How to Clear Thumbnail Cache Windows 11: A Step-by-Step Guide

Are your thumbnails in Windows 11 showing the wrong icons, not updating, or appearing broken? The culprit is often a corrupted thumbnail cache. Luckily, clearing the cache is a quick fix.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to clear the thumbnail cache in Windows 11, step by step, using multiple methods. We’ll also explain why thumbnails break, how often you should clear the cache, and what to do if the issue keeps coming back.

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Key Takeaways (Quick Summary)

• Thumbnail cache stores previews of images, videos, and documents to load them faster.

• If thumbnails don’t display correctly, clearing the cache usually fixes the problem.

• You can clear the thumbnail cache using Disk Cleanup, File Explorer, Command Prompt, or PowerShell.

• Clearing the cache doesn’t delete your actual files — only the temporary previews.

• Windows 11 automatically rebuilds the thumbnail cache when you reopen folders.

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What Is the Thumbnail Cache in Windows 11?

Windows 11 creates a small preview (thumbnail) for each file so you don’t have to open it to see what’s inside. For example:

• A JPEG file shows a mini photo preview.

• A video file shows a frame snapshot.

• A PDF might display the first page.

All these previews are stored in the thumbnail cache, located in a hidden system folder. This speeds up browsing but can sometimes cause problems if the cache gets corrupted.

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Why Clear the Thumbnail Cache?

You may need to clear the cache if you notice:

• Thumbnails not updating after editing images.

• Files showing blank icons instead of previews.

• Incorrect or outdated thumbnails.

• Thumbnail display lagging or stuttering in File Explorer.

👉 Clearing the cache forces Windows 11 to rebuild fresh previews.

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Where Is the Thumbnail Cache Stored in Windows 11?

By default, the thumbnail cache is stored in:

Inside this folder, you’ll find files like:

• thumbcache_*.db

• iconcache_*.db

Deleting these files (safely) removes the cache.

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Methods: How to Clear Thumbnail Cache in Windows 11

There are several ways to clear the thumbnail cache. Let’s go through each step by step.

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Method 1: Clear Thumbnail Cache Using Disk Cleanup

Disk Cleanup is the most user-friendly way.

Steps:

1. Press Win + S, type Disk Cleanup, and open it.

2. Select your system drive (C:).

3. Check the box for Thumbnails.

4. Click OK, then Delete Files.

5. Wait a few moments — the cache will be cleared.

✅ Your thumbnails will regenerate when you reopen folders.

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Method 2: Manually Delete Thumbnail Cache Files

For more control, you can delete the files directly.

Steps:

1. Press Win + R, type:

   %localappdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer


2. Press Enter.

3. Find files named thumbcache_*.db.

4. Select and delete them (Shift + Delete for permanent removal).

5. Restart your PC.

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Method 3: Clear Thumbnail Cache Using Command Prompt

If you prefer commands:

Steps:

1. Open Command Prompt (Admin).

2. Type the following commands one by one, pressing Enter after each:

   taskkill /f /im explorer.exe
del /f /s /q %localappdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\thumbcache_*.db
start explorer.exe


3. File Explorer will restart with a fresh thumbnail cache.

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Method 4: Clear Thumbnail Cache Using PowerShell

Another quick option is PowerShell.

Steps:

1. Right-click the Start menu and select Windows Terminal (Admin).

2. Enter this command:

   Get-ChildItem "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\thumbcache_*.db" | Remove-Item


3. Restart File Explorer.

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How to Rebuild the Thumbnail Cache

Clearing is one thing, but Windows will rebuild the cache automatically when you open folders. If it doesn’t, try this:

1. Open File Explorer Options (search in Start menu).

2. Go to the View tab.

3. Make sure “Always show icons, never thumbnails” is unchecked.

4. Click Apply and reopen the folder.

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What Happens After Clearing the Thumbnail Cache?

• The first time you open folders, Windows will take longer to load previews.

• After caching, thumbnails will load faster again.

• Your actual files (images, videos, docs) remain untouched.

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Troubleshooting: Thumbnail Cache Keeps Corrupting

If you need to clear thumbnails too often, try these fixes:

• Update your graphics drivers (outdated drivers cause display glitches).

• Run System File Checker:

  sfc /scannow


• Check storage health — disk errors can corrupt cache files.

• Disable third-party cleaners that might be interfering.

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Performance Tip: Does Clearing Thumbnail Cache Speed Up Windows 11?

Yes and no. Clearing a corrupted cache can fix lag in File Explorer. But clearing too often is unnecessary since Windows automatically manages cache size.

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Comparison: Which Method Should You Use?

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Best Practices for Managing Thumbnails in Windows 11

• Clear the cache only when thumbnails break.

• Keep graphics drivers updated.

• Don’t disable thumbnails in File Explorer unless necessary.

• Use built-in tools (Disk Cleanup) for safe management.

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Conclusion

Now you know how to clear thumbnail cache in Windows 11 step by step using Disk Cleanup, File Explorer, Command Prompt, or PowerShell. Clearing the cache is safe, doesn’t delete your files, and helps fix corrupted or missing previews.

If thumbnails keep breaking, check your graphics drivers, run system scans, or consider deeper troubleshooting. With the right maintenance, your Windows 11 thumbnails will stay smooth and responsive.

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FAQs

1. Will clearing thumbnail cache delete my files?

No, it only removes preview images, not your actual files.

2. How often should I clear the thumbnail cache?

Only when thumbnails break or display incorrectly.

3. Why do my thumbnails keep disappearing?

Corrupted cache, outdated drivers, or system errors can cause this.

4. Can I disable thumbnails completely?

Yes — go to File Explorer Options > View tab > check “Always show icons, never thumbnails.”

5. Does clearing thumbnail cache free up disk space?

Yes, but only a small amount (usually a few hundred MBs).