Thumbnail preview support for ebooks and various archive formats in Windows File Explorer. V2.0 adds DJVU and 7Z/CB7 support! V2.1 fixes broken CB7 support, adding it as a selectable option.
Supported formats:
- EPUB, FB2, Kindle (MOBI, AZW, AZW3)
- DJVU / DJV, CB7, CBZ. CBR
- 7Z, RAR, ZIP (ZIP, PHZ, GGB)
- PHZ, GGB
Publisher’s description
What is DarkThumbs?
DarkThumbs by fire-eggs is free Windows software in the e-book readers category. It is written in C++.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides MSI installers for 64-bit Windows. A silent install is possible with the installer’s documented switches. An MSI package is available for deployment with Group Policy, Intune or Configuration Manager.
Updates and version history
The current version is 2.1, released on May 17, 2025. The version history goes back to May 2, 2024: 3 releases, all linked to the official files. That is about 2.9 releases a year. The last update is more than a year old. The source repository has been archived, so further updates are unlikely.
Popularity and file types
The source code on GitHub (fire-eggs/DarkThumbs) has 666 stars. On Windows it registers 16 file types, including .zip, .epub, .cbr, .7z and .rar. Similar programs include SumatraPDF, calibre and Sigil.
Project description on GitHub: “Adds thumbnail preview to Windows Explorer for EPUB, FB2, DJVU and Kindle ebooks; 7Z, CB7, CBZ, CBR, RAR and ZIP archives.”
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Free to use
- MSI package for managed deployment
- Documented silent install
Cons
- No native ARM64 build
- No update for more than a year
- Source repository archived
In short: DarkThumbs is a free e-book reader tool for 64-bit PCs. Updates have slowed down. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Is DarkThumbs safe to download?
- The file is served by github.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
5D61073B29F359FA472E7F4E9DCB489A2DDB54318D711F2825AB6115366A229D· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link has not been checked yet
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 3 versions ›3 versions over 1 year · about 2.9 a year
| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.1Latest | May 17, 2025 | — | 64-bit MSI |
| 2.0 | October 17, 2024 | — | 64-bit MSI |
| 1.9 | May 2, 2024 | — | 64-bit MSI |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id fire-eggs.DarkThumbs -emsiexec /i DarkThumbsSetup_x64.msi /qn /norestartmsiexec /x {7E34E65E-4A72-4AD7-8C0D-AED276C06B51} /qn /norestartRelated guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- fire-eggs
- Category
- E-book readers
- Licence
- Freeware
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- github.com/fire-eggs/DarkThumbs
- Written in
- C++
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit
- Installer
- MSI
- Version
- 2.1
- Released
- May 17, 2025
- Added to the catalogue
- August 13, 2024
- Versions listed
- 3
- Updates / year
- 2.9
- GitHub stars
- 666
- GitHub forks
- 35
- Website
- github.com
- winget ID
- fire-eggs.DarkThumbs
- MSI product code
- {7E34E65E-4A72-4AD7-8C0D-AED276C06B51}
File types it opens (16)
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
Alternatives to DarkThumbs
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Frequently asked questions
Is DarkThumbs free?
Yes. DarkThumbs is free to use.
Is DarkThumbs safe to download?
The download comes from github.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install DarkThumbs with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Can DarkThumbs be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer, including msiexec for the MSI package.
Does DarkThumbs run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 64-bit version through emulation.
Where can I download an older version of DarkThumbs?
The versions page lists all 3 versions with links to their official installer files, back to May 2, 2024.
What are alternatives to DarkThumbs?
SumatraPDF, calibre, Sigil, BlueGriffon and Kindle Comic Converter. The alternatives page compares them.
