- QuickLook brings to Windows Instant preview with the space bar and wide format compatibility.
- It is installed from the Microsoft Store or GitHub and is powered by plugins such as OfficeViewer, FFmpeg, and EpubViewer.
- On macOS, Quick Look lets you rotate, crop, and use Bookmark; on Windows, Peek is rumored to work with Shift+Space.
In Windows, Explorer has included a preview pane for years, but its scope is limited and, except for images, it falls short when we want to quickly check the actual content of a file. The idea of pressing a key and instantly seeing a document, a spreadsheet, a PDF, a ZIP or even a GIF without opening anything It sounds like science fiction on Windows… until you try QuickLook.
QuickLook brings a popular macOS feature to Windows: instant preview at a convenient size without leaving the file list. It is a free and open source project that integrates into the Explorer So that, with a minimal gesture, you can validate whether the file is the one you're looking for, which application can open it, or whether it's worth continuing with, saving tons of time in your daily work.
What is QuickLook and what does it offer?
QuickLook was born with a very specific mission: Bring macOS Quick Preview to Windows With minimal setup and straightforward usability. Compared to similar alternatives like Seer, which has been discussed in specialized media, QuickLook stands out for being completely free and not reserving updates or upgrades for paying users, which makes it especially attractive.
The project is constantly evolving and has been receiving new features since its first builds. At the time, version 0.1.10 was cited as one of their recent releases.The important thing is that development is still ongoing, and due to its open nature, anyone can review the code or collaborate via GitHub whenever they need to.
The usage philosophy is simple: you select a file in Explorer and get a floating preview that doesn't interrupt your flow. This window allows you to navigate, zoom and even play audio and video. if the format is supported, so you can inspect the essentials before opening or discarding.
In terms of compatibility, QuickLook is surprisingly comprehensive, as it not only covers the basics but also allows you to extend it with plugins. Out of the box, it can handle images, text files and PDF, Office, video, HTML and Markdown, as well as ZIP and other compressed files., and with add-ons it adds even more formats.
- Images: PNG, APNG, JPG/JPEG, BMP, GIF and PSD.
- Documents and data: TXT, PDF, CSV and Office documents (DOC, DOCX, XLS, XLSX, PPT, PPTX).
- Video and audio: MP4, MKV, M2TS, MOV, AVI, WMV, MP3 and M4A (autoplay in preview when applicable).
- Web and markup: HTML and Markdown.
- Pills: ZIP, RAR and 7Z (with the possibility of taking a look at their contents).
One relevant difference from other approaches is that QuickLook is not intended to replace your programs; Its objective is to inspect quickly and without distractions., just enough to confirm if that file is the correct one or which weighs more among several options in your folder.
How to use it in Windows Explorer
The key gesture is very easy: select a file and press the space bar. With Space you open and close the preview window instantly, without switching applications or opening heavy editors, and without leaving the Windows Explorer.
To move between elements without closing the preview, Use the keyboard arrows to go to the previous or next fileIt's a quick way to review a folder full of documents, photos, or videos without opening them one by one.
If you need to see a detail clearly, You can zoom with CTRL + mouse wheelThis is especially useful with images, PDFs, or presentations, where sometimes a small snippet makes all the difference.
With supported audio and video clips, QuickLook includes its own player. The media starts playing automatically in the preview window, so you can quickly listen to or watch content without launching your usual player.
In the case of Office documents, there is a nuance to take into account: with the base installation, You may only see metadata such as file type, size, or name.To view the content of the DOCX, XLSX or PPTX as such, you should activate the appropriate plugin (see the installation and plugins section below; if an error occurs, consult How to solve problems with preview handlers).
With ZIP, RAR, and 7Z archives, QuickLook lets you inspect their interior with a spacebar. Browsing the contents without unzipping avoids opening file managers or wasting time., especially when you just need to confirm whether that PDF or folder you're looking for is inside.
Download and install: Microsoft Store, GitHub, and essential plugins
There are two clear paths to getting QuickLook up and running: the Microsoft Store and GitHub. Both ways are official and simple; the Store is more straightforward for most, and GitHub is ideal if you want plugins and releases at your fingertips.
Installing from Microsoft Store (app published by Paddy Xu): It is the most convenient option and weighs around 60 MB, so downloading and deploying are very fast on almost any current computer.
- Open Microsoft Store and search for "QuickLook" (make sure you choose the "QuickLook" publication). Paddy Xu).
- Click "Get" to download and install. It'll be ready in a few moments.
- Open Explorer, select a file, and press the spacebar to preview it.
If you prefer GitHub or don't see the app in the Store, the alternative is equally simple. GitHub hosts the official project installer and plugins, in addition to the version history.
