How to change your firefox cache settings
Description:
The firefox browser allows one to browse all the different
webpages available on the internet. It provides a mechanism to cache
pages and images to save time during subsequent viewings.
Examination:
The firefox browser cache settings are available by going to
Edit -> Preferences -> Advanced (then clicking the 'network' tab)
The default cache size is 50Mb which can obviously take a lot
of your quota. The window allows you to change the size of the cache -
probably 10Mb is a better size choice. There's also a button to clear
the cache.
If you are interested - the Firefox files are located under your
profile (example below is for
the support account) [N.B. the profile folder always has some random
characters with a
.default extension]
[grover:support]
~/.mozilla/firefox/cy1k4izp.default>ls
bookmarkbackups
downloads.sqlite places.sqlite
bookmarks.bak
extensions
pluginreg.dat
bookmarks.html
extensions.cache prefs.js
Cache
extensions.ini search.rdf
cert8.db
extensions.rdf search.sqlite
chrome
formhistory.dat secmod.db
compatibility.ini
formhistory.sqlite signons3.txt
components.ini
history.dat
urlclassifier3.sqlite
compreg.dat
key3.db
urlclassifierkey3.txt
content-prefs.sqlite
localstore.rdf XPC.mfasl
cookies.sqlite
mimeTypes.rdf xpti.dat
defaults.ini
permissions.sqlite XUL.mfasl
The cache files are under the Cache
folder. The other way of changing the setting (more
involved method) is to put 'about:config'
(without the quotes) in the firefox address bar:
after clicking the 'I'll be careful, I promise!' button you'll be
presented with the settings screen:
the applicable parameter 'browser.cache.memory.capacity'
is highlighted here (note it's set to 50000 Kb
which is equivalent to 50Mb). Double clicking on this parameter allows
one to change the value to something smaller
perhaps 10000 (10Mb).
CS Consultants
consult@cs.uic.edu
Department of CS
University of Illinois at Chicago