How To Copy YouTube Video or FLV File From Google Chrome Cache Folder?
If 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 caches (temporarily Internet file) in the explicit cache folder.
I’ve been trying playback Flash videos hosted at YouTube and some less famous video hosting sites, and found that the FLV files are not kept in the Google Chrome master cache folder. Indeed, Google Chrome cache those large Flash video in the Windows temp folder of my user account.
And to be frank, I’m testing this with Google Chrome v0.2.149.30 on Windows Vista SP1. If you’re using other version than what I’ve tested, please be kind to share what you’ve found?
How to copy YouTube video or Flash video from Google Chrome cache folder?
Now, knowing that the large YouTube video or Flash video files are cached in Windows temp folder, do you able to directly copy them to other places for “safe-keeping” – either for offline playback or share with your mom and dad who only know how to operate their classic video player and TV set?
Answer: You can copy them BUT NOT with a direct method or the Windows default copy function/command!
Google Chrome cache files technique is defensive!
Why it’s defensive? Let me explain in points form:
- You can’t close page (Tab window or Chrome browser) that contains the video you’ve playback completely. If you do, Google Chrome automatically delete the cached FLV video files in Windows temp folder, immediately.
- While the page is open, the Windows default copy command or Windows Explorer function can’t copy the cached Flash videos – it’ll failed with a “File In Use” error message, saying that “The action can’t be completed because the file is open in another program. Close the file and try again!”
But, you can’t close the Google Chrome or have the cached video deleted automatically, as soon as you close the browser!
So, you’ve to download an open source program called HoboCopy to copy the Google Chrome cache files that are opened (and thus disallow the default Windows copy function/command to function properly)!
For example, I’ve used HoboCopy to duplicate/copy that 72.27 MB flash video cached by Google Chrome in Window temp folder to E: drive:
C:\Users\Walker\AppData\Local>hobocopy Temp\ E:\FLV-Backup\ fla7049.tmp HoboCopy (c) 2006 Wangdera Corporation. hobocopy@wangdera.com Starting a full copy from C:\Users\Walker\AppData\Local\Temp\ to E:\FLV-Backup\ Copied directory Backup successfully completed. Backup started at 2008-09-18 00:10:43, completed at 2008-09-18 00:11:09. 1 files (72.27 MB, 1 directories) copied, 45 files skipped
If you’re using Windows Vista, make sure you’re using an elevated Command Prompt window (i.e. Command Prompt process with real Administrator privilege) to run the Hobocopy command.
If you find this troublesome or difficult, then just try to Google some freeware or the simple YouTube Downloader of my friend. But, what about other video files hosted on other video hosting sites?
Custom Search
2012 •
[...] First, I would like to say thank you to Nirsofer, a developer of many useful, standalone freeware that I really like to keep along in USB thumb drive. I left a comment on his ChromeCacheView freeware, suggested him to include flash video cache location used by Google Chrome. [...]
Hi,
I can’t really relate since I can easily copy and paste any cached files in my browser cache to My Docs without any problems. Is it limited to Windows Vista? I have SP2 Windows XP.
Just too complicated :(
Maybe I should use Firefox with Firebug. Anyway, thanks for your explanation!
Thank you so much lovely contributor, your description is a little lax but I got there in the end!
dudes, thx! your guide simply ROCKS!
btw, Opera cache is much more friendly, and doesn’t need all this stuff :D
since few months ago i can’t play (offline) the youtube’s FLV files taken from the cache any longer.
theres no sound and no picture when i try to play it with FLV player.
anybody knows why? any suggestion please?
(i’m using win xp sp2 and firefox)
nice post
and nice theme
one more question
you meant that i could only copy the flv cache file when the page contian this flv is open in chrome,or it will be deleted by chrome when the page close?
Another program that works fine is:
VideoCacheView v1.50, by NirSoft (and is free…)
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/video_cache_view.html
None of those tricks work to get videos from snagfilms.com They use Brightcove Player, which doesn’t temporarily cache the files in Documents and Settings\%username%\Local Settings\Temp nor does it cache them in the IE, FireFox or Chrome cache folders or even the windows\temp folder.
