What is Thumbs.db?
Thumbs.db is an image cache which makes thumbnail viewing faster. This file is automatically generated in Windows 8.x whenever images are encountered in a folder. By default, Thumbs.db is hidden. If you have the “Show hidden files, folders, and drives” option turned on, you will see this file.
Can I delete Thumbs.db?
Yes, you can safely delete Thumbs.db. However, Windows will re-generate it.
How to get rid of Thumbs.db permanently?
This article shows you how to get rid of Thumbs.db permanently and prevent it from being generated.
- Ensure you are logged in using an administrator account.
- Hit Win+R, type gpedit.msc in the Run window and click OK.
- The Local Group Policy Editor will be launched.
- Navigate through the tree to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer
![ThumbsDB1]()
- In the right-hand pane, double-click “Turn off the caching of thumbnails in hidden thumbs.db files”.
- Select Enabled to “Turn off the caching of thumbnails in hidden thumbs.db files”
![ThumbsDB2]()
- After clicking OK, Thumbs.db files will no longer be generated.
- As part of clean-up, search your drives for Thumbs.db and delete them.
For more advanced users, here is an alternative way of achieving the same result.
