What is the JBF file format?
A .jbf file is a thumbnail cache created automatically by the image-browser component of Corel PaintShop Pro (formerly JASC Paint Shop Pro). It is almost always named pspbrwse.jbf and stored in the same folder as the images it indexes - never standalone.
The file begins with the 15-byte ASCII signature JASC BROWS FILE, followed by binary records holding thumbnail previews and metadata (file paths, dimensions, file sizes) for every image in that directory viewed through the PaintShop Pro browser. Two internal versions exist: v1.x files (PaintShop Pro 5-7 era) embed thumbnails as a BMP variant; v2.x files (PaintShop Pro X / version 10+) use embedded JPEG thumbnails.
Because .jbf is a pure cache file, it is safe to delete at any time - PaintShop Pro regenerates it automatically the next time the folder is browsed. Windows hides it by default, so users typically notice it only when file extensions are visible while sorting image folders.
The file carries no original image data and cannot be used to recover deleted photos. XnView can read some .jbf files for basic interoperability, but support is limited.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWA .jbf file is a private-format binary cache with no executable content. It is harmless and safe to delete. No security risk in the file itself.
Format details
in a nutshellPrograms that open JBF files
Windows2 apps
Corel PaintShop Pro
Paid The .jbf is opened and maintained automatically by PaintShop Pro's browser - no manual open action. Latest version is PaintShop Pro 2023. 
XnView / XnView MP
Free XnView does NOT open .jbf as a browsable cache, but can open individual images. Listed in db_programs - relevant only as an alternative image browser that does NOT produce .jbf. Remove from .jbf-specific recommendations. Technical details
deep spec| Magic bytes (ASCII) | JASC BROWS FILE - 15-byte ASCII signature at offset 0 |
| File encoding | Binary (proprietary) |
| Byte order | Little-endian |
| Thumbnail format (v1.x) | BMP variant - used in PaintShop Pro 5-7 era |
| Thumbnail format (v2.x) | Embedded JPEG - used from PaintShop Pro X (version 10) onward |
| Typical file size | 10 KB - several MB (scales with number and size of cached thumbnails) |
| File naming convention | Always named pspbrwse.jbf; one file per directory |
| MIME type | application/octet-stream |
| Operating system | Windows only |
| Deletability | Safe to delete at any time; PaintShop Pro regenerates it automatically on the next browse |
| Stored metadata | File paths, image dimensions, and file sizes for images in the same directory |
| Color depth (thumbnails) | Up to 24-bit per thumbnail; original image color depth not stored in the cache |
| Compression | None at file level; JPEG thumbnails use standard JPEG compression internally |
| Released | Mid-to-late 1990s (JASC Paint Shop Pro browser component) |
| Latest version | Format v2.x with embedded JPEG thumbnails (PaintShop Pro X and later) |
JBF conversions
Community Q&A
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