How to Fix Thumbnail Previews Not Showing in Windows File Explorer

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Thumbnail previews in Windows File Explorer provide a convenient way to view images and videos without opening them. However, sometimes these thumbnails may not display, leaving you with generic icons instead. This issue can be caused by incorrect settings, cache problems, or even system performance settings. This guide will walk you through several effective solutions to restore thumbnail previews in Windows File Explorer.

Thumbnail Previews not showing

1. Check Folder Options Settings

Incorrect settings in Folder Options can prevent thumbnail previews from showing. Adjusting these settings can often resolve the issue.

  1. Open Folder Options:

    • Open File Explorer, click on the "View" tab, and select "Options" on the right side.

  2. Adjust Settings:

    • In the Folder Options window, switch to the "View" tab. Ensure that "Always show icons, never thumbnails" is unchecked.

  3. Apply Changes:

    • Click "Apply" and "OK" to save the changes. Check if thumbnail previews are now visible.

2. Clear the Thumbnail Cache

A corrupted thumbnail cache can prevent previews from displaying. Clearing and rebuilding this cache can restore proper functionality.

  1. Open Disk Cleanup:

    • Press Windows + R, type cleanmgr, and press Enter.

  2. Select Drive:

    • Choose the drive where Windows is installed (usually C:), and click "OK."

  3. Clear Thumbnails:

    • In the Disk Cleanup window, check the "Thumbnails" option and click "OK" to clear the cache.

  4. Restart File Explorer:

    • After clearing the cache, restart File Explorer to see if thumbnail previews are now visible.

3. Adjust Performance Options

Windows performance settings can affect whether thumbnails are displayed. Ensuring that the correct option is enabled can fix the problem.

  1. Open System Properties:

    • Press Windows + R, type sysdm.cpl, and press Enter.

  2. Access Performance Settings:

    • In the System Properties window, go to the "Advanced" tab and click on "Settings" under the Performance section.

  3. Enable Thumbnails:

    • In the Performance Options window, make sure "Show thumbnails instead of icons" is checked.

  4. Apply and Restart:

    • Click "Apply" and "OK" to save the changes. Restart your computer and check if thumbnails are now showing.

4. Check Group Policy Settings (Windows Pro/Enterprise)

In Windows Pro or Enterprise editions, Group Policy settings can control thumbnail previews. Ensuring these settings are correct can restore thumbnails.

  1. Open Group Policy Editor:

    • Press Windows + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.

  2. Navigate to File Explorer Settings:

    • In the Group Policy Editor, navigate to "User Configuration" > "Administrative Templates" > "Windows Components" > "File Explorer."

  3. Modify Thumbnail Settings:

    • Look for "Turn off the display of thumbnails and only display icons." Double-click it and set it to "Not Configured" or "Disabled."

  4. Apply Changes:

    • Click "Apply" and "OK." Close the Group Policy Editor and restart your computer.

5. Ensure Proper File Associations

Incorrect file associations can sometimes prevent thumbnails from displaying correctly. Checking and resetting these associations can help.

  1. Open Settings:

    • Press Windows + I to open Settings, then go to "Apps" > "Default apps."

  2. Reset File Associations:

    • Scroll down and click on "Choose default apps by file type." Ensure that the correct apps are associated with image and video file types (e.g., .jpg, .png, .mp4).

  3. Restart File Explorer:

    • After adjusting the associations, restart File Explorer to check if thumbnails are now displaying.

6. Update Graphics Drivers

Outdated or incompatible graphics drivers can sometimes cause issues with thumbnail previews. Updating these drivers can resolve the problem.

  1. Open Device Manager:

    • Press Windows + X and select "Device Manager."

  2. Update Graphics Driver:

    • Expand the "Display adapters" section, right-click your graphics card, and select "Update driver."

  3. Search for Updated Drivers:

    • Choose "Search automatically for updated driver software" and follow the prompts to update the driver.

  4. Restart Your Computer:

    • After updating the driver, restart your computer and check if thumbnail previews are working.

7. Perform a System File Check

Corrupted system files can interfere with Windows features, including thumbnail previews. Running a System File Check can repair these files.

  1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator:

    • Press Windows + X and select "Command Prompt (Admin)" or "Windows Terminal (Admin)."

  2. Run SFC Scan:

    • Type the following command and press Enter:
      sfc /scannow
    • Wait for the scan to complete. If any issues are found, the system will attempt to repair them.

  3. Restart Your Computer:

    • After the scan and repairs, restart your computer to see if thumbnail previews are now showing.

Conclusion

Thumbnail previews are a useful feature in Windows File Explorer, allowing you to quickly identify images, videos, and documents. If you find that thumbnails are not displaying, the solutions outlined in this guide should help you restore this functionality. From checking folder options to updating drivers, these steps cover a range of potential issues that could be affecting your system. By following these methods, you can ensure that thumbnail previews are correctly displayed in Windows File Explorer.