Very Coll!
I tried it, very useful!
I use it copy the flv from viddler.com at windows7!
Locate using search for fla*.tmp.
Load a free software package called unlocker (http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/)
Unlock the file and copy it to another location. It will override the google lock
Rename the copied file with flv or other appropriate.
Play
Unlocker unfortunatelly doesn’t work with Windows 7.
I was using it with Windows XP just fine. It’s a must, do copy, delete any files.
But I can’t figure out how to make it work with Windows 7.
That’s why I’m searching internet now to get some tips.
I use VideoCacheView now to get videos from cache, but it’s slow and it searches and show all cache files on my computer. But I need to copy particular file.
Well I will be waiting till Unclocker hopefully will be update or I will found smth instead.
Thanks.
@Korev, you can try hobocopy (refer to an earlier post on how to copy open file)
I’m not that new to computers, but I can’t figure out how to copy file using hobocopy, earlier or other posts – just doesn’t work
Walker thanks anyway.
You actually don’t have to use hobocopy or anything else, just wait until the video loads entirely, then you can move it because it won’t be “in use” anymore. Patience is a lot easier to use than hobocopy…
Awesome, but you linked to the 64 bit version. For those who want the x86 version, it’s here http://sourceforge.net/projects/wangdera/files/HoboCopy/1.0.0.0/vcredist_x86.exe/download
lol to all those Opera or Firefox better comments. In this case, IE is the best, you can directly copy those large sized files from IE temp internet files folder if you use IE.
Okaayyy…i need help
i was working alright with a few videos at first but its suddenly changed…only data_3 kind of files are appearing in my chrome cache with or without closing the browser window..the flv files arent being shown any more,,,PLEEASE help
Great!!!!!!!
But in XP you don’t need the last mentioned software!!!!!
Just goto C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Cache
Where C:\ denoted your windows folder and USERNAME denotes your username!!!!!!!!
hey..there is no need for all these..because when the chrome browser window is closed,the flv file is not deleted from the temp folder!!! It is simply moved from the temp folder to the chrome cache folder.From there,you can easily copy the required file with no restrictions. :-)
:-D
another way if you have Unlocker installed simply right-click the temp file then unlocker then choose option to copy.. well its all done then all you have to do is change the .tmp to .flv
hope this will help you lot
tnx got it clearly n working
hey guys i have a question
we do watch you tube videos right? how to retrieve them for offline playback? my cache folder is ful of files lik.. f_001ac7, f_001ac8 etc. i wish to i could get back those videos i watched even when am offline.. some one help me.
I use the J-Downloader. works for most of the Sites
hobocopy worked well!. thanks
i copied the hobocopy from https://github.com/candera/hobocopy/downloads
I dunno if it’s just me, but the hobocopy method does not work for me anymore. It was OK just last month, but the recent release of Chrome seems to store flash videos as many small fragments under
C:\Users\\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Cache
as f_xxxxxx files, where the x are a 6 digit hexadecimal number. Some work in an flv player, others don’t and most are a fraction of a flash video. Seems to only happen with chrome though
Opera cache is a lot easier. You can just copy the cached file without any add-on or extra software. Clean and simple.
instead of using hobocopy use unlocker for copying the fla–.tmp file in any folder u wish..and u r done
Thank you, this information was enlightening.
Thank you so much, sir!
For XP users, no matter what SP you have…
all you have to do for google chrome is;
1-C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Cache
2-Create a short cut for that folder on desktop
3- Once you begin downloaded the movie or anything you are trying, wait until its downloaded
4-Click on the shortcut
5-For movie file, you are going to find the file, I d advice you to look at the size of file… ( it d be more/less to the movie you are watching or downloading
Copy that file
Paste it anywhere you want to..
6-Then rename it anything in the end .flv
7-click on the file and watch it. :)
Thats all you need to…
I use VideoCacheView. Its prfect. Program easy find the *.tmp file. Then I just copy the file with 2 clicks in program. The program automaticaly convert *.tmp to *.flv. After it I open it in FLV player and its done.