The offline Thumbs.db viewer for Windows and macOS
Open, view, and export thumbnails from Thumbs.db, thumbcache_*.db, ehthumbs.db, and other proprietary thumbnail-cache databases. Read-only, works fully offline with no telemetry.
Supported thumbnail-cache databases
Every common thumbnail-cache format, in one viewer.
Thumbs.dbJPEGThe original Windows folder thumbnail cache, with real filenames and dates.
Thumbs.dbJPEG / PNGThe newer per-folder cache: thumbnails only, no filenames.
thumbcache_*.dbJPEG / PNG / BMPWindows Explorer's central cache, including thumbcache_96.db, _256.db, and _1024.db: thumbnails only, no filenames.
ehthumbs.dbBMP / DIBThe Media Center cache, with filenames and dates.
ivThumbs.dbBMPIrfanView's thumbnail database, with real filenames and dates.
photothumb.dbJPEGPhotoScape's thumbnail cache, with real filenames and dates.
What are these files?
If you've come across any of these, it's a thumbnail cache, and Thumbscope opens it.
Thumbs.dbthumbcache_16.dbthumbcache_32.dbthumbcache_96.dbthumbcache_256.dbthumbcache_768.dbthumbcache_1024.dbthumbcache_1280.dbthumbcache_1920.dbthumbcache_2560.dbehthumbs.dbivThumbs.dbphotothumb.dbMore formats are on the roadmap. Suggest one with the format name and its source app.
What it does
A focused desktop viewer, with a bundled command-line tool.
Offline and private: works with no network access and no telemetry; your thumbnail data never leaves your machine.
Cross-platform: one app for Windows and macOS, plus a bundled thumbscope command-line tool.
Two-panel browse: a thumbnail grid or list with a larger preview of the selected image; images load lazily so large databases stay responsive.
Export thumbnails to a folder as JPEG (stored original or resized), with optional CSV metadata.
Recovers raw JPEGs from truncated or partly-corrupt databases (carve fallback).
Read-only and non-destructive: never modifies the source database.
Download Thumbscope
Free and open source. Pick your platform.
Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit. macOS 12 (Monterey) or later, Apple Silicon.
Builds are unsigned - code signing and notarization need paid certificates this non-commercial project doesn't have. The source is open and every release ships checksums, so you can verify the download.
macOS reports the unsigned build as "damaged and can't be opened" on first launch. After moving Thumbscope to Applications, run this once in Terminal:
xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine /Applications/Thumbscope.appWindows SmartScreen shows a "Windows protected your PC" warning on first launch. To launch Thumbscope:
Prefer to avoid it? Build from source - the repo has instructions.