How to Prevent Windows 11/10 from Creating the Thumbs.db Thumbnail Cache Files?

File explorer automatically generates Thumbs.db in all images and video file folders. Thumbs.db files save all thumbnails created by file explorer through images. When you next open these folders, it does not take time.

If you do not want Windows 11/10 to create the Thumbs.db files because windows keep these files on your computer.

In this risewindows article, we will guide you on how to Prevent Windows 11/10 from Creating the Thumbs.db Thumbnail Cache Files.

How to Stop Windows 11/10 from Creating the Thumbs.db Thumbnail Cache Files?

Using Local Group Policy Editor

To stop Windows 11/10 from creating the Thumbs.db files using Group Policy, do the following steps:-

Step 1. Firstly, open the Local Group Policy Editor.

Step 2. Then, under the Local Group Policy Editor window, navigate to the following folder in the left sidebar:-

User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer

Step 3. Next, double-click the policy name “Turn off the caching of thumbnails in hidden thumbs.db files” on the right-hand side.

Step 4. Then, Select Enabled.

Step 5. Click Apply.

Step 6. Click OK.

Step 7. At last, reboot your computer.

That’s it.

Through Registry Editor

To stop Windows 11/10 from creating the Thumbs.db files through Registry Editor, do the following steps:-

Step 1. Firstly, Open Registry Editor.

Step 2. Then, navigate to the following path in the left sidebar:-

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows

Step 3. Then, right-click on the Windows folder and select New > Key.

Step 4. Name it as Explorer.

Step 5. Next, right-click on Explorer and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.

Step 6. Name it as DisableThumbsDBOnNetworkFolders.

Step 7. After that, double-click the DisableThumbsDBOnNetworkFolders REG_DWORD and set the “Value data” as  1.

Step 8. Click OK.

Step 9. At last, restart your computer.

Using Free Thumbs.db Remover

Suppose you want only to remove the  Thumbs.db as per your requirements and Don’t want to stop generating Thumbs.db, you can use a third-party tool, “Free Thumbs.db Remover.” To use it, download and install the app on your computer. This file will remove the Thumbs.db as per your preference. Then, you can select the drive/folder and click the Scan button.

Please select all the files and click the Delete button when it finds all the files. But if it doesn’t display any such file, it indicates that your computer has not generated any Thumbs.db file as of now.

These Free Thumbs.db Remover app also settings as well.

• Permanently delete files.
• Reduce memory usage while scanning.
• Please notify me when a new version is available.
• Play a sound when done.

Download Free Thumbs.db Remover

You can download the latest version of Free Thumbs.db Remover here.

That’s all for this article. I hope this article will add some value to your work.

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