diff --git a/i18n/en/cosmic_files.ftl b/i18n/en/cosmic_files.ftl
index 4dcaa70d..a255bae4 100644
--- a/i18n/en/cosmic_files.ftl
+++ b/i18n/en/cosmic_files.ftl
@@ -291,6 +291,7 @@ theme = Theme
 match-desktop = Match desktop
 dark = Dark
 light = Light
+enable-thumbnails = Enable thumbnails
 
 ### Type to Search
 type-to-search = Type to Search
diff --git a/src/app.rs b/src/app.rs
index 8e1420f0..f7033258 100644
--- a/src/app.rs
+++ b/src/app.rs
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ use wayland_client::{Proxy, protocol::wl_output::WlOutput};
 use crate::{
     clipboard::{ClipboardCopy, ClipboardKind, ClipboardPaste},
     config::{
-        AppTheme, Config, DesktopConfig, Favorite, IconSizes, TIME_CONFIG_ID, TabConfig,
+        AppTheme, Config, DesktopConfig, Favorite, IconSizes, TIME_CONFIG_ID, TabConfig, ThumbCfg,
         TimeConfig, TypeToSearch,
     },
     dialog::{Dialog, DialogKind, DialogMessage, DialogResult},
@@ -387,6 +387,7 @@ pub enum Message {
     TabPrev,
     TabClose(Option<Entity>),
     TabConfig(TabConfig),
+    ThumbConfig(ThumbCfg),
     TabMessage(Option<Entity>, tab::Message),
     TabNew,
     TabRescan(
@@ -1904,6 +1905,18 @@ impl App {
                         },
                     ))
                 })
+                .add({
+                    let thumb_cfg = self.config.thumb_cfg;
+                    widget::settings::item::builder(fl!("enable-thumbnails")).toggler(
+                        thumb_cfg.enabled,
+                        move |enabled| {
+                            Message::ThumbConfig(ThumbCfg {
+                                enabled,
+                                ..thumb_cfg
+                            })
+                        },
+                    )
+                })
                 .into(),
             widget::settings::section()
                 .title(fl!("type-to-search"))
@@ -3799,6 +3812,12 @@ impl Application for App {
                     return self.update_config();
                 }
             }
+            Message::ThumbConfig(config) => {
+                if config != self.config.thumb_cfg {
+                    config_set!(thumb_cfg, config);
+                    return self.update_config();
+                }
+            }
             Message::ToggleFoldersFirst => {
                 let mut config = self.config.tab;
                 config.folders_first = !config.folders_first;
diff --git a/src/config.rs b/src/config.rs
index d66abe82..6ce2317b 100644
--- a/src/config.rs
+++ b/src/config.rs
@@ -298,6 +298,7 @@ pub struct ThumbCfg {
     pub jobs: NonZeroU16,
     pub max_mem_mb: NonZeroU16,
     pub max_size_mb: NonZeroU16,
+    pub enabled: bool,
 }
 
 impl Default for ThumbCfg {
@@ -306,6 +307,7 @@ impl Default for ThumbCfg {
             jobs: 4.try_into().unwrap(),
             max_mem_mb: 2000.try_into().unwrap(),
             max_size_mb: 64.try_into().unwrap(),
+            enabled: true,
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/tab.rs b/src/tab.rs
index 8e2a0edb..3c9ac431 100644
--- a/src/tab.rs
+++ b/src/tab.rs
@@ -2060,7 +2060,7 @@ impl Item {
                 widget::image(handle.clone()).into()
             }
             ItemThumbnail::Svg(handle) => widget::svg(handle.clone()).into(),
-            ItemThumbnail::Text(content) => widget::text_editor(&content)
+            ItemThumbnail::Text(content) => widget::text_editor(content)
                 .class(cosmic::theme::iced::TextEditor::Custom(Box::new(
                     text_editor_class,
                 )))
@@ -5604,7 +5604,7 @@ impl Tab {
 
     pub fn subscription(&self, preview: bool) -> Subscription<Message> {
         //TODO: how many thumbnail loads should be in flight at once?
-        let jobs = self.thumb_config.jobs.get().clone() as usize;
+        let jobs = self.thumb_config.jobs.get() as usize;
         let mut subscriptions = Vec::with_capacity(jobs + 3);
 
         if let Some(items) = &self.items_opt {
@@ -5619,7 +5619,7 @@ impl Tab {
             };
 
             for item in items.iter() {
-                if item.thumbnail_opt.is_some() {
+                if item.thumbnail_opt.is_some() || !self.thumb_config.enabled {
                     // Skip items that already have a mime type and thumbnail
                     continue;
                 }
@@ -5650,9 +5650,9 @@ impl Tab {
                 };
                 if can_thumbnail {
                     let mime = item.mime.clone();
-                    let max_jobs = jobs.clone();
-                    let max_mb = self.thumb_config.max_mem_mb.get().clone() as u64;
-                    let max_size = self.thumb_config.max_size_mb.get().clone() as u64;
+                    let max_jobs = jobs;
+                    let max_mb = self.thumb_config.max_mem_mb.get() as u64;
+                    let max_size = self.thumb_config.max_size_mb.get() as u64;
                     subscriptions.push(Subscription::run_with_id(
                         ("thumbnail", path.clone()),
                         stream::channel(1, move |mut output| async move {