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  1. C:
  2. Users
  3. <utilisateur>
  4. AppData
  5. Local
  6. Microsoft
  7. Windows
  8. INetCache
FolderRisk: Safe

INetCache C:\Users\<utilisateur>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache

INetCache: the user's cache of temporary Internet files (WinINet, Internet Explorer, apps that rely on them). Safe to empty.

Updated on By AltF4 Formation

What it’s for

This is the cache of the WinINet network stack: Internet Explorer, Windows components and applications built on WinINet store the resources they download here. It is FOLDERID_InternetCache, the former “Temporary Internet Files” folder, renamed INetCache as of Windows 8.

What it contains

  • Local copies of pages, images and scripts, stored in randomly named subfolders under Content.IE5.
  • A Low subfolder, used by Internet Explorer Protected Mode.
  • Content.Outlook, where Outlook places attachments opened directly from a message.

Risks and best practices

  • The cache rebuilds as people browse, so you can empty it. Use Disk Cleanup or the browser’s history deletion rather than File Explorer.
  • Close Outlook first: attachments open in Content.Outlook are locked and the deletion skips them. Also save elsewhere any attachment you have edited.
  • Edge and Chrome keep their own cache elsewhere under AppData\Local; emptying this folder does not touch them.
  • Downloaded malware often lands here. On an alert, look at the most recent files in this folder first.

Useful commands

Fenêtre de terminal
# Folder size
$p = Join-Path $env:LOCALAPPDATA 'Microsoft\Windows\INetCache'
Get-ChildItem $p -Recurse -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Measure-Object -Property Length -Sum


# Simulate the clearing
Remove-Item "$p\*" -Recurse -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -WhatIf

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