How to Stop Windows Creating Thumbs.db Files in Vista and 7

Thumbs.db is a cached version of the thumbnail for a movie or a picture file. This is created and saved to speed up the loading of the thumbnail in future. If you like to have hidden files visable this file can be annoying. This guide will show you how to stop windows creating thumbs.db.

Disable Thumbnail Creation

Open the Start Menu and type gpedit.msc

Navigate to:

User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Explorer

Open Turn off the caching of thumbnails in hidden thumbs.db files

Click Enable and OK

Previously created thumbs.db files may remain but will not be recreated if they are deleted.

Benosullivan.co.uk - Top Tutorials

Search Terms for this Article:

stop thumbs db, stop thumbs db windows 7, thumbs db windows 7, windows 7 stop thumbs db, how to stop thumbs db, prevent windows from creating thumbs db, stop windows creating thumbs db, prevent thumbs db windows 7, thumbs db, stop windows from creating thumbs db

5 Comments (Newest on top)

Math says:

05/03/2011 at 1:47 am

Thank you for the information,

I’ll just add that you need to restart or log off and re-log, before change may take effect.

Reply
pablo says:

14/03/2011 at 10:12 am

Works great, thanks!

Reply
Mario says:

15/11/2011 at 11:02 pm

Well done!

Reply
ken says:

24/12/2011 at 4:04 pm

“open start menu and type GPEDIT.MSC”

How do I “open” my start menu?

Reply
- Ben says:
  
  27/12/2011 at 12:21 pm
  
  The start menu is the Windows menu, it is called start on XP but on vista and 7 it is now a windows flag icon in the bottom left of your screen.
  
  Reply