Clear Web Cache and Moving Browser Cache Folder

Normally you do not even need to think about the browser’s cache. You may not even know what the web cache does. The web cache stores some of the web pages you have visited on the PC, so that when you visit the same site it does not need to get all the data from the Internet again. Thus the web cache uses space on the hard disk.

How to Clean Up The Web Cache and Move The Cache Folder

The web cache automatically clears out old items and adds new items as the user browses. In day-to-day usage the cache operates in the background with the user not needing to worry about it. However, if the disk drive the cache is stored on runs low on space, then the cache may need to be cleaned out to free some space. It can also be moved to another disk to help with disk space management. Finally, it can be moved to another disk, if that other disk is faster, to help improve the performance of the system. This article covers cleaning out the web cache, and optionally moving it, for today's most popular browsers. For deeper web cache cleaning a third party tool, such as the popular Piriform CCleaner can be used (the free version is good enough, the annually paid version adds extra features and support).

Clear Web Cache in Microsoft Edge

To access the cache settings in Microsoft Edge open the Edge browser's Settings. Normally via the ellipses in the top right corner:

Windows Edge Settings

Scroll down to the Clear browsing data option and select Choose what to clear. Ensure Cached data and files is checked and then select Clear.

Clear Edge Cache

Unfortunately Microsoft Edge does not have an option to move the cache location. Some Windows users have used a workaround using a symbolic link (symlink). However, other users have reported trouble with Windows apps after moving the Edge browser cache. This is probably due to Edge being more integrated with Windows than other browsers. Hence another browser may be a better option on systems that have small disks and the browser cache needs locating to another disk.

Clear Web Cache in Google Chrome

Open the Chrome settings by clicking the ellipsis icon and selecting Settings from the menu.

Google Chrome Settings

Go to the bottom of the page and select Advanced. With the settings page open close all other tabs. Select Clear browsing data (under Privacy and security), ensure that at least Cached images and files is checked, and that Time range is set to All time. Select the Clear Data button data to empty the web cache then close the Settings tab.

Chrome Clear Browsing Data

Move Browser Cache in Google Chrome

As for Microsoft Edge there is no option available to move the Chrome cache. Therefore, it needs to be done manually. A new cache directory must be created and Windows redirects the cache to this new location with a symbolic link.

First create the new cache folder with Windows File Explorer, e.g. E:\Temp\ChromeCache.

Clear the Chrome cache as above and close Chrome. For Chrome the cache is stored in the logged on user’s hidden AppData directory. In File Explorer use the View menu's Show and Hide options to turn on the display of Hidden items:

Show Windows Hidden Items

Open the logged on user’s folder (usually under C:\Users) and go to AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default then delete the Cache folder.

Open a Command Prompt by holding the Windows key and press X. Then select Command Prompt. In Windows 7 select Command Prompt from the Accessories folder. Alternatively hold the Windows key and press R, type cmd and press the Enter key.

Now create what is known as a hard symbolic link (symlink) or directory junction, using the mklink command. Here’s the command for a user called John Doe (tip: use the File Explorer address bar to copy long paths and paste it with the Command Prompt’s menu) :

mklink /J "C:\Users\John Doe\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Cache"
E:\Temp\ChromeCache

Note the use of quote marks for paths that have spaces. Close the Command Prompt window (or type exit and press Enter). Now whenever Chrome tries to write to the cache, Windows redirects it to the new location. A dummy cache folder will be seen in AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default (the cache folder and the contents are located at the new location, but also appear in the old location when viewed in File Explorer because of the symbolic link).

Firefox Web Cache Clearing and Moving

Use the menu icon in Firefox to open the Options:

Firefox Options

Select Privacy and Security and scroll to Cached Web Content. Select the Clear Now button. Close the options when the delete has finished.

To move the Firefox web cache first clear it as described above. Then access the Firefox advanced configurations by typing about:config into the web address bar. Accept the Firefox warning. Bring up the context menu (usually right-click) anywhere in the displayed list and select New then String:

Firefox About Config

For the preference name enter browser.cache.disk.parent_directory, click OK. For the string value enter the location for the cache. For example if it is going to be located in E:\Temp then enter that for the browser.cache.disk.parent_directory string. Close Firefox. When Firefox is next run the cache will be generated under the new location, in this case E:\Temp\Cache.

Opera Web Cache Clearing and Moving

The Opera web browser is based on software that was used for Google Chrome. Hence cleaning and moving the Opera cache is similar to the method used for Chrome.

To clear Opera cache use the Opera menu and select History. Select Clear browsing data (this option is also available via Settings and Privacy & Security).

Opera Browser Cache

Ensure it is from the beginning of time and that Cached images and files is checked.

Opera Clear Browsing Data

To move the Opera web cache, as for Chrome, start by creating a folder for the new cache, e.g. E:\Temp\OperaCache.

With Opera closed use File Explorer to delete the old cache folder. As for Chrome it is in the hidden AppData directory in the logged on users folder. Go to AppData\Local\Opera Software\Opera Stable and delete the Cache folder.

Open a Command Prompt and create a hard symbolic link (directory junction) using the mklink command, here’s an example for user John Doe (note path’s with spaces need to be in quotes):

mklink /J "C:\Users\John Doe\AppData\Local\Opera Software\Opera Stable\Cache"
E:\Temp\OperaCache

Close the Command Prompt. When Opera next runs the cache is redirected to the new location.

Clear Web Cache in Internet Explorer

To clear web cache in Internet Explorer open the settings:

Internet Explorer Settings

Chose Internet options and on the General tab under Browsing history select the Delete button. As a minimum Temporary Internet files and website files must be checked. Select Delete and the web cache will be cleared. A message will appear on IE when the process has finished, and you can close the Internet Options dialog.

Move Browser Cache in Internet Explorer

Close all open programs except for IE. Clear the IE cache as above then select the Settings button on the Internet Options dialog. In Web Data Settings on the Temporary Internet Files tab select Move folder. Select a new location. For example the folder E:\Temp\ was created using File Explorer. Then E:\Temp\ was selected from the Move folder button so that the new cache location became E:\Temp\Temporary Internet Files. Click OK and accept the message to confirm the move, the PC may need a restart.

Clear Web Cache and Moving Browser Cache Summary

The major web browsers of Microsoft Edge, Chrome, Firefox, Opera and IE all provide a settings option to delete the files stored in the web cache. To relocate the web cache Firefox and IE provide enhanced option settings. For Chrome and Opera a Windows symlink (symbolic link) can be used.