Windows 10: Clear and Reset Thumbnail Cache in Windows 10

How to: Clear and Reset Thumbnail Cache in Windows 10

How to Clear and Reset the Thumbnail Cache in Windows 10


Windows keeps a copy of all your folder, picture, video, and document thumbnails in a cache so they can be reused to quickly display when you open a folder instead of having to manually scan and slowly load them each time.

The thumbnail cache can sometimes become corrupted causing thumbnails to display incorrectly or distorted. When this happens, the thumbnail cache needs to be deleted to reset it and automatically recreate as needed.

This tutorial will show you how to clear and reset the thumbnail cache for your account in Windows 10.

*note The thumbnail cache .db files for each user is located in the hidden folder below.

%LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer
(C:\Users\{user-name}\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer)


CONTENTS:

• Option One: To Clear and Reset Thumbnail Cache in Disk Cleanup
• Option Two: To Clear and Reset Thumbnail Cache using a BAT file

OPTION ONE [/i] To Clear and Reset Thumbnail Cache in Disk Cleanup
1. Open Disk Cleanup.

2. Check the Thumbnails box, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)



3. Click/tap on Delete Files to confirm. (see screenshot below)



4. When finished, restart the computer to fully apply.





OPTION TWO [/i] To Clear and Reset Thumbnail Cache using a BAT file
1. Close and save anything that you are working on before proceeding. The next steps will involve restarting explorer.

2. Do step 3 or step 4 below for which .bat file you would like to use.


3. To Use a .bat file to Instantly Clear and Reset Thumbnail Cache without Prompting
A) Click/tap on the download button below to download the file below.
Instant_Clear_and_Reset_Thumbnail_Cache.bat

Download
B) Save the .bat file to your desktop, and run the .bat file.

C) If prompted, click/tap on Run to approve. If you like, you can unblock the .bat file to no longer get the Run (Open File - Security Warning) prompt.

D) You will now notice your screen flash as a command prompt opens and closes to kill explorer, delete your thumbnail cache, and restart explorer.

E) When finished, restart the computer to fully apply.

4. To Use a .bat file to Clear and Reset Thumbnail Cache with Prompting
A) Click/tap on the download button below to download the file below.
Prompt_to_Clear_and_Reset_Thumbnail_Cache.bat

Download
B) Save the .bat file to your desktop, and run the .bat file.

C) If prompted, click/tap on Run to approve. If you like, you can unblock the .bat file to no longer get the Run (Open File - Security Warning) prompt.

D) Follow the instructions in the command prompt to rebuild your thumbnail cache. (see screenshot below)



E) When finished, restart the computer to fully apply.

That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials

• How to Prevent Windows 10 from Deleting Thumbnail Cache
• How to Enable or Disable Thumbnail Previews in File Explorer in Windows 10
• How to Change Border of Thumbnail Previews in Windows 10
• How to Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 10
• How to Rebuild Font Cache in Windows 10
• How to Open and Use Disk Cleanup in Windows 10
• How to Reset Notification Area Icons in Windows 10
• How to Clear Your Live Tile Cache on Start in Windows 10

:)

 

Explorer.exe keeps restarting/crashing whenever I try to right click something on windows 10?

There may be an issue with the thumbnail cache.

Can you clear and reset the thumbnail cache and see if it helps any:

Clear and Reset Thumbnail Cache in Windows 10

Also, try installing the recent Windows KB3163018 cumulative update available via Windows Update.

 

How do I see photos and not the icon in my pictures files?

If you click the View tab in the Pictures folder, you can choose Large or Extra large icons.

If you are not seeing the actual photo, you will need to reset the icon cache:

Rebuild Icon Cache, Clear Thumbnail cache in Windows 10

 

Hello DB, *Smile

The only problem with that is Windows will also no longer be able to update the thumbnail cache after using the method you posted.

 

Ugh. That's not going to work, then. Any solution or should I just deal with the cache reloading every time? Thanks!

 

It depends on how often you add to the folder. If often, then you'll be better to not use the method you posted.

Personally, I wouldn't recommend the method for that very reason.

 

Thanks, Brink. Much appreciated...

I'm hoping you keep a side journal to track issues like this!

Be well!

 

Yeah, this issue has been around for a long time in previous Windows as well. It would be nice to have them work better.

It'll be a good issue to send feedback to Microsoft about.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/7...dows-10-a.html

 

Hi, I tried the first .bat file but nothing changed, so I tried the second and now everything is an icon. Is there a way to change it back to thumbnails? I may have driven myself into a hole, I'm not great with computers and these icons are pissing me off.

 

Hello yoyopowerranger, and welcome to Ten Forums. *Smile

Both .bat files essential do the same thing, but one prompts and the other doesn't.

If you haven't already, restart the computer.

In addition, please post a screenshot showing the icons to see what may be wrong.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1...en-forums.html

 

Ok, ok... I'll start with my initial problem. I generally use the mp4 video file on my computer, as it's simple. I downloaded a file onto my computer on a torrent app (not pirating, it's a project for my film course, a short film I made), and it was an icon, not a thumbnail. I tried a few apps to change this, such as Icaros and MetaX, but none worked. This was back in WIndows 8. I then went into a folder of mp4s, and all but 2 were icons now. I updated to Windows 10, and that folder was fixed. However, others began having the same problems. I found this .bat way to go on here. I just realised I did the second option twice, without prompts. Point is, first time I did it nothing changed, second time now everything is an icon. I did restart after both. I think there is a possibility the original file may have been corrupted in some way, though I could still play it. I have also uninstalled the torrent application. Some of these files are also m4v.





Each of my shorts have a poster I and a friend designed, and the thumbnails make it easier to identify quickly. The icons are irritating and I have OCD. If there's a way to reverse the .bat's effects, that may help firstly. Thanks for your help though, it really is appreciated,

 

The .bat files only affect the thumbnail cache. The icons appear to be from setting VLC Media Player as the default program for .mp4 files instead.

If you like, you could download and merge the .reg file for the listed mp4 item in the table of OPTION TWO in the tutorial below to restore the default association of .mp4 files.

Default File Type Associations - Restore in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums

 

Oh my god, thank you so much, that worked perfectly. There's no m4v option, but I can definitely live with that. Again, thank you, I've been trying various sites for a week and you're the only one that has given clear, working answers. You are a guru.

 

You're most welcome. I'm glad it could help. *Smile