How to Delete Thumbs.db Files

PDF download Download Article
A step-by-step guide on deleting thumb.db files
PDF download Download Article

This wikiHow teaches you how to find and delete "Thumbs.db" files on your computer, using a Windows PC.

Steps

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/60\/Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/60\/Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-1.jpg\/aid11194792-v4-728px-Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":344,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":544,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Find and double-click on the folder containing your image files to open it in a new File Explorer window.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/ec\/Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/ec\/Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-2.jpg\/aid11194792-v4-728px-Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":344,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":545,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This button is at the top of the File Explorer window, above the folder directory. It will open your file and folder viewing options on a toolbar at the top.
    Advertisement
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/ba\/Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/ba\/Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-3.jpg\/aid11194792-v4-728px-Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":346,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":548,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You can find this option in the "Show/hide" section of the View toolbar.
    • When this option is checked, you'll be able to see regular hidden files on your computer.
    • To show hidden files, you can change the view inside File Explorer.
    • The view can show or hide hidden files, file extensions, and things like that.
    • If you want to change the permissions of a file, right-click on the file or folder. Then go down to properties at the bottom of the context menu. Inside properties, you can go to the security tab.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/0d\/Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/0d\/Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-4.jpg\/aid11194792-v4-728px-Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This button is on the right-end of the toolbar. It will open a drop-down menu.
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/54\/Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/54\/Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-5.jpg\/aid11194792-v4-728px-Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":346,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":547,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This will open your Folder Options menu in a new dialogue box.
  6. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/00\/Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/00\/Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-6.jpg\/aid11194792-v4-728px-Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":344,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":544,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This button is at the top of the dialogue box. You can manually change all your file and folder viewing options here.
  7. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/92\/Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-7.jpg\/v4-460px-Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/92\/Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-7.jpg\/aid11194792-v4-728px-Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":344,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":545,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You can find this option under the "Hidden files and folders" heading in the Advanced Settings box here.
  8. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/bb\/Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-8.jpg\/v4-460px-Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/bb\/Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-8.jpg\/aid11194792-v4-728px-Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-8.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":343,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":543,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This will confirm your action, and uncheck the option.
  9. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/1b\/Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-9.jpg\/v4-460px-Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-9.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/1b\/Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-9.jpg\/aid11194792-v4-728px-Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-9.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":344,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":544,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This will apply your new folder settings. You can now see your "Thumbs.db" files in the folder containing your images.
  10. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/01\/Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-10.jpg\/v4-460px-Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-10.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/01\/Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-10.jpg\/aid11194792-v4-728px-Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-10.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":344,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":545,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You can find this file in the same folder as your image files.
  11. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/04\/Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-11.jpg\/v4-460px-Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-11.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/04\/Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-11.jpg\/aid11194792-v4-728px-Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-11.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    It's towards the bottom between "Create shortcut" and "Rename."
  12. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/08\/Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-12.jpg\/v4-460px-Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-12.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/08\/Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-12.jpg\/aid11194792-v4-728px-Delete-Thumbs.db-Files-Step-12.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":348,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":550,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This will confirm your action, and move the selected Thumbs.db file to your computer's Trash or Recycle Bin.
    13. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Open BIN Files
      How to
      Extract a GZ File on Windows, Linux, Mac, & Mobile
      How to
      Open DLL Files
      How to
      Install APK Files on Android
      4 Simple Ways to Scan and Save Documents
      How to
      Compress Large Files
      How to
      Open a DAT File
      6 Simple Ways to Play SWF Files Without Adobe Flash Player
      3 Easy Ways to Protect a Folder With a Password
      How to
      Open a .Zip File Without Winzip
      How to
      Open TMP Files
      How to
      Use 7-Zip to Compress Files to the Smallest Size
      How to
      Create a TXT File on Mac
      How to
      Delete Unnecessary Files to Free Up Storage
      Advertisement

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open the folder containing your images.
      2. Click the View tab at the top.
      3. Check the Hidden items box.
      4. Click Options , and select Change folder and search options .
      5. Click the View tab in the "Folder Options" window.
      6. Uncheck the Hide protected operating system files box, and confirm.
      7. Click OK in Folder Options.
      8. Right-click the Thumbs.db file.
      9. Select Delete .

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 96,088 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement