What file is Thumbs.db?

Thumbs.db is a system file that caches thumbnails under Windows xp/2003. Thumbs.db mainly exists in the Pictures folder. When you store a picture file in a folder and then open this folder, you will have thumbs.db. Its main function is to open the picture folder when the picture generated thumbnails and recorded, easy to quickly preview the next time.

The system is not able to see the Thumbs.db file by default, only when you turn on show all files and folders and close the Hide protected operating system files. The more pictures thumbs.db the larger the file will be.

Thumbs.db's working principle:

When Windows first displays thumbnails, it reads the "Thumbs.db thumbnail database" in the current directory to determine if there is a thumbnail for the picture, or if the "thumbs.db thumbnail database" does not exist or there is no thumbnail of the picture in the Thumbs.db thumbnail database, Then Windows will try to take EXIF information in the picture, to determine whether there is thumbnail data, if the image of EXIF information does not exist or the image of EXIF information does not exist in the image of the thumbnail, then Windows will use interpolation method to regenerate the thumbnail, and save to the current directory. Thumbs.db thumbnail database.

Thumbs.db and the Magic thumbnail

Early a friend found a magical picture, clearly a big picture is a chair, and thumbnail is a dark angel. Actually understand the above "thumbs.db working principle", then use "Exifer" This small software, you can also make this kind of magic thumbnail effect. You search the Internet.

How to turn off cached thumbnails

Open "My Computer" → Click the menu bar "Tools" → "Folder Options" → Click the "view" option → select "Do not cache thumbnails" → "OK".

After you close the cached thumbnail, the Thumbs.db file will no longer be generated, but the thumbs.db that has been generated needs to be deleted by searching for "thumbs.db".

If you cannot delete the Thumbs.db file, you can "log off" the computer or reboot the computer and then delete it.

There's not much point in restoring photos by thumbs.db, because the recovery is just a small thumbnail, not a restoration of the original photo.