How to Enable or Disable Show Preview Handlers in the Preview Pane of File Explorer in Windows 11

Before You Start Tweaking Your Windows Settings

Preparing your computer before changing Windows settings ⚙️ protects your system from accidental mistakes and data loss. You should always create a backup of your Windows Registry and learn how to use keyboard shortcuts like Alt+P to control your File Explorer 📁 preview pane before you start making changes.

Method 1Change Your Settings Using Folder Options

Changing your settings using Folder Options in Windows 11 lets you turn file previews on or off without using complex system tools. This easy method works for any user account because it relies on standard menu clicks inside File Explorer 📁 instead of advanced registry edits.

1. Open File Explorer 📁 by clicking its folder icon on your taskbar 🖥️ or pressing the Win+E keys on your keyboard.

   

2. Click the three horizontal dots located on the top toolbar to open the more options menu, and select Options from the drop-down list.

   

3. Navigate to the View tab inside the Folder Options window that pops up on your screen.
4. Locate the preview setting by scrolling down the list until you find the checkbox labeled Show preview handlers in Preview pane.

   

5. Toggle the feature by checking the box to enable file previews, or unchecking the box to turn them off completely.
6. Save your changes by clicking the Apply button at the bottom, followed by the OK button to close the window.

Method 2Adjust the Windows Registry for Deeper Control

Adjusting the Windows Registry gives you deeper control over how your computer displays file previews across different user profiles. You can safely change these system levels by opening the registry editor and following the correct folder paths to update your settings.

1. Open the Run dialog box by holding down the Windows key and pressing the R key on your keyboard.
2. Launch the Registry Editor by typing regedit into the empty search field and pressing the Enter key.
3. Navigate to the correct folder path by using the left-hand sidebar to click through the following directories: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
4. Find the preview setting by looking for a file entry named ShowPreviewHandlers on the right side of the screen. Double-click it to open its properties.
5. Create the entry if it is missing by right-clicking any empty space in the right pane, hovering over New, and choosing DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name this new entry exactly ShowPreviewHandlers.
6. Change the value data inside the box to match your preference. Type 1 to turn preview handlers on, or type 0 to turn preview handlers off and keep your preview pane empty.
7. Save and exit by clicking the OK button, then closing out of the Registry Editor window entirely.

Method 3Automate the Process Using PowerShell

Automating the process using PowerShell allows you to apply Windows settings quickly across one or many computers without clicking through menus. Running specific commands in the PowerShell prompt gives you a fast way to turn preview handlers on or off.

1. Open the PowerShell prompt by pressing the Win + R keys, typing PowerShell into the box, and hitting Enter.
2. Disable the preview handlers by copying and pasting this exact command into the window, then pressing Enter: Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" -Name "ShowPreviewHandlers" -Value 0 Stop-Process -Name explorer -Force
3. Enable the preview handlers instead by running this command if you change your mind later: Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" -Name "ShowPreviewHandlers" -Value 1 Stop-Process -Name explorer -Force
4. Close the PowerShell window once the command finishes running and your desktop taskbar refreshes itself.

Tip: The second part of that command safely restarts your Windows desktop interface so your new settings take effect immediately without requiring a full computer restart.

Summary

Controlling file previews in Windows 11 helps protect your privacy and manages how File Explorer displays your documents. You can easily turn preview handlers on or off using the Folder Options menu, the Windows Registry, or quick PowerShell commands depending on what works best for you.