Windows .gitignore Template
The full, current Windows .gitignore template — copy it as-is, or head to the .gitignore Generator to merge it with other stacks into one file.
Template
# Windows thumbnail cache files Thumbs.db Thumbs.db:encryptable ehthumbs.db ehthumbs_vista.db # Dump file *.stackdump # Folder config file [Dd]esktop.ini # Recycle Bin used on file shares $RECYCLE.BIN/ # Windows Installer files *.cab *.msi *.msix *.msm *.msp # Windows shortcuts *.lnk
What each entry does
Why every line in this template is excluded, not just what it matches.
| Entry | Why it's excluded |
|---|---|
| Thumbs.db | Windows Explorer's thumbnail cache for a folder — OS-generated, no project value. |
| Thumbs.db:encryptable | Files matching Thumbs.db:encryptable — a generated or machine-specific file type for this stack, safe to regenerate rather than track. |
| ehthumbs.db | A Windows thumbnail cache variant (network drives) — OS clutter, same as Thumbs.db. |
| ehthumbs_vista.db | Files matching ehthumbs_vista.db — a generated or machine-specific file type for this stack, safe to regenerate rather than track. |
| *.stackdump | Files matching *.stackdump — a generated or machine-specific file type for this stack, safe to regenerate rather than track. |
| [Dd]esktop.ini | Windows folder-customization metadata — OS-generated clutter. |
| $RECYCLE.BIN/ | A generated/local directory ($RECYCLE.BIN) — excluded because its contents are either build output or machine-specific state, not source you'd want to review in a diff. |
| *.cab | Files matching *.cab — a generated or machine-specific file type for this stack, safe to regenerate rather than track. |
| *.msi | Files matching *.msi — a generated or machine-specific file type for this stack, safe to regenerate rather than track. |
| *.msix | Files matching *.msix — a generated or machine-specific file type for this stack, safe to regenerate rather than track. |
| *.msm | Files matching *.msm — a generated or machine-specific file type for this stack, safe to regenerate rather than track. |
| *.msp | Files matching *.msp — a generated or machine-specific file type for this stack, safe to regenerate rather than track. |
| *.lnk | Files matching *.lnk — a generated or machine-specific file type for this stack, safe to regenerate rather than track. |