Thumbnail cache (Windows)
Also known as: thumbs.db, thumbnail cache Windows, clear thumbnails Windows
The Windows thumbnail cache stores small preview images of your photos, videos, and documents so File Explorer loads them quickly. It is safe to clear — Windows rebuilds the previews on demand the next time you open a folder.
- Stores File Explorer preview images
- Cleared via Disk Cleanup > Thumbnails
- Safe to clear; previews regenerate on demand
What the cache holds
To avoid regenerating previews every time you browse, Windows keeps cached thumbnails in C:\Users\[you]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer. Over time, with large photo and video folders, this cache can grow to hundreds of megabytes.
A separate legacy thumbs.db file may appear inside folders, especially on network shares, holding previews for that folder.
How to clear it safely
Run Disk Cleanup and tick Thumbnails, or use Settings > System > Storage > Temporary files and select the thumbnails category. Clearing it removes only previews — never your actual photos, videos, or documents — and Explorer simply rebuilds them as you browse.