diff --git a/docs/api/desktop-capturer.md b/docs/api/desktop-capturer.md
index d4e51c123bcb7..b48786e69bf44 100644
--- a/docs/api/desktop-capturer.md
+++ b/docs/api/desktop-capturer.md
@@ -82,7 +82,9 @@ The `desktopCapturer` module has the following methods:
   * `types` String[] - An array of Strings that lists the types of desktop sources
     to be captured, available types are `screen` and `window`.
   * `thumbnailSize` [Size](structures/size.md) (optional) - The size that the media source thumbnail
-    should be scaled to. Default is `150` x `150`.
+    should be scaled to. Default is `150` x `150`. Set width or height to 0 when you do not need
+    the thumbnails. This will save the processing time required for capturing the content of each
+    window and screen.
   * `fetchWindowIcons` Boolean (optional) - Set to true to enable fetching window icons. The default
     value is false. When false the appIcon property of the sources return null. Same if a source has
     the type screen.
@@ -107,7 +109,9 @@ captured.
   * `types` String[] - An array of Strings that lists the types of desktop sources
     to be captured, available types are `screen` and `window`.
   * `thumbnailSize` [Size](structures/size.md) (optional) - The size that the media source thumbnail
-    should be scaled to. Default is `150` x `150`.
+    should be scaled to. Default is `150` x `150`. Set width or height to 0 when you do not need
+    the thumbnails. This will save the processing time required for capturing the content of each
+    window and screen.
   * `fetchWindowIcons` Boolean (optional) - Set to true to enable fetching window icons. The default
     value is false. When false the appIcon property of the sources return null. Same if a source has
     the type screen.
diff --git a/spec/api-desktop-capturer-spec.js b/spec/api-desktop-capturer-spec.js
index 60d90c881b8f9..22df5db6c2e4a 100644
--- a/spec/api-desktop-capturer-spec.js
+++ b/spec/api-desktop-capturer-spec.js
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ const chaiAsPromised = require('chai-as-promised')
 const { desktopCapturer, ipcRenderer, remote } = require('electron')
 const { screen } = remote
 const features = process.atomBinding('features')
+const { emittedOnce } = require('./events-helpers')
 
 const { expect } = chai
 chai.use(dirtyChai)
@@ -105,4 +106,20 @@ describe('desktopCapturer', () => {
       expect(sources).to.be.empty()
     })
   })
+
+  it('disabling thumbnail should return empty images', async () => {
+    const { BrowserWindow } = remote
+    const w = new BrowserWindow({ show: false, width: 200, height: 200 })
+    const wShown = emittedOnce(w, 'show')
+    w.show()
+    await wShown
+
+    const sources = await desktopCapturer.getSources({ types: ['window', 'screen'], thumbnailSize: { width: 0, height: 0 } })
+    w.destroy()
+    expect(sources).to.be.an('array').that.is.not.empty()
+    for (const { thumbnail: thumbnailImage } of sources) {
+      expect(thumbnailImage).to.be.a('NativeImage')
+      expect(thumbnailImage.isEmpty()).to.be.true()
+    }
+  })
 })