How to Fix Windows 11 File Explorer Not Showing Thumbnails or Preview Pane Images

Windows KB-837

Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: How to Fix Windows 11 File Explorer Not Showing Thumbnails or Preview Pane Images. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

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Common Causes

File Explorer thumbnails and the Preview Pane allow you to see a visual representation of your photos, documents, and videos without opening the file. If these features stop working, File Explorer will display generic icons instead of actual previews. This guide provides steps to restore thumbnail and preview functionality on Windows 11.

Quick Fix Steps

Open File Explorer and click View in the top toolbar.
Ensure Large icons, Medium icons, or Small icons is selected.
Click Show and ensure Preview pane is checked.
Restart your computer to refresh the Explorer shell.

Detailed Instructions

1. Enable Thumbnails in Folder Options

Windows may be set to always show icons instead of thumbnails. Follow these steps to correct this:

Open File Explorer and click the three dots (...) in the command bar, then select Options.
In the Folder Options window, click the View tab.
Scroll down to the Files and Folders section.
Uncheck the box for Always show icons, never thumbnails.
Click Apply and then OK.

2. Clear the Thumbnail Cache

If thumbnails are appearing incorrectly or not at all, the local cache may be corrupted.

Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog.
Type cleanmgr and press Enter.
Select your system drive (usually C:) and click OK.
Check the box for Thumbnails.
Click OK and then Delete Files to confirm.

Tip: You can also clear the cache manually by navigating to %LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer and deleting files that start with thumbcache.

3. Reset File Explorer View Settings

Resetting the folder view settings can resolve layout-specific glitches.

Open File Explorer and click ... then Options.
Click the View tab.
Click Reset Folders, then click Yes when prompted.
Click Apply to Folders, then click Yes.
Click OK to close the window.

Troubleshooting

Preview Pane is Missing or Greyed Out

If the Preview Pane option is unavailable, try the following:

Ensure you are not in Details or List view; switch to an icon view first.
Check if the file type is supported by the Windows Preview Pane.
Ensure your Windows 11 installation is up to date via Settings > Windows Update.

Thumbnails Still Not Appearing

If the issue persists across multiple folders, consider these additional steps:

Run a system file check: Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run sfc /scannow.
Check for pending Windows updates and restart your device to install them.
Create a new user profile to determine if the issue is specific to your current account.

Caution: Avoid using third-party "registry cleaner" tools to fix thumbnail issues, as these can cause system instability.

If you have followed these steps and thumbnails or the Preview Pane are still not working, please Open a Ticket with our support team.

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Still Having Issues?

Need more help? If the issue persists after trying these steps, please open a support ticket and our team will assist you.

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