General Enable or Disable Thumbnail Previews in File Explorer in Windows 11


  • Staff
Thumbnails_banner.png

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable thumbnail previews in File Explorer for your account, all users, or specific users in Windows 11.

File Explorer can display thumbnail previews (image) or icons of files in Windows 11.

Starting with Windows 11 build 22557, File Explorer will now show previews of items within folders.

File Explorer displays a thumbnail preview image of the last item added to the folder by default.


Thumbnail previews will not show while using a Small icons, List, or Details folder layout.

If you change a folder picture, the picture will show as the thumbnail preview.

If you change a folder icon, it will show the icon instead of the thumbnail preview.



Contents

  • Option One: Turn On or Off Thumbnail Previews for Current User in Folder Options
  • Option Two: Turn On or Off Thumbnail Previews for Current User in Visual Effects Settings
  • Option Three: Turn On or Off Thumbnail Previews for Current User using BAT file
  • Option Four: Enable or Disable Thumbnail Previews For All or Specific Users in Group Policy
  • Option Five: Enable or Disable Thumbnail Previews for All Users using REG file


EXAMPLE: Thumbnail Enabled and Disabled in File Explorer

Thumbnails_on_File_Explorer.png
Thumbnails_off_File_Explorer.png


1645069384090.png





Option One

Turn On or Off Thumbnail Previews for Current User in Folder Options


1 Open Folder Options.

2 Click/tap on the View tab. (see screenshot below)

3 Check (off) or uncheck (on - default) Always show icons, never thumbnails for what you want, and click/tap on OK.

Thumbnails_Folder_Options.png





Option Two

Turn On or Off Thumbnail Previews for Current User in Visual Effects Settings


1 Open Visual Effects settings (SystemPropertiesPerformance.exe).

2 Check (on - default) or uncheck (off) Show thumbnails instead of icons for what you want, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

Thumbnails_visual_effects.png





Option Three

Turn On or Off Thumbnail Previews for Current User using BAT file


1 Do step 2 (on) or step 3 (off) below for what you want.

2 Turn On Thumbnail Previews for Current User

This is the default setting.


A) Click/tap on the download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 4.​

Turn_on_thumbnail_previews_in_explorer.bat


(Content of BAT file for reference)
Code:
@echo off

REG ADD "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /V IconsOnly /T REG_DWORD /D 0 /F

taskkill /f /im explorer.exe
start explorer.exe

3 Turn Off Thumbnail Previews for Current User

A) Click/tap on the download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 4.​

Turn_off_thumbnail_previews_in_explorer.bat


(Content of BAT file for reference)
Code:
@echo off

REG ADD "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /V IconsOnly /T REG_DWORD /D 1 /F

taskkill /f /im explorer.exe
start explorer.exe

4 Save the BAT file to your desktop.

5 Unblock and run the BAT file.

6 You will now notice your screen flicker and a command prompt quickly opens and closes as the explorer process is restarted to apply the registry changes.

7 You can now delete the downloaded BAT file if you like.




Option Four

Enable or Disable Thumbnail Previews For All or Specific Users in Group Policy


You must be signed in as an administrator to use this option.

If you disable thumbnails using this option, it will override Option One, Option Two, and Option Three.

The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

All editions can use Option Five to configure the same policy.


1 Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.

2 Navigate to the policy location below in the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor. (see screenshot below)

User Configuration/Administrative Templates/Windows Components/File Explorer

Thumbnails_gpedit-1.png

3 In the right pane of the File Explorer policy, double click/tap on Turn off the display of thumbnails and only display icons to edit it. (see screenshot above)

4 Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you want.

5 Enable Thumbnail Previews in File Explorer for All or Specific Users

This is the default setting.


A) Select (dot) Not Configured, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7. (see screenshot below)​

Thumbnails_gpedit-2.png

6 Disable Thumbnail Previews in File Explorer Thumbnail Previews for All or Specific Users

A) Select (dot) Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7. (see screenshot below)​

Thumbnails_gpedit-3.png

7 You can now close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.




Option Five

Enable or Disable Thumbnail Previews for All Users using REG file


You must be signed in as an administrator to use this option.

If you disable thumbnails using this option, it will override Option One, Option Two, and Option Three.


