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After fall update, Windows 10 puts a maximum size on thumbnail cache and deletes older thumbnails before new ones can be generated

After fall update, Windows 10 puts a maximum size on thumbnail cache and deletes older thumbnails before new ones can be generated

Windows 10 didn't have this problem (Windows 8 did), but the creators update 2 brought the problem back!

Essentially, there is a hard limit on the number/size of thumbnails you can have on. Windows now deletes previously generated thumbnails to make room for new thumbnails.

This is what I found:
I deleted the cache and opened C:\\Users\\<YOUR NAME>\\AppData\\Local\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Explorer, to see how the thumbnail cache folder and its files increase in size as I started to rebuild thumbnails in various folders.

In the beginning I could see the size of the folder and the number of files in that folder increase nicely as I rebuild thumbnails. However, the thumbcache_96.db file (which for me seems to store thumbnails for picture files) tops off at 349 MB. That's when the already-generated thumbnails for picture files start to reset in real-time to make way for thumbnails being generated currently. The other file "thumbcache_1280.db" stores thumbnails for video files and that one still increases in size fine as I rebuild thumbnails for video files, although I don't now what the upper limit for that file is (mine is at only 137 MB now).

So there you have it. I think there's something from the creators update 2 that is preventing the thumbnail cache file from increasing in size by putting a cap on the size of thumbcache.db. Is there a fix for this?       

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Hi,

In some instances, a database for thumbnail cache becomes corrupted reasons why you're having an issue with it. To fix the issue, you may recreate the thumbnail cache using Disk Cleanup by following the steps below:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. On the left pane, click This PC.
3. Right-click the C: drive where Windows 10 is installed, and select Properties.
4. Click the Disk Cleanup button.
5. Check the Thumbnails option, and uncheck all the other options.
6. Click OK.
7. Click Delete Files to confirm and to complete the task.

You may also, troubleshoot Windows Explorer by following the steps from this link: Error: Windows Explorer has stopped working

Update us with the outcome.

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Hi,

In some instances, a database for thumbnail cache becomes corrupted reasons why you're having an issue with it. To fix the issue, you may recreate the thumbnail cache using Disk Cleanup by following the steps below:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. On the left pane, click This PC.
3. Right-click the C: drive where Windows 10 is installed, and select Properties.
4. Click the Disk Cleanup button.
5. Check the Thumbnails option, and uncheck all the other options.
6. Click OK.
7. Click Delete Files to confirm and to complete the task.

You may also, troubleshoot Windows Explorer by following the steps from this link: Error: Windows Explorer has stopped working

Update us with the outcome.

It didn't work. The thumbcache_96.db file still stops growing at 349 MB and previously generated thumbnails got reset to make way for new thumbnails.

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thumbcache_96.db (view as large icons for picture files) seems to have a hard limit of 349 MB preventing new thumbnails from generated before deleting older ones.

thumbcache_1280.db (view as large icons for video files) doesn't seem to have a hard limit because I've reached 457 MB so far and it doesn't seem to have a problem.

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I have a different situation.  After restarting the computer, the cache were all deleted (or reset, 1KB in size).  It also does that randomly while using the PC.  This issue only exist after the fall creators update.
Sai Chu Lau

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Similar issue with me, also.

My thumbnails are reset to 5Mb arbitrarily and after restart.

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I just ran the Thumbnail & Icon Cache Rebuilder tool from:

The Windows Club

Problem Solved!

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Hey all, I am experiencing the same issue. It seems completely random the times that the problem occurs, for the last 24hrs after using the disk clean up tool everything seemed fine, even after waking the laptop from sleep this morning. Then this afternoon I saved a new file from my browser to an existing folder and that immediately caused all the thumbnails to refresh???

I am not sure this is related, but the taskbar app icons preview of opened apps seems to stop displaying the pop up image of the opened app as well since the Creators Fall update. I have only just noticed this and am unsure if its at the same time as the File Explorer thumbnail refresh bug. Hopefully an update fix will be issued soon.

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I just ran the Thumbnail & Icon Cache Rebuilder tool from:

The Windows Club

Problem Solved!

I tried this tool.  It works for a couple days, then the thumbnail cache is reset again, so its definitely not a long term solution.

Sai Chu Lau

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The tool definitely clears out any corruptions in the cache. It resolves that problem, anyway.

My thumbnail cache was cleared again this morning.

Event viewer is listing a lot of ESENT events at the same time that the folder "Thumbnails To Delete" was created.

I can't find any information on the event id's, though.

I guess I'll have to wait until 6:57 AM tomorrow to try to catch whatever is really happening.

(This sounds like I'm talking about episodes from a Soap.)

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Microsoft is at least on the case now with a update hopefully soon.

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-update/thumbnails-after-installing-windows-10-fall/e40625fa-78dc-4e06-9d98-6ae64aa2a6c3?auth=1

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Question Info

Last updated March 7, 2024 Views 12,935 Applies to: