Some users prevent the file from growing back by deleting the .thumbdata file and replacing it with a blank
Because .thumbdata is a proprietary container format, standard image viewers (Windows Photos, macOS Preview) cannot open them. Specialized tools are required to parse the binary data and extract the individual JPEGs. thumbdata viewer
: They are not standard image files; they are containers holding hundreds of small JPEGs. Some users prevent the file from growing back
If your phone is running low on space, you might be tempted to delete these files. Here is what you need to know: Safe to Delete: Yes, it is generally safe to delete these files. The Reappearance: Android will automatically recreate these files the next time you open your Gallery to view photos. The "Dummy File" Trick: If your phone is running low on space,
Use a hex editor (HxD, 010 Editor) to locate JPEG headers ( FF D8 FF E0 ) and footers ( FF D9 ), then manually extract blocks. Not recommended for large files.
Some users prevent the file from growing back by deleting the .thumbdata file and replacing it with a blank
Because .thumbdata is a proprietary container format, standard image viewers (Windows Photos, macOS Preview) cannot open them. Specialized tools are required to parse the binary data and extract the individual JPEGs.
: They are not standard image files; they are containers holding hundreds of small JPEGs.
If your phone is running low on space, you might be tempted to delete these files. Here is what you need to know: Safe to Delete: Yes, it is generally safe to delete these files. The Reappearance: Android will automatically recreate these files the next time you open your Gallery to view photos. The "Dummy File" Trick:
Use a hex editor (HxD, 010 Editor) to locate JPEG headers ( FF D8 FF E0 ) and footers ( FF D9 ), then manually extract blocks. Not recommended for large files.