How to Find Cookies & Temporary Files on Your Computer

Manage your computer by checking temporary Internet files.

When you browse the Internet, many websites install small files on your computer speed up and facilitate your browsing. These cookies and temporary files land in a folder within your hard drive called the cache. Over time and with frequent Internet use, your cache will fill with files, taking up valuable hard drive space and bogging down your computer. These temporary files can also compromise your privacy because they provide a record of the websites you visit as well as the dates and times you visited. Find cookies and temporary files on your computer and decide whether you wish to remove them.

Instructions

1. Make the temporary files visible. Click the "Start" menu, enter "Windows Explorer" into the search box and click "Organize" in the upper left corner. Click "Folder and search options" and then select the "View" tab. Select "Show hidden files and folders" and remove check marks from "Hide extensions for known file types" and "Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)." Click "Apply" and then "OK."

2. Click the "Start" menu and enter "C:\Users\*your computer username*\ AppData\ Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files" into the search box.

3. View the cookies and temporary Internet files. Highlight the files and delete them, if you wish.

4. Change the settings to make the files invisible again. Open the folder options again and deselect "Show hidden files, folders and drives." Place check marks beside "Hide extensions for known file types" and "Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)." Click "Apply" and then "OK."

References

• Practical PC; Guide to Temporary Internet Files; Kai Chandler