Comments for What is thumbs.db, and can I delete it?

Comment from Nicole on 2012-01-16

2012-01-17T05:09:37Z

Thank you for walking us through this process! I ran into one problem. Under folder options, and view, I didn't have an option for 'do not cache'. I had one that sounded like it might be similar, "display file icon on thumbnails" but I wasn't sure. Is this the same thing? Those dang db files show up in every doc and photo file I have, it's completely annoying. Thank you again!

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Comment from Connie on 2012-01-02

2012-01-03T01:13:02Z

@wendy
Windows Explorer is sometimes called "My Computer." Easiest way to get to it is to hold the Windows key down and type e. It'll pop right up.

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Comment from wendy klein on 2012-01-02

2012-01-02T22:04:37Z

i have windows xp and cannot find windows explorer how can open up and view thumbs.db

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Comment from malik on 2011-12-30

2011-12-30T08:24:43Z

brother nice sharing. keep it up.
http://pakpctricks.blogspot.com/

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Comment from Gregory Hanes on 2011-12-29

2011-12-29T16:08:14Z

Switch Page View in Explorer to "Content" view and in most cases you can Delete, Rename and Move.

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Comment from Monica on 2011-12-17

2011-12-17T13:07:06Z

I followed Dave's advice in the comments about using http://www.filehippo.com/download_unlocker/

It quickly removed my thumbs.db file that said it couldn't be deleted because it was "in use by another program." It was also free.

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Comment from Mark J on 2011-11-27

2011-11-28T07:21:21Z

@Pavan
It sometimes can be frustrating when Microsoft keeps changing things.
In Windows 7, open the Control Panel then go to Folder options. Next check the box, Always show icons, never thumbnails.

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Comment from pavan nadhir on 2011-11-27

2011-11-28T05:33:58Z

How to do that in windows 7 I dont see an option "" Do not catche thumnails""

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Comment from Maxey Lynch on 2011-11-06

2011-11-06T13:53:18Z

Other question: I checked the DO NOT CACHE THUMBNAILS box but, I'm still getting the cannot delete dialog -- I've closed all folders --except, I do have Outlook Inbox up -- do I need to close everything & restart the PC for the new setting to "work". When I checked it, I clicked Apply and OK but, it still doesn't seem to want to delete thumbs.db file ... please advise --thanks! -ML

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Comment from Maxey Lynch on 2011-11-06

2011-11-06T13:46:15Z

Leo--will turning off thumbs.db prevent thumbnail views from being generated? Or, will it allow creation of the thumb, temporarily and then discard it when the folder is closed? Or, to restore thumbnail views, would I need to uncheck the caching mode in settings per above? thanks!

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Comment from Ricky on 2011-10-28

2011-10-29T06:19:20Z

COOL!! helped out alot, always hated this "thumbs" files. Even thought they were some sort of virus :P

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Comment from Patricia on 2010-11-27

2010-11-28T06:57:49Z

Hello Leo - just wanted to let you know that the tools -- folder options was found in "my comptuer" - thanks, patricia

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Comment from Tieria Erde on 2010-10-27

2010-10-27T10:39:23Z

technically informative, it helps a lot coz thumbs.db consumes quite some of the disk space

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Comment from Daniel on 2010-06-04

2010-06-04T23:25:59Z

Thanks for the "Hide protected operating system files" tip - that's what caught me out, as with that a search won't find it.

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Comment from Atul on 2010-03-06

2010-03-06T12:53:39Z

Hi ..
Will it give any bad effect to our systems? I mean, do I face any kind of problem if I don't delete Thumbs.db from my PC? Please suggest.

It's harmless. I ignore it.

06-Mar-2010

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Comment from Dave on 2009-12-23

2009-12-23T23:39:27Z

For those of you receiving the 'cannot be deleted because it's in use' error try this:

http://www.filehippo.com/download_unlocker/

It's a free program that allows you to end the thread and delete the file.
Note: Use with caution and only delete the files you know are safe to.

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Comment from emma on 2009-11-23

2009-11-23T14:58:00Z

Please Help, I have a year old computer and for some reason it does not have a folder options anywhere on the system. so im completly stuck any ideas would be very helpful thank you

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Comment from Pramod Lodhi on 2009-10-25

2009-10-25T08:57:07Z

Hey, where did thumbs.db come from I am just now seeing it on my computer desktop. I have never seen it before now while I was trying to see why I can't close my yahoo.messenger. Don't remember opening any pitures recently. What is thumbs.db. Is it messing with my computer?

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Comment from K.C. on 2009-07-22

2009-07-23T05:31:55Z

Hi Leo, I wonder if you can help me since I can't seem to locate answers elsewhere. While trying to view certain video files on my harddrives, I get a Windows Explorer error message saying that a problem has occurred and Explorer needs to shut down. From what I have read, I'm pretty sure it relates to thumbs.db files. I copied videos from one harddrive to another and deleted the original ones to consolidate all videos. Some folders are unaffected and can still be viewed as thumbnails. I tried deleting the thumbs.db files and then letting XP recreate them the next time I chose to view as thumbnails, but to no avail. I told Windows not to cache thumbnails and searched for and deleted any thumbs.db files on my system but still have the same problem. Also, certain videos, when I try to play them, instantly give me the above-mentioned error message even if the folder is set to be viewed as tiles, lists, etc. But most are fine when the view is set to anything other than thumbnails. Originally, there was one subfolder that I had this problem with only. At the time, I didn't know that it was related to the view. I tried to copy the subfolder to a different folder and in the middle of the transfer I got the error message. Now both folders have the same problem. When I try to view these folders as thumbnails, thumbnails start to be produced but after a few seconds, the error message appears and Explorer shuts down. Thanks in advance. K.C.

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Comment from ace2luv on 2009-05-23

2009-05-24T05:16:32Z

Please read the article you just commented on.

- Leo
24-May-2009

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Comment from jj on 2009-04-20

2009-04-20T21:56:36Z

I have one or more folders with only a Thumbs.db file in them that will not delete using the instructions provided here. Note they appear with a capital T. The folder name cannot be modified or the folder deleted. It says being used by another person or program. Please comment or help. Thanks.

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Comment from Anna on 2009-03-12

2009-03-13T06:47:58Z

My picture files have been backed up and I'm about to delete them from the pc -but this error pops up:

"The file 'Thumbs.db' is a system file.

If you remove it, your computer or one of your programs may no longer work correctly. Are you sure you want to delete it?"

From reading your webpage it doesn't sound like a big deal to delete the thumbs.db files, yet this error message has me frozen. What if I bring back my pictures and find that something has been screwed up & they can't be read, anymore?

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Comment from Melissa on 2009-03-05

2009-03-05T11:00:02Z

Hi Leo,

I'm did back up with my drives and after I copied the contents of 1 drive to another, I deleted the contents of first drive and I accidentally deleted thumbs.db

Can I get the file back? How to do that?

Thanks in advance.

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Comment from Peter Jaspers-Fayer on 2009-02-19

2009-02-19T14:25:12Z

Leo, I will grant that the checkbox "Do not cache Thumbnails" was there when you wrote this article, but several people (and now myself) have observed that it is no longer there.

Perhaps SP1 removed it?

Please check this out and update the article, if possible?

Still there for me with XP Pro SP3. There must be some other criteria by which Windows does or does not include it. Lovely.

- Leo
19-Feb-2009

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Comment from Phil on 2008-12-21

2008-12-21T17:11:47Z

I still get a message that the Thumbs.db cannot be deleted, nor moved, because it is "being used by another program." It isn't... with the exception, possibly, of an unseen piece of the Windows Explorer program that might be snuggled in some cache someplace. This is something new to my environment as I have heretofore been able to delete folders at will. It may be a firewall thing, I'm not sure.

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Comment from Joel on 2008-10-22

2008-10-22T20:09:44Z

Leo,
I was trying to delete an old folder that had some pictures in it. When I went to delete it, Windows would not let me delete the Thumbs.db file. I am able to delete everything in the folder (word files and picture files) but cannot delete the Thumbs.db file. Windows keeps telling me that it cannot delete Thumbs.db files and that another program or person is using it. Only there are no other programs open and no other people logged on. I can see the hidden file, but Windows will not let me delete it. I'm stumped, can you help me? Thanks!

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Comment from Kajal on 2008-06-27

2008-06-28T05:35:09Z

I'm using windows vista and I cannot see the Do Not Cache thumbnail.I wsa to get rid of the thumbs.db permanently

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Comment from Oldman on 2008-06-18

2008-06-18T07:56:17Z

THANKS LEO: WORKED LIKE A CHARM!

Was cleaning my picture folder and this file had over 9MB so I was trying to get rid of the bigger file like this. Yet windows kept telling me it was being used by a program, but, being windows it does not tell you which one! So trying to figure out and close the thing was driving me nuts. Great job Chief!

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Comment from Harold on 2008-05-22

2008-05-22T09:37:50Z

Hi Leo,

I was moving a folder with many jpegs from one drive to another. The jpegs were all arranged alphabetically. When it came to the 'T's, the thumbs.db files started moving, then I got an error message. All the jpegs up to the T's moved over to the new drive and when I access the new folder, I can see thumbnails. All the jpegs after the T are stuck in the old drive, and when I open the old folder, I cannot see the thumbnails. I tried to more the remaining jepegs over, but the thumbs.db files start moving and I get the error message again. What can I do? Will deleting the thumbs.db from the old folder help? Also why can I not see thumbnails of the jpegs remaining in the old folder?

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Comment from David Henriks on 2007-08-28

2007-08-29T01:06:42Z

I have the opposite problem. The Do Not Cache box is NOT checked, but the thumbs.db are still not being created. Why not? I want to see thumbnails, but they do not appear.

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Comment from Ali Darvishan on 2007-07-28

2007-07-28T17:49:36Z

Excellent!

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Comment from Jean Hering on 2007-07-28

2007-07-28T13:15:07Z

In Vista there isn't an option to never create thumbs. So I clicked don't show them but I don't think that's right.

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Comment from sreejith on 2007-07-28

2007-07-28T08:29:46Z

Thanks...i was wondering what exactly it was..

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Comment from George Arauz on 2007-07-23

2007-07-24T06:20:40Z

Just a thumbnail.. safe to delete

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