What to do right now
- Thumbnails are small previews, not originals. Try recovering the originals first.
- Do not clear the thumbnail cache with Disk Cleanup.
- Use FileFix Ultimate's deleted photo preview finder to extract them as new files.
Step by step
Try the originals first
Check the Recycle Bin and run deleted file recovery first. Thumbnails are low-resolution and cannot replace the originals.
Do not clear the cache
The Thumbnails item in Disk Cleanup and many PC optimiser tools delete the thumbnail cache. Do not run them until you are done.
Run the deleted photo preview finder
Open the deleted photo preview finder in FileFix Ultimate. It reads File Explorer's preview cache (the thumbcache files) read-only and shows previews of photos whose originals no longer exist.
Preview and select
Pick the photos you need from the list. If the same photo is stored in several sizes, choose the largest.
Save to another disk
Save the selected previews as new image files. The same volume cannot be the destination.
Where the thumbnail cache lives
Windows 10 and 11 keep files starting with thumbcache in each user's AppData, under Local\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer. Previews are stored by size, matching the view used in File Explorer: small, large or extra large icons.
If you viewed a folder with large icons, larger previews are more likely to exist. A photo that was never shown in File Explorer may not have a preview at all.
What to expect
A preview is a JPEG-like image a few hundred pixels wide. It is not enough for printing or enlarging, but it is often enough to see what the scene was or to keep a record. Original file names and camera details are not included.
When nothing can be found
- Disk Cleanup or an optimiser has cleared the thumbnail cache.
- The photo was never shown as a preview in File Explorer.
- Windows was set to always show icons, never thumbnails.
How FileFix Ultimate helps
- Reads File Explorer's preview cache read-only and finds previews of photos whose originals are gone.
- Saves the previews as new image files.
- Uses the same destination rules as recovery and blocks saving to the same volume.
- If originals may remain, deleted file recovery is one click away.
FileFix Ultimate is free, works offline and never writes to the drive you are recovering from. Check the signature before you run it.
Frequently asked questions
Can a thumbnail give back the original quality?
No. Thumbnails are small previews with low resolution. Use them to identify the scene or keep a record.
Do thumbnails survive for photos deleted from an SSD?
The thumbnail cache is a separate file, so it can survive on an SSD too. If the cache was not cleared, it is worth checking.
Are there thumbnails for photos on a USB stick or SD card?
If you viewed that folder with previews in File Explorer on this PC, they may be in this PC's cache.