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  1. C:
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  3. <utilisateur>
  4. AppData
  5. Local
  6. Microsoft
  7. Windows
  8. WebCache
FolderRisk: Caution

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

Folder of the WebCacheV01.dat database: cache, cookie and history index for Internet Explorer, legacy Edge and Windows WinINet components.

Updated on By AltF4 Formation

What it’s for

WebCacheV01.dat is the user’s web cache database. It indexes the Windows Internet caching components (WinINet): history, cookies and cached content of Internet Explorer and legacy Edge, plus any application that relies on these components.

What it contains

  • WebCacheV01.dat: database in ESE (Extensible Storage Engine) format.
  • Companion files for the database: V01.log, V01.chk, reserve and lock files.

Since it moved to Chromium, Edge keeps its data in its own profile folder and does not use this one.

Risks and best practices

  • Processes in the user session keep the database open all the time, so do not delete it during the session. If it disappears it is recreated, but the history and cookies of these components are lost.
  • To clear the data cleanly, use “Internet Options” then “Delete”, or the browser settings.
  • A huge or corrupted database is dealt with once the user is signed out: back it up, then have an administrator delete it with the user’s agreement.
  • The database holds browsing information, so treat any copy as personal data.

Useful commands

Fenêtre de terminal
# Database files (size, date)
Get-ChildItem "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\Microsoft\Windows\WebCache" -Force | Select-Object Name, Length, LastWriteTime


# Total folder size in MB
[math]::Round((Get-ChildItem "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\Microsoft\Windows\WebCache" -Recurse -File -Force |
    Measure-Object Length -Sum).Sum / 1MB, 1)


# Which processes hold the file? (Sysinternals handle tool, as administrator)
# handle.exe WebCacheV01.dat

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