How to Remove Thumbnail Cache on Linux

What Causes This?

Linux desktop environments like GNOME, KDE, and XFCE store thumbnail images in a cache so folders with pictures, videos, and documents load previews faster. Over time, that cache can grow large, become outdated, or get corrupted, which can lead to broken previews and wasted disk space. This usually happens after moving or deleting lots of files, upgrading your file manager, or using multiple apps that generate their own thumbnails.

Common Symptoms

• File previews show the wrong image or an old version of a file
• Thumbnails do not load, appear blank, or show generic icons
• File manager folders open slowly, especially media folders
• Thumbnail cache uses more disk space than expected
• Preview problems continue even after restarting the file manager

How to Fix It Manually

1. Open a terminal

   • On most Linux systems, press Ctrl+Alt+T.
   • You can also open your app menu and search for Terminal.

2. Check the size of your thumbnail cache

   • Run:

     du -sh ~/.cache/thumbnails

   • On some systems, thumbnails may also be stored under:

     du -sh ~/.thumbnails

   • If you see a large size or get preview errors, clearing the cache is usually safe.

3. Close your file manager

   • Save any work first.
   • Close Files, Nautilus, Dolphin, Thunar, or whatever file manager you use.
   • This helps prevent the cache from being recreated while you are deleting it.

4. Delete the thumbnail cache

   • For modern Linux systems, run:

     rm -rf ~/.cache/thumbnails/*

   • If your system uses the older thumbnail folder too, run:

     rm -rf ~/.thumbnails/*

   • These commands remove only cached preview files, not your actual documents, photos, or videos.

5. Log out and back in, or restart the file manager

   • The easiest option is to sign out of your Linux session and sign back in.
   • Or reopen your file manager manually from the app menu.
   • This forces the system to rebuild thumbnails from scratch.

6. Test thumbnail generation

   • Open a folder that contains images or videos.
   • Wait a few seconds and confirm that previews are being recreated correctly.
   • If thumbnails still do not appear, check your file manager settings for an option like Show Thumbnails, Preview, or Only for local files.

7. If needed, clear cache with a GUI file manager

   • Open your Home folder.
   • Press Ctrl+H to show hidden folders.
   • Open .cache, then open thumbnails, and delete its contents.
   • Also check for a hidden .thumbnails folder in your home directory and clear that if it exists.

Fix It Automatically with Kudu

If you do not want to dig through hidden cache folders or run terminal commands, Kudu can scan your system for thumbnail cache buildup and other junk files automatically. It helps you safely remove unnecessary cached data, recover storage space, and fix common preview-related clutter without the manual cleanup.

Download Kudu Free →