When thumbnails for files and folders aren't showing correctly, here's how to clear and rebuild the thumbnail cache on Windows 10.
Windows 10 maintains a cache database with thumbnail images for every folder, document, video, and picture on your computer. This database is used to quickly display a preview of a file or to give you a glimpse of the content of a folder or file before you open it.
The problem with the "thumbnail cache" is that it grows over time as you create new folders and files, and sometimes the database will become corrupted. You'll notice this because File Explorer will display thumbnails incorrectly, some files may not show a thumbnail preview, or sometimes thumbnails may not be available at all.
Thankfully, Windows 10 includes a few ways to reset and rebuild the thumbnail.db hidden files containing the data to display file previews.
In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the process to recreate the thumbnail database using the Disk Cleanup tool and Command Prompt to solve this problem.
How to recreate the thumbnail cache using Disk Cleanup
The easiest way to rebuild the thumbnail cache on Windows 10 is using the Disk Cleanup tool.
Open File Explorer.
On the left pane, click This PC.
Right-click the C: drive where Windows 10 is installed, and select Properties.
Click the Disk Cleanup button.
Check the Thumbnails option, and uncheck all the other options.
Click OK.
Click Delete Files to confirm and to complete the task.
How to recreate the thumbnail cache using Command Prompt
In the case, the previous steps didn't work, or you prefer to use command lines, you can use Command Prompt to delete and clear the thumbnail cache on Windows 10.
Open Start.
Search for Command Prompt.
Right-click the result and select Run as administrator.
Type the following command to stop File Explorer and press Enter:
taskkill /f /im explorer.exe
Type the following command to delete all the thumbnail database files without asking for confirmation and press Enter:
del /f /s /q /a %LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\thumbcache_*.db
Type the following command to start File Explorer and press Enter:
start explorer.exe
Close Command Prompt to complete the task.
Click Delete Files to confirm and to complete the task.
How to recreate the thumbnail cache using Command Prompt
In the case, the previous steps didn't work, or you prefer to use command lines, you can use Command Prompt to delete and clear the thumbnail cache on Windows 10.
Open Start.
Search for Command Prompt.
Right-click the result and select Run as administrator.
Type the following command to stop File Explorer and press Enter:
taskkill /f /im explorer.exe
Type the following command to delete all the thumbnail database files without asking for confirmation and press Enter:
del /f /s /q /a %LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\thumbcache_*.db
Type the following command to start File Explorer and press Enter:
start explorer.exe
Close Command Prompt to complete the task.
Now you should be able to browse files and folders on your computer with thumbnail previews showing up correctly.
Bonus tip
In the case, thumbnails are still not showing at all on Windows 10, chances are that someone or something messed up with your folder settings.
Open File Explorer.
Click on the View tab.
Click Options to open Folder Options.
Click on the View tab.
Make sure to clear the check mark for the Always show icons, never thumbnails option.
Bonus tip
In the case, thumbnails are still not showing at all on Windows 10, chances are that someone or something messed up with your folder settings.
Open File Explorer.
Click on the View tab.
Click Options to open Folder Options.
Click on the View tab.
Make sure to clear the check mark for the Always show icons, never thumbnails option.
Click OK to complete the task.
If the option was causing the problem, you should now be able to see thumbnails again for files and folders on Windows 10.
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