1 Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.


 2. To Enable Thumbnail Previews in File Explorer for All Users

This is the default setting


A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.​

Enable_thumbnail_previews_in_File_Explorer_for_all_users.reg


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"DisableThumbnails"=-

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"DisableThumbnails"=-


 3. To Disable Thumbnail Previews in File Explorer for All Users

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.​

Disable_thumbnail_previews_in_File_Explorer_for_all_users.reg


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"DisableThumbnails"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"DisableThumbnails"=dword:00000001

4 Save the REG file to your desktop.

5 Double click/tap on the downloaded REG file to merge it.

6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

7 Either Sign out and sign in or restart the computer to apply.

8 You can now delete the downloaded REG file if you like.


That's it,
Shawn Brink


 

Attachments

  • Thumbnails.png
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  • Turn_off_thumbnail_previews_in_explorer.bat
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  • Turn_on_thumbnail_previews_in_explorer.bat
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  • Disable_thumbnail_previews_in_File_Explorer_for_all_users.reg
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  • Enable_thumbnail_previews_in_File_Explorer_for_all_users.reg
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Last edited:
unfortunately, folders have stopped showing any content, and no fix in sight. so back to 10 for me.

Big Thanks for all the help - been using your tips for a few years when stuck
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win11
unfortunately, folders have stopped showing any content, and no fix in sight. so back to 10 for me.

Big Thanks for all the help - been using your tips for a few years when stuck

Hello,

I hate to say this, but folders also stopped showing thumbnails in the latest version of Windows 10 as well. :(

Your files should show thumbnails though.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Spectre x360 2in1 14-eu0098nr (2024)
    CPU
    Intel Core Ultra 7 155H 4.8 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Integrated Intel Arc
    Sound Card
    Poly Studio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    14" 2.8K OLED multitouch
    Screen Resolution
    2880 x 1800
    Hard Drives
    2 TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
    Internet Speed
    Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE200 (2x2) and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender and Malwarebytes Premium

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Spectre x360 2in1 14-eu0098nr (2024)
    CPU
    Intel Core Ultra 7 155H 4.8 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Integrated Intel Arc
    Sound Card
    Poly Studio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    14" 2.8K OLED multitouch
    Screen Resolution
    2880 x 1800
    Hard Drives
    2 TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
    Internet Speed
    Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE200 (2x2) and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
true indeed. i have an AHK script automating that process... can't believe how MS keeps making things worse for power users...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win11
This is outrageous, thumbnail previews are used by so many people. Microsoft just took them away and said to bad for you shmuck! Oh well, maybe somebody will design some 3rd party software for a solution. I have 18 years of photography sitting on drives stored in one of my closets, those previews are valuable.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer 1760 UA92
    CPU
    12th Gen i5-12400
    Memory
    16gb Crucial 3200MHz DDR4
    Graphics Card(s)
    Geforce GTX 1650
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Amazon Omni Fire tv 4K 55"
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    Kingston NVME M.2 1tb
    Samsung 850 1tb sata
    PSU
    300 Watts
    Cooling
    1 Internal Case fans
    Keyboard
    Wireless Logitech
    Internet Speed
    800Mbps
    Browser
    Brave
    Antivirus
    Avast
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    10th Gen i-7, 4-core 8-threads, turbo to 3.9GHz
    Memory
    16gb
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Plus
    Hard Drives
    500gb M.2
    Browser
    Brave
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky
I'm also using W10 21H2 and still I can use the folder thumbnails. When I'm walking over the Internet I really see a lot of people who really can't understand why Microsoft throw the using of folder thumbnails away. Really a lot of people do use this including myself, I do have, I think 10.000
digitalled Musicalbums (maybe more) , every Album was put in a folder and on the outside of this folder I could see which album is in it (Album picture tells you what kind of album is in the folder. And that's the same thing for my movie and videofolders, on the outside you can see whats in it by using the filmposter. Also the same thing for all my Strip comic books and for all my reading books. If microsoft will not chance this I will never use Windows 11.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 and 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Cooler Master, 1CDspeler, 1BluRayspeler, 1BluRaybrander
    CPU
    Intel i7-9700K CPU @ 3.60Ghz
    Motherboard
    MSI MPG Z390 Gaming Plus
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVidia GeForce GT 710
    Sound Card
    Sound Blaster Z SB1500
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 iiyama Black Hawk, 2 Medion Monitors
    Screen Resolution
    3 keer 1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Intern: SSD. Samsung 250GB - Samsung 1TB - OCZ-Agility 60GB en SCSI Seagate 3TB
    Extern: 2xWD Elements 10TB, ASMT 500GB, Seagate Exp. 1TB, Intenso Ext. 2TB, Intenso USB 3TB, WDC USB 2TB, WDC USB 1TB en nog 12TB aan schijven in PS4 en Zappiti Media Speler
    PSU
    weet ik niet meer (geen zin om te kijken)
    Case
    Cooler Master
    Cooling
    Gewoon
    Keyboard
    Nedis Afyteqe Metal Gaming Keyboard
    Mouse
    Nedis Yesaqua Gaming Mouse
    Internet Speed
    300MB Download, 30MB Upload (Wij hebben hier geen glasvezel)
    Browser
    Opera
    Antivirus
    Ziggo Safe Online en Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    2 2Bay Synology Nas Totaal 8 schijven: 4 Intern en 4 Extern = 32 TB
I am sticking with 11 but miss the feature. I got around it by using custom folders. I have some folders set to view icons others view details, for me it's how I want to display the contents of different folders
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Alienware M18 R1
    CPU
    13th Gen Core i9 13900HX
    Memory
    32GB DDR5 @4800MHz 2x16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Geforce RTX 4090HX 16GB
    Sound Card
    Nvidia HD / Realtek ALC3254
    Monitor(s) Displays
    18" QHD+
    Screen Resolution
    25660 X 1600
    Hard Drives
    C: KIOXIA (Toshiba) 2TB KXG80ZNV2T04 NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD
    D: KIOXIA (Toshiba) 2TB KXG80ZNV2T04 NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD
    Case
    Dark Metallic Moon
    Keyboard
    Alienware M Series per-key AlienFX RGB
    Mouse
    Alienware AW610M
    Browser
    Chrome and Firefox
    Antivirus
    Norton
    Other Info
    Killer E3000 Ethernet Controller
    Killer Killer AX1690 Wi-Fi Network Adaptor Wi-Fi 6E
    Bluetooth 5.2
    Alienware Z01G Graphic Amplifier
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Alienware Area 51m R2
    CPU
    10th Gen i-9 10900 K
    Memory
    32Gb Dual Channel DDR4 @ 8843MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Nvidia RTX 2080 Super
    Sound Card
    Nvidia
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Hard Drive C: Samsung 2TB SSD PM981a NVMe
    Hard Drive D:Samsung 2TB SSD 970 EVO Plus
    Mouse
    Alienware 610M
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Norton
It's not W10 21H2 but H1
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 and 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Cooler Master, 1CDspeler, 1BluRayspeler, 1BluRaybrander
    CPU
    Intel i7-9700K CPU @ 3.60Ghz
    Motherboard
    MSI MPG Z390 Gaming Plus
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVidia GeForce GT 710
    Sound Card
    Sound Blaster Z SB1500
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 iiyama Black Hawk, 2 Medion Monitors
    Screen Resolution
    3 keer 1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Intern: SSD. Samsung 250GB - Samsung 1TB - OCZ-Agility 60GB en SCSI Seagate 3TB
    Extern: 2xWD Elements 10TB, ASMT 500GB, Seagate Exp. 1TB, Intenso Ext. 2TB, Intenso USB 3TB, WDC USB 2TB, WDC USB 1TB en nog 12TB aan schijven in PS4 en Zappiti Media Speler
    PSU
    weet ik niet meer (geen zin om te kijken)
    Case
    Cooler Master
    Cooling
    Gewoon
    Keyboard
    Nedis Afyteqe Metal Gaming Keyboard
    Mouse
    Nedis Yesaqua Gaming Mouse
    Internet Speed
    300MB Download, 30MB Upload (Wij hebben hier geen glasvezel)
    Browser
    Opera
    Antivirus
    Ziggo Safe Online en Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    2 2Bay Synology Nas Totaal 8 schijven: 4 Intern en 4 Extern = 32 TB

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