Policy CSP - ADMX_Thumbnails

Tip

This CSP contains ADMX-backed policies which require a special SyncML format to enable or disable. You must specify the data type in the SyncML as <Format>chr</Format>. For details, see Understanding ADMX-backed policies.

The payload of the SyncML must be XML-encoded; for this XML encoding, there are a variety of online encoders that you can use. To avoid encoding the payload, you can use CDATA if your MDM supports it. For more information, see CDATA Sections.

DisableThumbnails

Scope Editions Applicable OS
❌ Device
✅ User
✅ Pro
✅ Enterprise
✅ Education
✅ Windows SE
✅ IoT Enterprise / IoT Enterprise LTSC
✅ Windows 10, version 2004 with KB5005101 [10.0.19041.1202] and later
✅ Windows 10, version 20H2 with KB5005101 [10.0.19042.1202] and later
✅ Windows 10, version 21H1 with KB5005101 [10.0.19043.1202] and later
✅ Windows 11, version 21H2 [10.0.22000] and later
./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_Thumbnails/DisableThumbnails

This policy setting allows you to configure how File Explorer displays thumbnail images or icons on the local computer.

File Explorer displays thumbnail images by default.

  • If you enable this policy setting, File Explorer displays only icons and never displays thumbnail images.

  • If you disable or don't configure this policy setting, File Explorer displays only thumbnail images.

Description framework properties:

Property name Property value
Format chr (string)
Access Type Add, Delete, Get, Replace

Tip

This is an ADMX-backed policy and requires SyncML format for configuration. For an example of SyncML format, refer to Enabling a policy.

ADMX mapping:

Name Value
Name DisableThumbnails
Friendly Name Turn off the display of thumbnails and only display icons.
Location User Configuration
Path WindowsComponents > File Explorer
Registry Key Name Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
Registry Value Name DisableThumbnails
ADMX File Name Thumbnails.admx

DisableThumbnailsOnNetworkFolders

Scope Editions Applicable OS
❌ Device
✅ User
✅ Pro
✅ Enterprise
✅ Education
✅ Windows SE
✅ IoT Enterprise / IoT Enterprise LTSC
✅ Windows 10, version 2004 with KB5005101 [10.0.19041.1202] and later
✅ Windows 10, version 20H2 with KB5005101 [10.0.19042.1202] and later
✅ Windows 10, version 21H1 with KB5005101 [10.0.19043.1202] and later
✅ Windows 11, version 21H2 [10.0.22000] and later
./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_Thumbnails/DisableThumbnailsOnNetworkFolders

This policy setting allows you to configure how File Explorer displays thumbnail images or icons on network folders.

File Explorer displays only icons and never displays thumbnail images on network folders by default.

  • If you disable this policy setting, File Explorer displays thumbnail images on network folders.

  • If you enable or don't configure this policy setting, File Explorer displays only icons and never displays thumbnail images on network folders.

Note

Allowing the use of thumbnail images from network folders can expose the users' computers to security risks.

Description framework properties:

Property name Property value
Format chr (string)
Access Type Add, Delete, Get, Replace

Tip

This is an ADMX-backed policy and requires SyncML format for configuration. For an example of SyncML format, refer to Enabling a policy.

ADMX mapping:

Name Value
Name DisableThumbnailsOnNetworkFolders
Friendly Name Turn off the display of thumbnails and only display icons on network folders
Location User Configuration
Path WindowsComponents > File Explorer
Registry Key Name Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
Registry Value Name DisableThumbnailsOnNetworkFolders
ADMX File Name Thumbnails.admx

DisableThumbsDBOnNetworkFolders

Scope Editions Applicable OS
❌ Device
✅ User
✅ Pro
✅ Enterprise
✅ Education
✅ Windows SE
✅ IoT Enterprise / IoT Enterprise LTSC
✅ Windows 10, version 2004 with KB5005101 [10.0.19041.1202] and later
✅ Windows 10, version 20H2 with KB5005101 [10.0.19042.1202] and later
✅ Windows 10, version 21H1 with KB5005101 [10.0.19043.1202] and later
✅ Windows 11, version 21H2 [10.0.22000] and later
./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_Thumbnails/DisableThumbsDBOnNetworkFolders

Turns off the caching of thumbnails in hidden thumbs.db files.

This policy setting allows you to configure File Explorer to cache thumbnails of items residing in network folders in hidden thumbs.db files.

  • If you enable this policy setting, File Explorer doesn't create, read from, or write to thumbs.db files.

  • If you disable or don't configure this policy setting, File Explorer creates, reads from, and writes to thumbs.db files.

Description framework properties:

Property name Property value
Format chr (string)
Access Type Add, Delete, Get, Replace

Tip

This is an ADMX-backed policy and requires SyncML format for configuration. For an example of SyncML format, refer to Enabling a policy.

ADMX mapping:

Name Value
Name DisableThumbsDBOnNetworkFolders
Friendly Name Turn off the caching of thumbnails in hidden thumbs.db files
Location User Configuration
Path WindowsComponents > File Explorer
Registry Key Name Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer
Registry Value Name DisableThumbsDBOnNetworkFolders
ADMX File Name Thumbnails.admx

Policy configuration service provider