How to troubleshoot file previews in Windows

Have you recently experienced that you can no longer see file previews in Windows and don't know why? This problem can be very frustrating, especially when you are dealing with a large number of images, documents or PDFs and You rely on thumbnails to organize your work or find files quickly.

Fortunately, getting the preview feature back is easier than it seems, although there are various reasons why it can be blocked or cause only certain file types to be previewed. Here we offer you a comprehensive and updated guide to detect why this error occurs, how to solve it for the main formats (images, PDFs, Office documents, etc.), what to do if it only affects some files and, in passing, we tell you several Tricks advanced and useful alternatives.

Why does Windows stop showing file previews?

The preview pane is one of the most useful features of Windows File Explorer, as it allows you to view the contents of a file without having to open it with its corresponding program. If you suddenly you stop seeing these previews, it can be due to several causes:

• The preview option is disabled in the file explorer.
• Wrong icon and thumbnail related settings in folder options.
• The preview controller for certain formats is not working or is disabled.
• Corrupted files, especially PDFs.
• Problems with the default software for opening those files (e.g., older Adobe Reader for PDFs).
• Files are too large, corrupt, or not compatible with the preview pane.
• Recent changes to Windows settings, system crashes, or updates.
• Conflicts with third-party programs or temporary system errors.
• Performance issues adjusted for speed rather than appearance.

How to enable the preview pane in Windows 10 and Windows 11

In most occasions, The fault is simply due to the panel being disabled.Activating it is quick and easy, although the exact menu varies depending on the version of Windows.

In Windows 10

• Open the file explorer (Windows + E).
• Click on the “View” tab on the top bar.
• Activate the option “Preview Panel” (you can also use the keyboard shortcut Alt + P).

You will see that an area appears on the right side of the window where the preview of the selected file.

In Windows 11

• Open the file explorer.
• Click on “View” on top.
• In the submenu, select "Show"
• Active “Preview Panel”.

This panel can also be hidden by following the same steps, or quickly toggled with Alt + P.

Preview panel limitations and supported formats

The Windows Preview pane supports a variety of file types, but not all formats are displayed by default.

• SVG images (.svg)
• Markdown files (.md)
• Source code files (.cs, .cpp, .rs, …)
• PDF files (.pdf)
• Archives Word (.docx)
• Gcode files (.gcode)
• QOI Images (.qoi)

Depending on your configuration and the programs installed, you may you need additional plugins or applications to preview certain file types, such as some PDFs, RAW images, or specific documents from other office suites. To expand these features, you can also check out our tips on How to analyze logs in Windows.

Thumbnails: Difference between preview pane and thumbnails

It is important not to confuse the preview pane with the thumbnail preview on the file icon. While the panel displays the content on one side when you select a file, the thumbnails display a image of the content directly on the icon.

Thumbnails can be enabled or disabled from the folder options. In some cases, if they don't appear, it may be because the option to always show icons instead of thumbnails is selected. This is especially true in folders with many images, PDFs, videos, or music.

Common solutions when preview doesn't work

Si you have successfully activated the panel and you still don't see the preview, try the following methods, from least to most complex:

1. Review folder options

• Open File Explorer and click “Options” or “Change folder and search options.”
• On the “View” tab, make sure Mark off the option “Always show icons, never thumbnails”.
• Check the box “Show preview controllers in the preview pane”.
• Save the changes and restart File Explorer or restart your PC.

2. Adjust visual effects to prioritize appearance

• Press the Windows key and type Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows.
• In “Visual Effects”, Activate the option “Show thumbnails instead of icons”.

3. Restart File Explorer

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
• In the “Processes” tab, find “Windows Explorer,” right-click, and select “Restart.”

4. Check for corrupted files on the system

If none of the above solutions work, the system may have corrupt files. To repair them:

• Open the start menu, search for “Windows PowerShell (Administrator)” or “Symbol of the system (Administrator)".
• Run the following commands, one by one and in this order:
  • DISM.exe / Online / Cleanup-image / Scanhealth
  • DISM.exe / Online / Cleanup-image / RestoreHealth
  • DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Startcomponentcleanup
  • sfc / scannow
• Restart the PC after completing each command.

These steps may take several minutes, but they are key to repairing potential corruption affecting all graphical functions, including file previews.

5. Specific problems with certain files or file types

• PDFs: If only the files PDF are not displayed as thumbnails, open Adobe Acrobat or your default PDF reader, go to “Preferences > General” and select the “Enable tile previews in Windows” checkbox. Note that this may not be supported on some 64-bit systems.
• Damaged files: If a PDF doesn't preview, check if it can be opened normally in another reader. If it's corrupted, use an online tool (like iLovePDF) to repair it.
• Files too large: In PDFs with many images or graphics, the thumbnail may be slow or never appear. Consider compressing or splitting the file.

6. Change the default program to open files

• Right-click on any file of the problematic type.
• Select “Open with” and then “Choose another app.”
• Check “Always use this app to open this type of file” and choose another compatible viewer (e.g., UPDF for PDFs).

Details panel: an interesting alternative

In addition to the preview pane, Windows File Explorer features the details pane, which displays additional information about the selected file, such as its size, creation date, and, in some cases, a thumbnail. To access it:

• Balance Alt to display the menu at the top.
• Go to “Tools > Folder Options”.

Resize thumbnails and customize the view

You can improve the clarity of the previews by changing the size of the icons:

• Right-click on a blank area of the folder.
• Choose "Watch" and choose between very large, large, medium, or small icons, plus options like list, details, tile, or content.

Almost all views (except list and details) will display thumbnails for images and videos. For music with cover art, the cover art will also be displayed. PDFs and some documents may require additional configuration.

Related article:

.log files in C:\Windows\Logs: what they are and how to analyze them thoroughly

Isaac

Passionate writer about the world of bytes and technology in general. I love sharing my knowledge through writing, and that's what I'll do on this blog, show you all the most interesting things about gadgets, software, hardware, tech trends, and more. My goal is to help you navigate the digital world in a simple and entertaining way.