On Windows 11, you can clear the thumbnail cache in multiple ways, and in this guide, you will learn how. In File Explorer, thumbnails are those image previews you see when browsing files and folders (depending on the current view), making it easier to identify the item’s contents.
Regardless of the reason, on Windows 11, you can quickly resolve this issue by clearing the “thumbnail cache,” a database that sits in the “Explorer” folder in the “AppData” path, using the Settings app, Disk Cleanup, File Explorer, or Command Prompt.
This guide will teach you the different methods to delete and recreate the thumbnail cache on Windows 11.
Clear thumbnail cache on Windows 11 from Settings
To clear the thumbnail cache from Settings, use these steps:
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Open Settings on Windows 11.
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Click on System.
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Click the Storage tab.
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Click the Temporary files setting.
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Clear the current item selections.
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Check the Thumbnails option.
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Click the Remove files button.
Once you complete the steps, the system will automatically recreate the database.
Clear thumbnail cache on Windows 11 from Disk Cleanup
To delete the thumbnail cache with the legacy Disk Cleanup tool, use these steps:
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Open Start.
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Search for Disk Cleanup and click the top result to open the app.
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Select the System C drive (if applicable).
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Click the OK button.
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Clear the current item selections.
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Check the Thumbnails option.
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Click the OK button.
After you complete the steps, the thumbnail cache will delete from Windows 11, and the system will create a new database to store thumbnails again.
Clear thumbnail cache on Windows 11 from File Explorer
To clear the thumbnails from File Explorer on Windows 11, use these steps:
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Open File Explorer.
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Type the following path in the address bar and press Enter:
%HOMEPATH%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer -
Open the “View” menu, select the “Show” submenu, and choose the “Hidden items” option.
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Type the following search term in the search box and press Enter:
thumbcache_* -
Select the “thumbcache” files (“Ctrl + A” shortcut) and click the Delete button.
After you complete the steps, the system will recreate the cache one more time on Windows 11.
Clear thumbnail cache on Windows 11 from Command Prompt
To clear the Windows 11 thumbnail cache through Command Prompt, use these steps:
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Open Start.
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Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and choose the Run as administrator option.
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Type the following command to close the File Explorer processes and press Enter:
taskkill /f /im explorer.exe -
Type the following command to delete the current thumbnail database and press Enter:
del /f /s /q /a %LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\thumbcache_*.db
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Type the following command to start the File Explorer processes and press Enter:
start explorer.exe
Once you complete the steps, the command will remove the cache, and Windows 11 will recreate the thumbnails.
It’s important to note that File Explorer may not be able to show thumbnails for certain file formats, such as those from Photoshop and others. Also, if you have the feature disabled, File Explorer won’t show previews for files or folders. You can always check and enable the feature from the “View” tab in the “Folder Options” page by clearing the “Always show icons, never thumbnails” option.
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