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Why does Firefox create so many temp files in cache? Once it filled up entire free HD space (46GB)?

  • 3 replies
  • 3 have this problem
  • 268 views
  • Last reply by John99

jstephan
jstephan

Every now & then, Firefox will have created zillions of directories and files in Cache within the directory for a Firefox profile. The directories are called 0 (zero) through F (using the hex numbers as names, i.e.g), and within each of these will be more directories (with two digit hex names). The last time this happened (1 week ago), these directories ate up ALL of my free hard drive space (about 46 GB worth).

Why does this happen? Can I stop it from happening? If so, how?

THanks.

Every now & then, Firefox will have created zillions of directories and files in Cache within the directory for a Firefox profile. The directories are called 0 (zero) through F (using the hex numbers as names, i.e.g), and within each of these will be more directories (with two digit hex names). The last time this happened (1 week ago), these directories ate up ALL of my free hard drive space (about 46 GB worth). Why does this happen? Can I stop it from happening? If so, how? THanks.

Chosen solution

Yes it should be easy to reset.

It may be set from

  • Options -> | Advanced | -> |Network| -> Cached Web Content
    [] Override automatic cache management
  • see #w cached-web-content_cached-web-content

Presumably your automatic setting has been overridden and the box needs unchecking.

I know Firefox does split the cache up like that IIRC it allows the cache to be faster and solves fragmentation issues.

46GB That seems a surprising amount and can not be right if it eats up all hard disk space. I also know that the file places.sqlite is a variable size, but that is based on the system in use.

The ordinary HTTP cache is also set presumably intelligently, but can be over-ridden by the user This has some background info

My own settings as viewed in about:support are 

browser.cache.disk.capacity	358400
browser.cache.disk.smart_size_cached_value	266240
browser.cache.disk.smart_size.first_run	false

My cache use is limited to about 350MB

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All Replies (3)

John99
John99

Chosen Solution

Yes it should be easy to reset.

It may be set from

  • Options -> | Advanced | -> |Network| -> Cached Web Content
    [] Override automatic cache management
  • see #w cached-web-content_cached-web-content

Presumably your automatic setting has been overridden and the box needs unchecking.

I know Firefox does split the cache up like that IIRC it allows the cache to be faster and solves fragmentation issues.

46GB That seems a surprising amount and can not be right if it eats up all hard disk space. I also know that the file places.sqlite is a variable size, but that is based on the system in use.

The ordinary HTTP cache is also set presumably intelligently, but can be over-ridden by the user This has some background info

My own settings as viewed in about:support are 

browser.cache.disk.capacity	358400
browser.cache.disk.smart_size_cached_value	266240
browser.cache.disk.smart_size.first_run	false

My cache use is limited to about 350MB

cor-el
cor-el
  • Top 25 Contributor
  • Moderator

The disk cache shouldn't be able to grow beyond 1 GB.

Did you make sure that it is actually the disk cache and not one of the other folder like the thumbnails?

John99
John99

To look at Firefox's disk cache properties and files use about:cache just navigate to that as if it is an ordinary web address. There are even addons to view the cache content