Google Chrome: Browser Cache Folder Is Defensive!
Google Chrome is an open source web browser. And, I’m currently using Google Chrome version 0.2.149.30 (official build 2200) for this topic.
By the time you read this post, most likely you’ve a latest version that reflects code changes made for enhancements. So, some or all of the Google Chrome cache folder facts written here might become invalid…
First question: Where is Google Chrome cache folder?
I believe there is no super-hidden cache folder or “low integrity” cache folder introduced by IE 7.
The Google Chrome cache folder name is exactly called “cache” and it’s not a hidden folder.
In my Vista Ultimate SP1 machine, the Chrome cache folder is exactly in this path:
As you locating it in Windows Explorer, remember to replace <user-name> with your Windows user name.
However, this explicit cache folder is not the only one location used by Google Chrome to keep the temporarily Internet files, i.e. the “caches” that speed up web browsing experience.
Where does Google Chrome cache temporarily Internet files?
Unlike IE7 or Firefox, Google Chrome doesn’t cache or keep temporarily Internet files in master cache folder that is either with or without sub-folders.
While running in Windows Vista SP1, Google Chrome caches or keeps the temporarily Internet files in two locations (as far as I notice now), i.e.
What kind of temporarily Internet files are kept in Google Chrome cache folder and Windows temp folder?
In brief, I found some Javascripts, web pages, pictures, etc, are kept in the explicit Google Chrome cache folder, but appears with a different file name and there is no file extension given to identify their file type.
Most of the “files” in this explicit Google Chrome cache folder are of small file size. It seems to me that only temporarily Internet files lesser than 4MB will be kept here.
So, those large YouTube video or FLV file contents are not likely in this folder.
Then, where does Google Chrome keeps the large YouTube video or FLV files?
Yes, they are kept in the Windows temp folder! And I find that Google Chrome consistently caches the FLV (Flash Video) files in Windows temp folder as
For your testing, try to watch a lengthy YouTube video (probably 4 minutes or longer) in Google Chrome. For example, this LockerGnome “super lengthy” video that last for 52 minutes (about 72.2 MB).
While the video is playback, press F5 to refresh the Windows temp folder that list files sorted by “date created” option – in Google Chrome version 0.2.149.30, you could see the YouTube video being cached in Windows temp folder (not that explicit Google Chrome cache folder) is gradually taking up disk space. And, the cached YouTube video is not named as “get_video”, “get_video[1]“, etc.
Last question: Could you retrieve or copy the YouTube video or any FLV files cached by Google Chrome in Windows temp folder?
I tried to copy but failed with an error message “The action can’t be completed because the file is open in another program”.
So, I thought to close the Google Chrome and back here to copy. But, the cached FLV files are automatically “housekeep”, almost as soon as I close the Google Chrome!
Google Chrome cache technique is defensive!
Although you could use YouTube downloader program or manually retrieve the YouTube video direct download link to keep a copy of the video for your mom who only like to watch them on the classic TV + player set, you might need to use non-Google Chrome web browsers to retrieve the FLV files on some less popular video hosting sites, via the web browser cache folder technique.
First question: Where is Google Chrome cache folder?
I believe there is no super-hidden cache folder or “low integrity” cache folder introduced by IE 7.
The Google Chrome cache folder name is exactly called “cache” and it’s not a hidden folder.
In my Vista Ultimate SP1 machine, the Chrome cache folder is exactly in this path:
C:\Users\<user-name>\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Cache
As you locating it in Windows Explorer, remember to replace <user-name> with your Windows user name.
However, this explicit cache folder is not the only one location used by Google Chrome to keep the temporarily Internet files, i.e. the “caches” that speed up web browsing experience.
Where does Google Chrome cache temporarily Internet files?
Unlike IE7 or Firefox, Google Chrome doesn’t cache or keep temporarily Internet files in master cache folder that is either with or without sub-folders.
While running in Windows Vista SP1, Google Chrome caches or keeps the temporarily Internet files in two locations (as far as I notice now), i.e.
- the explicit Google Chrome cache folder that I said just now,
- the Windows Vista “temp folder” in respective user’s directory, i.e.
C:\Users\<user-name>\AppData\Local\Temp\
What kind of temporarily Internet files are kept in Google Chrome cache folder and Windows temp folder?
I didn’t go into detail on this question. If you do, please comment to share.
In brief, I found some Javascripts, web pages, pictures, etc, are kept in the explicit Google Chrome cache folder, but appears with a different file name and there is no file extension given to identify their file type.
Most of the “files” in this explicit Google Chrome cache folder are of small file size. It seems to me that only temporarily Internet files lesser than 4MB will be kept here.
So, those large YouTube video or FLV file contents are not likely in this folder.
Then, where does Google Chrome keeps the large YouTube video or FLV files?
Yes, they are kept in the Windows temp folder! And I find that Google Chrome consistently caches the FLV (Flash Video) files in Windows temp folder as
fla409A.tmp kind of file name (where the initial file name is fla, followed by alpha-numeric characters and ended with .tmp file extension.For your testing, try to watch a lengthy YouTube video (probably 4 minutes or longer) in Google Chrome. For example, this LockerGnome “super lengthy” video that last for 52 minutes (about 72.2 MB).
While the video is playback, press F5 to refresh the Windows temp folder that list files sorted by “date created” option – in Google Chrome version 0.2.149.30, you could see the YouTube video being cached in Windows temp folder (not that explicit Google Chrome cache folder) is gradually taking up disk space. And, the cached YouTube video is not named as “get_video”, “get_video[1]“, etc.
