Geek Rewind

How to Enable/Disable Thumbnail Preview in Windows 11

Richard

·

The post guides students and new users on enabling or disabling thumbnail previews in Windows 11’s File Explorer. By default, this feature is enabled in Windows 11, but it can be modified to showcase files in list format or as detailed thumbnail images. Viewing thumbnails provides greater detail about the files compared to the list…

This post shows students and new users steps to turn thumbnail preview on or off in File Explorer when using Windows 11.

File Explorer in Windows 11 displays files and folders as a list by default. Even images will be displayed as a list.

However, Windows also supports displaying thumbnail images or icons in File Explorer. When working with lots of images with thumbnail preview enabled, File Explorer makes it easy to see the actual images or photos in thumbnail sizes, and this can provide you with more details instead of a list.

By default, thumbnail preview is enabled. However, you’ll have to select a medium, large, or extra-large icon in File Explorer to preview thumbnail images. If the thumbnail preview is disabled, it will also be turned off in File Explorer.

How to enable or disable thumbnail preview in Windows 11

As mentioned above, you can turn on or off previewing of thumbnails in Windows 11. By default, this is enabled, but if it’s disabled for some reason, here’s how to enable it.

Open File Explorer, select the ellipse (three dots on the toolbar), and select Options.

Then ensure the check box next to “Always show icons, never thumbnail” is not checked.

Now, in File Explorer, with list view, you’ll see your images as shown below.

To preview the thumbnail in File Explorer, click View in the toolbar menu and select Large, Medium, or Small icons.

Now thumbnails are shown in preview mode.

To turn off the thumbnail preview, go to File Explorer options and click on the View tab, then check to box “Always show icons, never thumbnail.”

You may also want to read the post below if the above doesn’t work for you.

How to preview files and images with PowerToys on Windows 11

That’s it!

Conclusion:

  • Enabling thumbnail previews in Windows 11 enhances your experience by displaying images in a visually appealing way.
  • Access thumbnail settings easily through File Explorer options.
  • You can choose between different icon sizes to best suit your viewing preferences.
  • If needed, disabling thumbnail previews is just as straightforward.
  • For additional functionality, consider integrating PowerToys for enhanced file previewing options.
Richard Avatar
Richard
Richard, the owner and lead writer at Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast passionate about simplifying complex IT topics. His years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations have honed his ability to provide practical insights and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He’s deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions. He enjoys watching football, cheering for the Minnesota Vikings, and spending time with his family when he’s not writing or managing Geek Rewind.

Comments

  1. Philip Giudice Avatar
    Philip Giudice

    didn’t fix it. 3/4 of the jpg files are shown as thumbnails 1/4 just icons. and yes, always show icons box is not checked

    Reply
    1. Inez McBride Avatar
      Inez McBride

      Exact same result here. Most jpg files appear as ICONS with 1 appearing as a jpeg. Can’t get anyone to answer Customer Support no. 800-642-7676. Very frustrating. HELP PLEASE!!!

      Reply
  2. Tom Avatar
    Tom

    Did not work at all. And yes, always show icons box is not checked.

    Reply
  3. MCPL Avatar
    MCPL

    Worthless. I need the FOLDERS to show thumbnails of the contents, just like Windows has been doing FOR 20+ YEARS!

    Reply
    1. John Avatar
      John

      Same here.

      Reply
    2. archie whatsit Avatar
      archie whatsit

      me too.. I need the FOLDERS TO SHOW THUMBNAILS.

      Reply
  4. BMcL Avatar
    BMcL

    Didn’t work for me either.

    Reply
  5. John Corrigan Avatar
    John Corrigan

    This article is simply wrong and it’s clear the author doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Thumbnail view is NOT available in Windows 11. This is a deliberate (if little mentioned) choice by Microsoft and none of these ‘tips (which are for Windows 10) will work to change it.

    As I have thousands of photos in hundreds of folders which I access daily, so for me Windows 11 is not viable and so I will now roll back to 10

    Reply
    1. Matt Avatar
      Matt

      I’m not following this, although I’m having the same problem. Some of my files show as thumbnails and i’m using Window 11. I have adobe 9 pro, and when i open that app i can see the PDF thumbnail previews as expected, but when i save a pdf to a file on my desktop. The PDF’s do not show a preview thumbnail, however everything else does save and display as a thumbnail. If Microsoft doesn’t have this feature any longer in windows 11, how is it some of my files saved to my desktop do show a thumbnail preview? So confusing!…lol

      Reply
    2. Khanh Avatar
      Khanh

      I agree with you and this is super frustrating. I need my thumbnails. I have thousands of photos and images I need for work.

