How to Fix Preview Pane Not Working In File Explorer

Windows File Explorer has handy features that make file and folder navigation easier. Among these is the preview pane, which lets you view a snapshot of a selected file without opening it. Although this feature functions properly, some users have complained that the preview option might not appear. The pane may display previews for only some files or respond sluggishly. If you encounter these issues, we’ve compiled a list of troubleshooting steps you can try.

Know the Reasons –

• The necessary options have not been enabled or disabled.
• A software bug or glitch may be affecting the preview pane.
• Recent changes to your PC settings could be impacting functionality.
• Your default file software might be outdated or lacking support for this feature.
• The file could be corrupt, leading to issues with the preview pane.

Also Read: How to Preview Photos And Delete The Right Files

12 Ways to Fix Preview Pane Not Working In File Explorer

Method 1: Check If the Preview Pane Is Enabled

If the preview option is missing in File Explorer, it likely means the feature is turned off. To fix this, follow these steps:

1. Right-click the Windows Start button in the bottom-left corner.
2. Open File Explorer.
3. Navigate to the View tab.
4. Click on the Preview pane option in the ribbon.

Once enabled, you should see the “Select a file to preview” option in the right-hand pane. If it was previously disabled, activating this should resolve the issue.

Method 2: Check for File-Specific Issues

If the preview pane successfully shows previews for some files but not others, it usually means that certain file formats are unsupported. Additionally, if a large file contains extensive text and graphics, the preview pane might take a while to load. Be patient and allow sufficient time for the process. If the preview pane fails to display any file previews, the issue might be related to operating system problems that need further investigation.

Method 3: Restart File Explorer

File Explorer manages the graphical user interface for Windows utilities and can sometimes experience minor glitches that affect the preview pane’s functionality. To address this, you can restart the process through Task Manager by following these steps:

1. Right-click the Start button and select Task Manager.
2. Go to the Processes tab and find the Windows Explorer process.
3. Click on Windows Explorer and choose Restart.

Restarting Windows Explorer may resolve the issue. If the problem persists, continue with the other troubleshooting steps.

Method 4: Adjust Folder Options Settings

Before exploring other operating system fixes, it’s essential to make three adjustments to the File Explorer folder options:

1. Open Folder Options by navigating to File Explorer > View tab, then click Options on the far right of the ribbon.
2. Ensure that the “Show preview handlers in preview pane” checkbox is checked. 
3. Verify that the “Always show icons, never thumbnails” checkbox is unchecked. 
4. Under the General tab, set the “Open File Explorer to” dropdown to “This PC” instead of “Quick Access.”

After making these changes, click Apply and OK. Consider restarting File Explorer to see if this resolves the issue. If not, further troubleshooting of the operating system may be necessary.

Also Read: How to Get Help With File Explorer in Windows: A Beginner’s Guide

Method 5: Alter File Explorer Startup Mode

Setting File Explorer to open to “This PC” instead of “Quick access” can help resolve the issue of the preview pane not working in Windows 10. Here’s how to do it:

1. Launch File Explorer, navigate to the View tab, and click on Options.
2. In the “Open File Explorer to” dropdown menu, select “This PC” instead of “Quick access.”
3. Click on Apply and then OK to save the changes.

Method 6: Reset Folder Options

If other methods don’t resolve the “Windows 10 preview pane not working” issue, resetting folder options might help. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open File Explorer, go to the View tab and click on Options.
2. Select the General tab in the Folder Options window and click “Restore Defaults” at the bottom. 
3. Next, switch to the View tab and click “Restore Defaults” again.
4. Click Apply and then OK. Restart your computer to apply the changes.

Method 7: Check For Hard Disk Response Issues

If you’re using an HDD rather than an SSD, delays in file previewing or complete failures to preview files may be caused by slow hard drive responses. Although this is uncommon, it’s important to check for potential hard disk issues by running a CHKDSK scan. Here’s how to do it:

1. Type “Command Prompt” into the Windows Search box.
2. Right-click the Command Prompt app and select “Run as administrator.”
3. Enter the command `chkdsk` and press Enter.

The scan might take some time, depending on the condition and load of your hard disk. If no errors are reported, you can proceed with other troubleshooting steps, as the issue is likely unrelated to the hard drive. If errors are found, follow the on-screen instructions to address them.

Method 8: Update Graphics Driver

If you’re having trouble previewing images or documents with high graphics content, the issue might be related to your graphics driver. To address this, you should update your graphics driver. Here’s how to do it manually:

1. Open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start button.
2. Expand the “Display adapters” category.
3. Right-click your display driver and select “Update driver.”

Automatic Method To Update Drivers

If the graphic driver is outdated, corrupted, or missing, this can lead to a yellow screen or tint on your monitor. The best solution is to update your drivers using a driver updater tool like Advanced Driver Updater. Here are the steps to use this tool.

Step 1: Download and install Advanced Driver Updater.

Step 2: Launch the app and click the Start Scan Now button.

Step 3: A list of driver issues will appear on the screen.

Step 4: Locate the Graphics Driver among the list and click on the update link next to it.
Step 5: The update process will now begin. Restart your computer once the update is completed.

Also Read: Fixed Error: Driver irql_less_or_not_equal on Windows 10

Method 9: Adjust Advanced System Properties

Windows allows you to control visual settings to either prioritize appearance or performance. If you have set the system to prioritize performance, switching to prioritize appearance might help with loading graphics more effectively. To adjust these settings, follow these steps:

1. Right-click the Start button and open the Settings app.
2. Go to System Settings.
3. Scroll down to the About section.
4. Click on Advanced system settings.
5. In the System Properties window, go to the Advanced tab and click the Settings button under the Performance section.
6. In the Performance Options window, select “Adjust for best appearance.”
7. Click Apply, then OK.

If this adjustment doesn’t resolve the issue, you can switch back to “Let Windows choose what’s best for my computer” or return to the previous “Adjust for best performance” setting.

Method 10: Run A Malware Scan

If adjusting settings doesn’t fix the problem, running a malware scan is advisable. A hidden virus could be causing response delays or affecting the operating system’s performance, so it’s important to check for any malware that might be interfering. If you are using Windows Security software, here are the steps:

Step 1: Press the Windows key and type “Windows Security”.
Step 2: Click the relevant result under Best Match to launch the Windows Security box.
Step 3: Click on Virus & Threat Protection.

Step 4: Click Scan Options and choose the Full Scan option.
Step 5: Finally, click the Scan Now button and wait for the app to scan your PC.

Method 11: Run An SFC Scan

If a malware scan doesn’t resolve the issue, running an SFC scan is a good next step to check for and repair any corrupt system files that might be causing Windows File Explorer to malfunction, including issues with the preview pane. Here’s how to run an SFC scan:

1. Type “cmd” into the Windows search box.
2. Right-click on the Command Prompt app and select “Run as administrator.”
3. Enter the command `sfc /scannow` and press Enter.

Method 12: Adjust Performance Options

To address the issue of PDF thumbnails not showing in Windows 11, you can adjust the Performance Options to “Adjust for best appearance.” Here’s how:

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Type `sysdm.cpl` and press Enter.
3. Navigate to the Advanced tab and click on Settings under the Performance section.
4. In the Visual Effects tab, select “Adjust for best appearance.”
5. Click Apply, then OK to save the changes.

Can You View The Preview Pane In File Explorer?

These fixes should ideally restore functionality to your preview pane. If the issue persists, you might consider resetting your operating system. Alternatively, you can use File Viewer Plus 4 for your file navigation needs. Please write to us in the comments section below describing which method helped you fix the issue.