Vista Tutorial - Thumbnail Cache

**Brink**

How to Clear the Thumbnail Cache in Vista

Information

The thumbnail cache allows Vista to display thumbnails quicker for you by having all the images stored in a cache ready to use rather than loading them from the hard drive each and every time. This will show you how to clear the thumbnail cache to reset it.

NOTE

You might clear the thumbnail cache if the Windows Explorer thumbnail previews have become corrupted or the cache file has become to large. Clearing the thumbnail cache will only empty the cache and not delete it. The cache will rebuild itself as Vista reloads the thumbnail images for the icons back into the cache as you navigate through Windows Explorer.

RELATED LINKS:

Here's How:

1. Open Disk Cleanup.

2. Check Thumbnails and click on OK. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: Notice the size of your thumbnail cache. The more you navigate, the bigger it can get.

3. Click Delete Files button on the confirmation window. (See screenshot below)

4. Disk Cleanup will now clear the thumbnail cache and close.

That's it,
Shawn

**pacinitaly** · 06-18-2009

This may help too
It's the same thing but a shortcut

%SystemRoot%\System32\Cmd.exe /c Cleanmgr /sageset:65535 & Cleanmgr /sagerun:65535

add this to a new shortcut location or just copy and paste to a CMD prompt as an admin

Shawn or John,
can you delete the attached file, I think it will only work on my laptop ( very sorry

)

**Brink** · 06-18-2009

Hello Pacinitaly,

Thank you. Yeah that allow it to be done through the extended Disk Cleanup instead.

**pacinitaly** · 06-18-2009

I knew I read this somewhere

I was looking for a 1/2hr.

Sorry about that Shawn

**Brink** · 06-18-2009

LOL, no problem.

06-18-2009
Brink Administrator Join Date: Apr 2007 Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 (7600) x64 25,801 posts	Re: Thumbnail Cache Hello Pacinitaly, Thank you. Yeah that allow it to be done through the extended Disk Cleanup instead.
My System Specs

06-18-2009
pacinitaly Master Join Date: Jan 2009 VISTA home prem 32bit SP2 --- XP Pro SP3 32bit 783 posts	Re: Thumbnail Cache I knew I read this somewhere I was looking for a 1/2hr. Sorry about that Shawn
My System Specs

06-18-2009
Brink Administrator Join Date: Apr 2007 Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 (7600) x64 25,801 posts	Re: Thumbnail Cache LOL, no problem.
My System Specs

Similar Threads
Tutorial	Category
thumbnail cache	Vista General
thumbnail cache...	Vista music pictures video
Increase thumbnail cache?	General Discussion
Vista Thumbnail Cache	Vista performance & maintenance
Thumbnail cache	Vista music pictures video