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22/1123, 2208 [Fo POF Thumbnail and Preview Not Showing Up in Fle Explorer» Winhelpontine Winhelponline Q = [Fix] PDF Thumbnail and Preview Not Showing Up in File Explorer Last Updated on: May 5, 2023 In your Windows computer, File Explorer may not display PDF thumbnails, and instead, show only the default icon, assigned for PDF files. This might happen even if you have the option Always show icons, never thumbnails unchecked in the View tab of the Folder Options dialog nitps:/ww.winhnelpoiine,comvbloglenable-or- 22 we | 2 semchamvae He Ovickacees ir] [ror] No preview! onitae} coer, (eee) pes ee 7 oe a ao ow O Elements 19-2021. ate-inveice 021 pat ae ion waits rors Giteens 1 item selected 118KB Nothuninailsd = [BEFORE — No thumbrall and preview for PDF fles ‘Also, in Microsoft Outlook you'll see the error when viewing emails that contain PDF file attachments: The file cannot be previewed because there is no previewer installed for it This article tells you how to enable PDF thumbnails as well as the POF preview capability (for the Preview pane) in File Explorer and Microsoft Outlook. The first method (PowerToys) works whether or not you're using a third-party PDF viewer (e.g., Adobe PDF Reader or Foxit Reader), RELATED: [Fis] Microsoft Outlook Cannot Preview PDF Attachments Contents hntps:wwwwinhelpontne,comvboglenable-r-dsable-thumbnall-preview-for-pdles/Pexpand_aticle=1 2186 22/1123, 2208 [Fo POF Thumbnail and Preview Not Showing Up in Fle Explorer» Winhelpontine Preliminary Steps POF previews using Microsoft PowerToys * Outlook 32-bit Registry Fix (for PowerToys users Fix PDF previews using Adobe Reader DC © Fix PDF previews using Foxit Reader © Fix PDF previews using SumatraPDE © Fix PDF previews using Microsoft Edge Chromium © Fic No PDF Thumbnails with Edge as the default viewer [Fix] PDF Thumbnail and Preview Not Showing in Explorer Preliminary step - Enable thumbnails and preview handlers in Explorer 1. Open Folder Options 2. Enable “Show preview handlers in preview pane” 3. Uncheck “Always show icons, never thumbnails” Flezspire Options x Gerd Yew Seach Fol ven ‘Yeu can apy tha vew uch a Dea rent yp sansa — sexes sen "ie reed epetng naenilee Fecormenied) 6 lasrenfteracoue n sepa ces (D Recarecrevestoe wrens bac hntps:www:winhelpontne,comvboglenable-r-dsable-thumbnall-preview-for-pdFfles/Pexpand_aticle=t 3186 22/1123, 2208 [Fog POF Thumer 3d Preview Not Snowing Up in Fle Explorer» Winhelpanine 4, Click OK and close Folder Options. If thumbnail and preview functionality is still missing for PDF file types, proceed to the next step. Using Microsoft PowerToys Microsoft PowerToys is a set of utilities for power users to tune and streamline their Windows 10 experience for greater productivity. PowerToys requires Windows 11 or Windows 10 v1903 (18362) or newer to work. hntps:www:winhelpontne,comvboglenable-r-dsable-thumbnall-preview-for-pdFfles/Pexpand_aticle=t 4106 2ait23, 2208 [Fi POF Thumbral and Preview Not Sowing Upin Fle Explorer» Winhelpentine You can use Microsoft PowerToys to enable PDF thumbnails and preview generation (for the preview pane) even if you don't have a proprietary PDF viewer software installed. There is no 32-bit version of Microsoft PowerToys; only the 64-bit version has been released. % PowerToys includes a PDF thumbnail generator as well as the preview handler module (DLL). Thus, it works even if, you're using the Windows default PDF viewer (Microsoft Edge browser) for opening POF files. To enable thumbnail generation and preview capabilities for PDF files: 1. Download Microsoft PowerToys via the Microsoft Store. 2. Launch Microsoft PowerToys as administrator (Run as administrator) 3. In PowerToys Settings, select “File Explorer add-ons" in the left pane nitps:/ww.winhnelpoiine,comvbloglenable-or- pdf thumbnail adobe.reg Contents of the REG file Windows Registry Editor Version 5.08 [HKEY_CURRENT_USER) SOF TWARE\Classes'\.pdF\shel 1ex\{BB26617C-@928-11d1-9R@B-2aC@4FC206C1}] (@-"(F085320-233E-1101 -9F84-707F02C10627)" Hopefully, one of the above tips or programs should fix the File Explorer PDF thumbnail and preview pane issues in Windows and Microsoft Outlook/Outlook 365. One small request: If you liked this post, please share this? ‘One"tny" shat fom you would seriously help alot with the growth of this blog. Some great suggestions + Pini! hntps:www:winhelpontne,comvboglenable-r-dsable-thumbnall-preview-for-pdFfles/Pexpand_aticle=t 1586 22/1123, 2208 [Fog POF Tour + Share itt you favorite blog + Facebook, Redst and Preview Not Showing Up in Fle Explorer» Winhelpontine + Tweetit So thank you so much for your support. It wot ake moe than 10 seconds of your time, The shate buttons a ight below) I Microsoft Edge, Utilities, Windows © edge chromium, powertoys, registry About the author Ramesh Srinivasan is passionate about Microsoft technologies and he has been a consecutive ten-time recipient of the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional award in the Windows Shell/Desktop Experience category, from 2003 to 2012, He loves to troubleshoot and write about Windows, Ramesh founded Winhelponline.com in 2005, 19 thoughts on “[Fix] PDF Thumbnail and Preview Not Showing Up in File Explorer” Leo Davidson October 7, 2010 at 3:34 pm To those looking for a 64-bit PDF thumbnail fx ‘hitpu/mww pretentiousname.com/adobe pdf x64 fix/index. htm! Reply Patryk November 11,2021 at 8:30 pm pntps:wwwwinhelpontne,comvbloglonable-r-dsable-thumbnall-preview-for-pdFfles/Pexpand_aticle=1 16186 22/1123, 2208 [Fog POF Thumer 3d Preview Not Snowing Up in Fe Explorer» Winhelpanine Leo Davidson's link helped me, thanks a lot! Calchick June 10,2012 at 12:54 am Wow, the pdf-thumb zip above saved the daylll| have been searching fora solution for my Thumbnail Previews NOT. showing up. | have a ton of erochet pattems and seeing the preview photos is absolutely necessary o look for a pattern instead of scrolling thru and reading each name. THANKS SO MUCH for showing the solution!!! Something «great will happen to you today for helping people! @ FeWatson October 1,,2012 at 1:31 am etal: For Win? Acrobat Pro x \Was not sure which on of these actually fixed the problem, but one of them did, Since | did all these without rechecking to see if the problem still existed afterwards, | am not sure which one actually fixed the problem But after | did the #3 and reboot, Worked perfectly, FYI: Below is the order in which I stepped through the repair. 1. Go to Control Panel > folders options under each of the General, View and Search Tabs click the Restore Defaults button and the Reset Folders button 2, Goto Internet Explorer Tools > Options > Advanced > Reset (| did not need to delete personal settings) 3. Open Acrobat Pro X under Edit > Preferences > General At the bottom of page Select Default PDF Handler. | chose Adobe Pro X and click apply. May ask you to reboot. (I did). Best Wishes Reply »ntps:www:winhelpontne,comvboglenable-r-dsable-thumbnall-preview-for-pdles/Pexpand_aticle=1 786 22/1123, 2208 [Fog POF Thumer Toms December §,.2013 at 6:14 am Thanks to Leo, the 64-bit thing worked! Reply TY December 10, 2019 at 3:04 pm. ‘Simply try checking for updates in your Adobe (go to “Help” on top left and scroll down to “Check for Updates"). After updating you'll reboot and, if you're as lucky as Iwas, life will be good again. Houmam Fatayti January 24,2020 at 8:52 am Thank you so much!! That was really helpful Reply Salerno January 19,2021 at 5:22pm thanks bro. Reply »ntps:www:winhelpontne,comvboglenable-r-dsable-thumbnall-preview-for-pdles/Pexpand_aticle=1 3d Preview Not Snowing Up in Fle Explorer» Winhelpanine 16186 22/1123, 2208 [Fo POF Thumbnail and Preview Not Showing Up in Fle Explorer» Winhelpontine Martin April.27, 2021 at 5:38 am 0K. How to make preview work w/o the Adobe proprietary software installed? Reply Ramesh ‘August 24, 2022 at 10:05 am @Mantin: You can install Microsoft PowerToys. Please see the 7st part of the article, i's mentioned. July 19,2021 at 4:59 am in my case you can just open the view tab > options > change folder and search options view tab > check the option “show preview handlers in preview pane” Reply Houman February 10,2022 at 7:11 am Thanks so much, it was so helpful, | checked many videos on Youtube but your recommendation was the only solution! hntps:www:winhelpontne,comvboglenable-r-dsable-thumbnall-preview-for-pdFfles/Pexpand_aticle=t 1946 22/1123, 2208 [Fog POF Thumer 3d Preview Not Snowing Up in Fe Explorer» Winhelpanine Tracey March 25, 2022 at 3:39 am Thank you! | tried so many things and the PowerToys solutions seems to have solved it, Thank you so much! Reply User 987 April18, 2022 at 8:11 pm Nice. | use PowerToys @ lot and I guess the preview was disabled when | updated it. Thank you! en Martha P Gomez August 4, 2022 at 9:32 pm Very usefull and relevant. | am actually not using Adobe Acrobat Reader. PowerTools solved the problem. Reply Christine S. November 27,2022 at 10:04 pm I disabled mine and it automatically repaired the fix. Unsure why unchecking it helped but if fixed the problem for me. Leaving it checked hides it for me, Reply »ntps:www:winhelpontne,comvboglenable-r-dsable-thumbnall-preview-for-pdles/Pexpand_aticle=1 20186 22/1123, 2208 [Fog POF Thumer 3d Preview Not Snowing Up in Fle Explorer» Winhelpanine Hamza January 17, 2023 at 3:43 pm Thank you so much Reply Dean May 5, 2023 at 2:23 pm Thank you for posting this. | was having problems with POF Handler Error for Windows 10 x64 Explorer preview and ‘also Outlook 2019 x64 PDF previewer.| have Adobe Acrobat DC x64 installed {As the article describes above, | opened Windows Power Toys, navigated to the fire fle Explorer add-ons section, and enabled portable document format. That fixed my PDF Handler Error for Windows 10 x64 Explorer preview...but this did not fix Outlook POF preview error ( which reported that there was no POF previewer installed) In the instructions above, under the section: Fix For Outlook Users There is an additional step needed to enable the PowerToys preview handler in Outlook, Open an admin Command Prompt window and run this command: req add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\PreviewHandlers” /v “(07665729-6243-4746-95b7- 795793084162)" /d “Pdf Preview Handler’ /t REG_SZ However, that didn't work on my system because, for some reason, that is the wrong value of the PowerToys preview handler (at least on my system) The information above says: Preview handler for PDF files is GUID: (07665729-6243-4746-95b7-79579308d1b2) However, on my system, the PowerToys preview handler is (ASA41CC7-02C8-41D4-8C9B-9087040D6098). So, if you find that the suggested Outlook fix is not working of from above, try doing this instead: ‘Open an admin Command Prompt window and run this command: req add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\PreviewHandlers" /v “(ASA41CC7-02CB-41D4-8C9B- 908704006098)" /d “Paf Preview Handler’ /t REG_SZ For reference, below are my registry keys which are Working for for the PDF Handler for Windows 10 x64 Explorer preview and also Outlook 2019 x64 PDF previewer [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ .pdf\shellex\ {8895b1c6-b41f-4c1c-a562-¢d564250836F) ] '{ASAG1CC7-@2CB-41D4-8C9B-908704006098}" hntps:iwwwwinhelpontne,comvbloglenable-r-dsable-thumbnall-preview-for-pdFfles/Pexpand_aticle=t 21186 2aiwi2a, 22:08 [Fi POF Thumbnail and Preview Not Showing Up in Fle Explorer» Winhelpontine [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE Mi crosoft\Windows \CurrentVersion\PreviewHandlers } "{133C4B8-8179-4ebb-BF62-F7@4173E7448}"="Windows Contact Preview Handler” "(1531d583-8375-4d3F-b5#b-d23bbd169422). {S3BEDF@B-4ESB-4183-809-B844344FA104| {Ba7cae@e-5951-49cb-bf20-ab3faledabe1} {92dbad9#-5025-49b0-9078-2478*935e341 ) {(282¢2ccb-67d3~46fa-abe6-742/3488c7a3) {b9815375-5d7F-4ce2-9245-c9d4da436930) "{ BFD46802-D@AO-4bdc-B78C-E69C2FSB435D} "*{ E64164E8-1AEO-4C50-BAEF-A413C283A4BC} Handler’ (88412b-dea3-4130-b36c-Sesbe73106ac) {@31££060-678C-460d-8847-E4A7CSE4SA27) {DC6EFBS6-9CFA-A64D-8880-44885070C193) {3A84F9C2-6164-485C-A7D9-4827FBACOOSE) {84F6610@-FF7C-4Fb4-BOCO-02CD7FBS68FE} {21E17C2F -AD3A~4b89-841F -09CFE@201687} " (65235197-874B-4A07 -BDCS-E65EA825B718) (00020827 -9000-2000-ceee-20eeaea0046; {ASA41CC7-02CB-41D4-8C9B-908704006098) ‘indows TXT Previewer" dicrosoft Windows MAPI Preview Handler” ‘indows Font previewer’ iicrosoft Windows Mail Mime Preview Handler” findows RTF Previewei ="Microsoft Windows Mail Mime Preview Handler” Wicrosoft Windows Mail Html Preview Handler’ Wicrosoft 3MF Shell Thumbnail and Preview iicrosoft Windows Mail Html Preview Handler" "Windows Media Player Rich Preview Handler’ Preview Handler for Vista” POF Previewer" Word previewer" Visio previewer' PowerPoint previewer” Excel previewer’ Pdf Preview Handler" Hope this helps. @ Ramesh ‘May §,2023 at 4:27 pm @Dean: Thanks for the heads up. The GUIDs for PDF thumbnail and the preview handler have been changed in the recent PowerToys builds. The article has been updated! Leave a Reply ntps:ww.winhnelponine,comvbloglenable-or-

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