The effect of thermal annealing on magnetic properties has been investigated for disordered zinc ferrite (ZnFe2O4) thin films deposited on silica glass substrates using a sputtering method. The magnetization at room temperature is enhanced by annealing at relatively low temperature such as 300 degrees C and decreased by annealing at higher temperatures. X-ray absorption near edge structures indicate that ZnFe2O4 thin film annealed at 300 degrees C possesses disordered cation distribution similar to that for as-deposited thin film. It is presumed that the enhancement of magnetization by annealing at 300 degrees C is due to precipitation of disordered ZnFe2O4 crystal from an amorphous matrix formed in the as-deposited thin film. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.