’re looking for files you might have downloaded while using Firefox whose name you cannot remember, or if you are interested in keeping closer tabs on your kid’s internet usage. By the way, this Mozilla cache viewer functionality will not work if your cache is disabled in Firefox.
Hit this link to change Firefox cache location.
33 thoughts on “Viewing Browser Cache in Firefox”
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If only we could delete individual cache files, through this interface …
Do you know any plug-in for this?
it dont work? im running firefox 0.8.
this works in the regular mozilla browser as well of course…
For firefox O.8, try “Profile Manager”.
OS: WIndows XP
go to “Start” on the taskbar->programs->Mozilla Firefox->
Profile Manager->
In new window: find “Create Profile”
In new window: click “Next”
In new window: click “choose Folder” and browse the location.
In nen window: click “Finish”
ok!
I think that this is the single thread about Firefox cache and retreiving files from it. Can this be done?
In a more usable manner than about:cache and seeing the filename that the loaded element is given in the cache directory.
does this work with Mac OSX?
I’m looking for the same info: how do I locate files that Firefox caches? e.g. a quicktime movie trailer. Any info/assistance appreciated. . .
K
ok…please any one whoknows help me :)
im trying to do the thing like in explorer…the Temporary Internet Files folder witholds all pics videos and stuff that you check out in your browser…but were the fu** is it in FireFox :(
My cache is located here:
C:/Documents and Settings/JBowman/Application Data/Mozilla/Firefox/Profiles/default.udq/Cache
Hope it helps!
Is it possible in Firefox to use a ramdrive to cache temporary internet files?
Try looking here.
C:WINDOWSProfilesChrisApplication DataMozillaFirefoxProfilesih2hc075.defaultCache
Ofcourse, where chris is might be your name instead, unless your name is Chris also.
I’ll just stop right there before I start rambling. Hope this helps someone/anyone
open a Firefox Browser and type ‘about:cache’
Works in Opera also.
Thanks for the information. This facility to view cache is helpful when you wish to find what requests a website has made in background. I used it when I had some doubts on a website that I used. I found all the requests it made, and entered all suspicious sites it requested in my Hosts file. Now, everything is peaceful.
Won’t work for me. Especially since I need to find something out… I’m using the most recent edition (1.5.0.2) and when I go about:cache, nothing happens. :\
Interesting; my cache was in Documents and Settings\\Local Settings\etc. No wonder I couldn’t find it in Application Data. Hooray for about:cache
Now when I’ve watched a Shockwave Flash video I want to save, I can browse to the cache in Windows Explorer, sort by file size, copy out the biggest files (usually 2-8MB), add .swf onto the end, and drag them into my browser to play them whenever I want.
Thank a lot for the ‘about:chache’ hint, that’s exactly what i was looking for
why do you have to reinvent the wheel.. Internet Explorer works just fine and you can easily get the cached files such as movie trailers. Just go to temprary internet files, and there it is waiting for you.
Firefox is stupid.. even when you view the cache files, you have to look for your file by size then rename its extension, wtf?
If internet explorer works, I don’t have to listen to its haters saying firefox rocks!!
cuz i can’t use firefox to do this simple thing
Before reading any of this I found V-Com’s PowerDesk (~$35 bargain!)filemanager with Viewers let me find things in cache.
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My old V.5 with Inso QuickViewers displays .txt, .123 .xLs, .pdf, but not .swf. Anyway FireFox’s re-naming makes it hard to find them.
Best cache viewer was early mozilla, I hate the fact that I can’t browse my cache..
by doing about:cache you get lost in your cache it’s not really browsing…
Very handy tip, I’ve been wondering how to do this for some time. Thankyou!
If you use the about:cache , you can then use edit/find for the file you need (ie. xyz.wav)in the disk cache section. It will find it, then click on the hyperlink and it opens another section of about:cache (cache entry infomation) that lists the full path and name of the file, size blah blah blah
ie: \Documents and Settings\Local Settings\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\3d5468a\cacheF66645795
If its a pic you just click on the link and it opens the pic in your browser.
of course since you are multitasking you already have windows explorer open to \Documents and Settings\Local Settings\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\3d5468a\cache\ and then all you do is right click on the filename you want, click open with mediaplayer (or recorder or….) and then save it from there with the right extension. Since you already know what filetype you are looking for of course you know what program to use to open it.
The nice thing is IE people can never find your files or figure out what they are this way. Prevents nosy people from seeing what you have.
yes! CacheViewer addon – finally I dont have to manually browse the msie cache to look for the files or the messy about:cache. THX Kartik Desai!
thanks, very helpful
Anyone use windows washer? You’ll notice when it shreds the cache – even when using mozilla – the actual stored files are in IE temporary internet files folder, the mozilla cache just stores browsing history. Seems quite pointless.
How does one delete the files? Thx!
Siobhan – you will need to use windows file manger for this. The mozilla cache directory is a file subdirectory on your hard disk.
I’ve extended the WebCacheViewer to show FireFox and IE history. Thanks.
Cache Viewer 0.4.3 doesn’t work for YouTube any better than VideoDownloader or Unplug. Nice little gadget, otherwise.
if a page (with dinamically changing content) was fetched in the browser 20 times, is it possible to recover an older version from the firefox’s cache?
Saved me hours. Thank you for the tip!
can’t get this to work on my firefox 2.0.0.11 on mac os X 10.4.11
any thoughts?
One web site that I access on a single networked computer continually recovers an old version of the site. I have cleared the cache, but the problem persists. A friend asked me about proxies on this computer, but to my knowledge there are no proxies set up.
this XP, SP2 PC was purchased from the Dell used equipment store. Any ideas. Other computers in my office network access the current version of the site, but not the Dell box. Really strange.
Any assistance would be most appreciated. Thank you.
Wayne A. English
WebContentRx.com