Disable Thumbs.db on Windows 7

Every time you open a directory containing images, Windows creates those pesky Thumbs.db files for a minor speed-up and lots of cluttering your zip files etc.

You do want to disable them. Here is how on Windows 7:

  1. Start → Run (or press Meta+R)
  2. gpedit.msc
  3. User Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → Windows Explorer
  4. Locate "Turn off the caching of thumbnails in hidden thumbs.db files" (should be one of the top list entries)
  5. Set it to "Enabled". Yes, seriously -- you enable the disabling of thumbs.db creation. Go figure.
Arne Hartherz