      Been trying to figure out why it does this, removes the thumbnails

      Reply
  6. Tim Goodspeed Avatar
    Tim Goodspeed

    what they said ^

    Reply
  7. SYED MAHABOOB MANSOOR Avatar
    SYED MAHABOOB MANSOOR

    how to view thumbnail preview on folders

    Reply
  8. MANSOOR Avatar
    MANSOOR

    how to view thumbnail preview on folders in windows 11

    Reply
  9. Galia Trautman Avatar
    Galia Trautman

    This did not work for me. I have a Dell laptop and for some reason have never been able to get the pics to show in the folder. In my HP that was never an issue. Please help. Thank you

    Reply
  10. kat Avatar
    kat

    The thumbnails do not update when I edit a picture. So if I have two versions I cannot see with one look which picture is the one I edited of two by looking at the thumbnail :'(

    I can only fix it by having all thumbnails deleted and remade, but I can’t keep doing that for every single edit I do. I handle hundreds of pictures!

    The folder thumbnails are still not there AND the default new folder icons barely show the difference between an empty and full folder. The disorientation they caused with their DOWNgrade is absolutely terrible!!!

    Reply
  11. cynthia egan Avatar
    cynthia egan

    Found this does not work. still icons not thumbnails

    Reply
  12. John Blakinger Avatar
    John Blakinger

    I have unchecked always show icons not thumbnails and I still do not get to view the thumbnails. Except for on very smaill jpg file less than 1 mb.

    Reply
  13. Camthelion Avatar
    Camthelion

    I want to see the thumbnails in my Music Folder, like I did in Wind. 10. and mr. Richard sleep well for the next 2 century’s. If you still don’t know what’s the problem we’re al waiting for to solve it than you’re a big idiot

    Reply
  14. Kim Maree McHugh Avatar
    Kim Maree McHugh

    Doesn’t work for me either!
    The photos flick up and then turn to a blank thumbnail.
    Will this be fixed?

    Reply
  15. Joy E Goodwin Avatar
    Joy E Goodwin

    Very frustrating!! I have TONS of photos and too many to sift through!! I want to see the photos – NOT the icons!! Someone PLEASE help us!

    Reply
  16. Pale Star Avatar
    Pale Star

    Updated to Windows 11 Dec. 26/2021 and experiencing the same frustrations (anger) as all the comments posted here.
    Like many others here I want/need thumbnails on the all the folders. The different thumbnails on the folders help to find content visually so much easier and faster then scanning some hundred ‘like’ folder images.

    Followed all the steps that I’ve found on several different sites to get thumbnails to show on the folders with the same results only to find that it was NFG. All the posts dealing with thumbnails will only provide thumbnails on ‘FILES’ but not ‘FOLDERS’.
    Seems that thumbnails on FOLDERS on Windows 11 is not available and so like at least one other poster here. I’m rolling back to Windows 10 until such time that Windows 11 fixes this cluster F*** or Windows xx addresses this issue.

    Reply
  17. Jared A Baldwin Avatar
    Jared A Baldwin

    When I first downloaded windows 11 back in October it did in fact show the thumbnail images in file explorer but right after both my computer’s updated last month in December my files wont show thumbnails. I have been using windows 10 since it first came out and I had the same problem. Windows sent me an update that glitched the file explorer but after a few months windows sent me an update to the file explorer that fixed the problem. Windows 11 is a brand new software so you can expect a few bugs and glitches in the first year of it’s release just like with windows 10. I am a very intelligent computer nerd. I use high tech and very expensive hardware in both my laptop and my desktop. So I have no problems finding my files and I have 1000s upon 1000s of files. So just be patient people’s while Microsoft works out the bugs and glitches in windows 11 just like they did with windows 10!!! Sincerely Mr. Jared A. Baldwin

    Reply
  18. Dave Gibson Avatar
    Dave Gibson

    Yep. Did not work. As a photographer, I find this very irritating.

    Reply
  19. Cynthia M Carey Avatar
    Cynthia M Carey

    Oh My Gosh, it didn’t work. This is so frustrating when you
    find something that works, and then you have people behind the desk always
    messing things up. Can you please get an update for this? This
    is very frustrating. Thank You Sirs…

    Reply
  20. John Avatar
    John

    Windows 11 isn’t showing folder content previews in extra large icons. Many are upset including myself. I am visually oriented. My computer isn’t giving me the option to revert to win 10.

    Reply
  21. RM Avatar
    RM

    Thank you very much 🙂

    Reply
  22. Nikhil Avatar
    Nikhil

    The solution for this problem is first go to options, a ‘folder options’ window will open, go in view, in advance setting UNCHECK the ‘always show icons, never thumbnails’ and then apply and OK. After this you can follow the above process of view>large icons.

    Reply
  23. Catherine Wydner Avatar
    Catherine Wydner

    Do you see your thumbnails now? If so, how did you correct it? I work with history and post many old pictures. It is difficult if I can’t see the thumbnail.

    Reply
  24. LMc Avatar
    LMc

    If you go to Folder….properties, customize, at bottom Folder Icons it states:

    If you change the icon….it will no longer show…preview of folder contents.

    Interesting since I never went anywhere near where it asked if I wanted to change the folder Icon since there no longer was a preview of the contents without me doing anything. I thought when 11 was first installed the problem wasn’t there. A few updates later and it is as well as other problems that were not here on the original install. Fixing something perhaps that is messing up something else. I still cannot use Chrome except upon first startup and leave it open.

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Tim Goodspeed Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *