Where does my Web browser store images?

Where are images stored that I visit when surfing the web? I understand that they are cached somewhere. Are all images cached for all sites that you visit?

Dave's Answer:

In Microsoft Internet Explorer, the images are stored under a hidden folder under each users profile. The folder is C:\Documents and Settings\(username)\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files.

Warning: The Local Settings folder is a hidden folder, you will need to make it visible before you can actually see what's in it. With Windows Explorer open, click Tools --> Folder Options--> the View tab --> Show Hidden Files and Folders

By contrast, viewing the Firefox cache is quite easy: Just type "about:cache" into the address bar (without quotes). Under the heading "Disk Cache Device", the "Cache Directory" shows where the cache is located, although just looking at that directory doesn't show anything other than indecipherable filenames. You click the "List Cache Entries" link, which will show individual entries and the http address which they are caching.

To drop the cache, the best method is to go to click Tools: Options menu item and the Cache item in the Privacy section of the Options dialog. Click Clear to reset the cache.

There are also many tools available to manage and clean your browser cache. Pop over to Download.com and search for "browser cache" to see what I mean. Standouts include Window Washer and Internet Sweeper.

Hope that helps you out.

Thanks to Jaspreet Singh, Werner Klaus and Tommy Martin for their help no this question.

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Categorized: Windows PC Help (Article 4161, Written by Dave Taylor)
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Reader Comments To Date: 4

Steve Didier said, on September 13, 2005 7:45 PM:

Where are Windows media files and other movie files store in OSX Tiger? I have searched high and low in my system and can't find the cache for these files.

Thanks!

nodaddy said, on June 21, 2009 3:06 PM:

where does firefox store persona image information?

when choosing to wear: personas.services.mozilla.com

Peri Morgan said, on June 25, 2009 11:45 AM:

I was having dificulty in finding a screenshot I took for a client, so I decided to search online.
I came across this site and followed your advice.
The screenshot I took was not stored in
c:/documents and setting/username/local settings/tempory intenetfiles.

What I actually had to do to get the screenshot was open paint, right click and paste.
There for IE7 does not store screenshots where this site says it does, in fact it does not save them at all. If you want to save the screenshot you need to follow the method I explained then save the Paint document. I'm not 100% positive about this as there may be away you can tell the browser when and where to save the screenshots, but up til now I have not found it.

Boyd Griffin said, on February 19, 2010 5:03 PM:

Hi Dave,

I use Mozilla Firefox as my browser. I went to a site and completed a form. My history was cleared after doing this. Is there any way to show that I was on a particular website and that page after the history and cache are cleared? I have tried the about:cache method but it only brings up more recent entries.

Thanks,

Boyd

I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you, Dave, for all your helpful information by buying you a cup of coffee!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!

Where does my Web browser store images?

Reader Comments To Date: 4

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!

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