How to Stop Windows 10 from Automatically Creating Thumbnails (Thumbs.db)

Why Does Windows Create Thumbs.db Files?

If you have ever tried to delete a folder on your Windows computer or a network drive, only to be met with a frustrating “File In Use” error caused by a hidden file named thumbs.db, you are not alone. These files are thumbnail caches.

Whenever you open a folder containing images or videos, Windows 10 automatically generates tiny preview images (thumbnails) so you can see what the files look like without opening them. To speed up loading times in the future, Windows saves these previews inside a hidden thumbs.db database file within that specific folder. While this speeds up local browsing, it causes massive file-locking headaches on shared network drives. You can disable this caching behavior.

How to Stop Windows from Creating Thumbnail Caches

The most effective way to disable thumbs.db creation, especially for network drives, is via the Local Group Policy Editor (available in Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education).

1. Press the Windows Key + R to open the Run dialogue box.
2. Type gpedit.msc and press Enter.
3. In the left-hand navigation pane, follow this exact path:
   • User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer
4. In the right-hand pane, look for the policy named Turn off the caching of thumbnails in hidden thumbs.db files.
5. Double-click this policy.
6. Change the setting from “Not Configured” to Enabled.
7. Click Apply, then click OK.

(Note: If you want to stop thumbnail creation entirely, even on your local C: drive, you can also enable the policy directly above it named “Turn off the display of thumbnails and only display icons”).

Once enabled, Windows will no longer generate hidden database files inside your folders, completely eliminating the annoying “File In Use” errors when attempting to delete or move directories.