Internet Explorer cache location

Question

Where is cache for IE for current user located?

Answer 1

I don't know the answer for XP, but for latter:

%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Low and %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5 - these are cache locations. Other mentioned %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files but this not a cache in this directory there are just a reflection of files that are stored somewhere else.

But you can enum %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files and get all files you need, but you should be frustrated that file walker do not detect everything that explorer shows.

Also if you use links I gave you may need ExpandEnvironmentStrings from WinAPI.

Answer 2

If it's been moved you can also (in IE 11, and I'm pretty sure this translates back to at least 10):

• Tools - Internet Options
• Under Browsing history click Settings
• Under Current location it shows the directory name

Note: The View files button will open a Windows Explorer window there.

For example, mine shows C:\BrowserCache\IE\Temporary Internet Files

Answer 3

By default, the location of temporary Internet files (for Internet Explorer) is

C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files

For Win2000 and Windows XP

c:\WINDOWS\Temporary Internet Files

For Win95, Win98 ,Windows ME

IE 7 Cache:

%userprofile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Low

Windows Vista and 7

%userprofile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files

Windows 8

%userprofile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache

Windows 10

%localappdata%\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\IE

Some info came from THIS page

Answer 4

In windows serven and 8 and later in this location can find IE Cache

C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache

Answer 5

The location of the Temporary Internet Files folder depends on your version of Windows and whether or not you are using user profiles.

• If you have Windows Vista, then temporary Internet files are in these locations (note that on your PC they can be on some drive other than C):

  C:\Users[username]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\ C:\Users[username]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Low\

  Note that you will have to change the settings of Windows Explorer to show all kinds of files (including the protected system files) in order to access these folders.

• If you have Windows XP or Windows 2000, then temporary Internet files are in this location (note that on your PC they can be on some drive other than C):

  C:\Documents and Settings[username]\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\

  If you have only one user account, then replace [username] with Administrator to get the path of the Temporary Internet Files folder.

• If you have Windows Me, Windows 98, Windows NT or Windows 95, then index.dat files are in these locations:

  C:\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\
  C:\Windows\Profiles[username]\Temporary Internet Files\

  Note that on your computer, the Windows directory may not be C:\Windows but some other directory. If you don't have a Profiles directory in your Windows directory, don't worry — this just means that you are not using user profiles.

Answer 6

Are you looking for a Windows API?

Just use SHGetFolderPath function with CSIDL_INTERNET_CACHE flag or SHGetKnownFolderPath with FOLDERID_InternetCache flag to get the exact location. This way you don't have to worry about the OS. The former function works in Windows XP. The latter one works in Windows Vista+.