- Visit QuickLook's GitHub page and go to "Releases" (select the latest available version).
- Navigate to the artifacts and download the file . MSI. After downloading, run the installer.
- Go back to the repository and open the section plugins to expand format compatibility.
Among the most useful add-ons are OfficeViewer (to view actual content of Office documents), ffmpeg (which extends multimedia codecs) and FontViewer (font preview). Install them by downloading the packages from the official links and following their instructions..
Pro tip: If you preview an Office file and don't see the content and only basic data, QuickLook may display a button inside the window with the text "Click here to install this plugin". Tap it to start installing the corresponding add-on, and when it's finished, restart QuickLook. From there, you'll be able to read Become, Excel and PowerPoint without opening their native programs, even if you don't have Microsoft Office installed.
Beyond Office, the plugin ecosystem is growing with specific needs: EpubViewer adds support for e-books (EPUB), there are extensions for 3D models, APK packages of Android, folders, shape files, and more. If your workflow involves unusual formats, take a look because there's probably a plugin that can fix it.
When closing the circle, don't forget tablet compatibility. With QuickLook you can enter to see the internal structure of a ZIP or a 7Z directly from Explorer; ideal for validating whether the file includes exactly what you need before extracting it.
Quick Look on macOS, extensions, and the future of Windows
Those who come from Mac You are already familiar with this function: Quick Look on macOS provides a large, high-quality preview of almost any file. by simply pressing the spacebar. From there, you can even perform small actions without opening apps heavy.
On macOS, for example, It is possible to rotate photos, trim audio or video fragments and use Markup directly within the Quick Look window. For those managing large media libraries, this flexibility saves tons of clicking and waiting.
Another interesting detail is that of the live Photos On Mac: When you open one in Quick Look, the video part plays automaticallyIf you want to view it again, just tap the "Live Photo" control in the lower left corner.
In addition to the base system, there are extensions that take Quick Look a step further. There is an extension for macOS that allows you to browse compressed files and folders instantly without opening or unzipping them., available for free on the Mac App Store. These types of add-ons demonstrate how powerful the concept is when open to the community.
And on Windows? There has been talk for some time about integrating a similar feature into the system, codenamed Peek. According to the information shared, The idea would be to preview with the Shift + Space combination, with a lightweight window focused on checking PDFs, Excels, Words, images, videos, audio and more. The possible integration with the Photos app for a more cohesive experience, although it's unclear whether it will cover as many media formats as on the Mac out of the box.
Another good news for productivity in Windows is tabbed browsing in Explorer. The ability to open multiple paths in tabs makes it easier to move and copy files. and, combined with the instant preview, it paints a very interesting picture for users with file-intensive workflows.
Returning to the solution comparison, specialized media have commented on alternatives such as Seer and have recommended similar desktop utilities. Headset has even been cited as a mini-player that turns YouTube into a desktop music app., a clue that the ecosystem of lightweight, productivity-focused tools has been growing and connecting pieces for some time.
In terms of limits and extensions, it is worth remembering that QuickLook base does not cover all imaginable formatsFor example, it doesn't open e-books by default, but installing the EpubViewer plugin fixes this problem instantly. Along the same lines, extensions like FFmpeg open the door to more video and audio codecs, and FontViewer shows you fonts directly from your folders.
If your daily work includes reviewing large batches of files (design projects, batches of photos, reports, scanned receipts, etc.), the addition of ultra-fast preview, keyboard shortcuts and extensible compatibility It marks a qualitative leap forward compared to the Windows Explorer side panel. It's not that the latter isn't useful; it's that QuickLook addresses a different need: making decisions in seconds without opening anything else.
In case you're wondering: background execution is lightAfter installing QuickLook, you'll want to launch it once to make it active; you'll see its icon in the notification area (next to the clock). From then on, it'll be ready to respond to your spacebar in any folder, whether local, on the network, or even on external drives.
It is also worth adjusting expectations. The preview does not replace an editor nor is it intended to cover advanced features.If you need to edit, sign, comment in depth, or export, you'll need to open the corresponding app. QuickLook is the pre-filter that skips that step when you just want to confirm something, and it's absolutely unbeatable in speed.
Finally, don't forget that QuickLook is open and evolving softwareThis means that compatibility and performance may vary slightly depending on the version and installed plugins. If something isn't working as expected, checking the latest releases on GitHub and its issues section usually resolves the issue quickly.
With all of the above in mind, it's clear that QuickLook fits perfectly into the modern file workflow: Less friction, less waiting, and a preview that's faithful enough to make decisions. without loading full applications. Add in plugins, compressed file support, and navigation shortcuts, and the efficiency gains are noticeable from day one, especially for those who live with cluttered folders.
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