Last question: Could you retrieve or copy the YouTube video or any FLV files cached by Google Chrome in Windows temp folder?
I tried to copy but failed with an error message “The action can’t be completed because the file is open in another program”.
So, I thought to close the Google Chrome and back here to copy. But, the cached FLV files are automatically “housekeep”, almost as soon as I close the Google Chrome!
Google Chrome cache technique is defensive!
Although you could use YouTube downloader program or manually retrieve the YouTube video direct download link to keep a copy of the video for your mom who only like to watch them on the classic TV + player set, you might need to use non-Google Chrome web browsers to retrieve the FLV files on some less popular video hosting sites, via the web browser cache folder technique.
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[...] you’ve read my earlier post about the defensive Google Chrome cache folder (or from the splog/copycat), you should have known that Google Chrome doesn’t keeps all [...]
[...] his reply really surprise my earlier finding – I said Google Chrome cache folder is defensive! But, it’s not true (I’m [...]
[...] view Google Chrome cache folder content in the web browser itself, just type about:cache in Address bar and press ENTER key. Then, [...]
the FLA*.TMP file is written by the Flash control within the page… Not the browser. This FLA*.TMP file can be found when using IE, FF, Safari, Opera or Chrome when viewing YouTube (or other HTTP-transferred flv files.)
-andy.
Andy, you’re right.
I’ve learnt this from Nirsofer:
http://www.walkernews.net/2008/10/22/google-chrome-has-more-effective-flash-video-cache-technique-than-ie7-and-firefox-3/
How can i change the cache directory of chrome. plz help me. i want to do it by registry key editing or doing programme.
Hi Shohug, you may use
--use-data-dir(Google Chrome command line option switch) to change the cache folder.Hi, I found OPERA as a wonderful browser to download Youtube videos or any
youtube like video sites. Just Play a youtube video, when it is done go to this location,
C:\Users\\AppData\Local\Opera\Opera\profile\cache4
you wil find many files. Right click somewhere in the folder and click sort by or arrange icons by size. you will find the bigger files in the top or bottom of that folder. when you find the bigger file copy it to another location in your System and rename
the file with .flv extension for example “opr033EZ to opr033EZ.flv” Play that video
in any flv player or VLC media player. You can also convert it to a another format using a video converter softwares.
I use vista… After reading your above info… I found the cache folder at:
C:\Users\\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Cache
IE & I somehow don’t get along well, ever since I can remember…
I have always ‘grabbed’ images through cache folders, from the days of Netscape, until Mozilla Firefox came along… here is what I do to identify images and select what I want. I use ACDSee. By selecting the cache folder, I can view all the images. The status bar shows the type of file – jpg, gif etc… All I need to do is to select, copy, and paste in my images folders… For adding file extn for great number of files, I still rely on my ‘dosprompt’ file which takes me to dos platform and renaming files is a breeze… I apply the same method to audio or video files. My cache folder is always open with sort of date-modified, thus latest files are always on top… besides, large files like audio / video, you can see the size increasing… after a while I guess, you just know what is happening…
I use RealPlayer. When I watch YouTube videos in Mozilla Firefox, a tiny button pops up just above the video screen, I just click and it saves the video… the format is for RealPlayer.
Few days ago I tested “Easy Video Downloader”. Works well. Just insert the url and it downloads and converts to AVI…
For the record, you could use a tool (such as Unlocker) to unlock the fla*.tmp files and thus copy/move them. The problem is that once the lock is removed, the files are deleted, so you have to move quickly. One options is to create a BAT file to unlock the files with a command line tool, and move them in one fell swoop, before the system gets a chance to erase them.
Here’s what i did to copy the video i wanted from the chrome cache folder.
I managed to locate my cache folder at:
C:\Documents and Settings\\Local Settings\Temp
I arranged my files by ‘size’ and the video i wanted was the obvious larger file.
Using the program ‘Unlocker’ i selected ‘copy’ on the bottom-left drop-down menu. This tells the program exactly how you want to handle the file and prevents it from automatically deleting the file after it removes all haggles.
Then select ‘unlock’ and select where you would like to copy the file.
Then be patient as the program slowly copies the file piece-by-piece to your desired location.
Then i renamed the file to the name of the movie and changed its extension to .flv. Now you can play the video with any standard flv player (MpcStar – free).
The only problem i had was that whenever i tried to seek through the movie to get my fav. part the entire video would start from the beginning. I rectified this by using Batch FLV Converter (free and no installation required!) to convert the video from flv to mpg format (again be patient as this takes some time). I recommend playing the video using FLV Player (free) as it seems to handle it the best (IMO).
Hope this helps!
ReneGAED’s solution worked great for me! Thanks ReneGAED.
the CACHE can BE COPIED while the browser still is opened using hobocopy. it uses shadowcopy to do so. i have tested it, and it works quite well. its the same principle used behind making backups and restore points…
Yes, you’re right:
http://www.walkernews.net/2008/09/21/how-to-copy-youtube-video-or-flv-file-from-google-chrome-cache-folder/
I use Windows 7. Windows 7 built-in backup restore tool also can copy \user\you\AppData\Local\temp. Open files are backed up with Volume Shadow Copy. When a video is fully bufferd, I click ‘pause’ to keep the flv file in the folder, then start backup.
You can get fla—-.tmp file from ‘temp folder’ – right click – properties – previous versions
Great info from ReneGAED on February 14th, 2009 1:02 PM
this worked like a charm
Cheers everyone!