clear the thumbnail cache question

clair cook 0 Reputation points
2026-08-30T17:24:10.2966667+00:00

I want to Clear the Thumbnail Cache because of black squares behind my folders. A search on Google states one way is to open the Start menu, search for Disk Cleanup, and open the tool. Select your main Windows drive (usually C:), check the box next to Thumbnails and click OK to delete the files.

My question is will this last step of clicking ok to delete the files delete the original file or just the black square.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Files, folders, and storage
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  1. clair cook 0 Reputation points
    2026-08-30T17:25:56.4733333+00:00

    Clicking OK to remove Thumbnails in Disk Cleanup clears the thumbnail cache, not the original files.

    The thumbnail cache is a Windows cache used to store preview images. Windows uses that cache to show thumbnails in File Explorer. Clearing it removes those cached previews so Windows can rebuild them. It does not delete the actual photos, folders, or other original files.

    If the issue is black squares behind folders, clearing Thumbnails is a reasonable troubleshooting step. After cleanup, File Explorer may temporarily show generic icons or blank previews until Windows recreates the thumbnails.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-08-30T17:24:21.2966667+00:00

    Clicking OK to remove Thumbnails in Disk Cleanup clears the thumbnail cache, not the original files.

    The thumbnail cache is a Windows cache used to store preview images. Windows uses that cache to show thumbnails in File Explorer. Clearing it removes those cached previews so Windows can rebuild them. It does not delete the actual photos, folders, or other original files.

    If the issue is black squares behind folders, clearing Thumbnails is a reasonable troubleshooting step. After cleanup, File Explorer may temporarily show generic icons or blank previews until Windows recreates the thumbnails.

    References:

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