Preview Pane does not show .txt files

BigZot · Apr 26, 2024

Hello there
I beg your pardon for my English and I'll try to use correct terms because of (my) different language system.

Few days ago I realized that Explorer did not show my text (*.txt) files.
Preview handler seems to don't work for this extension only. Other files (docx, xlsx, pdf, bmp, jpg and so on) work properly.

I have already asked answers.microsoft.com for help and unfortunately their suggestions are invalid.
Someoneelse suggested to use a TenForum tutorial written by Shawn Brink to restore correct association.
Giving a look to txt.reg file I noted that some keys are not similar to those I found inside Register file and although I'm not so expert I did not apply that suggestion.

Last thing I tried is to download and run ShellExView (by NirSoft) and I found out that "Windows txt Previewer" properties show following extensions:
.bat, .cmd, batfile, cmdfile, text.
My deduction is that ".txt" is missing. And, if I rename a .txt file into a .text file, preview pane works.

Do you have a suggestion to fix the problem?

Thank in advance
Stefano

Rollback_Jockey · Apr 26, 2024

Find a sample .txt file, right click and select 'Open With' select whatever app is opening the .text file, see if that corrects the association.

BigZot · Apr 26, 2024

Thanks Rollback_Jockey.
It does not work.

For information notepad (maybe it's the fault of the latest version, the one with the tabs?) is my default app for .txt files and selecting 'Open With' you can find it at the top. I tried to open .txt files with WordPad and with Word. No change observed.

Stefano

Berton · Apr 26, 2024

It works in mine when the Preview pane is showing. On the toolbar click View and choose Preview. It takes just a short bit of time to show up after clicking a .txt file. It even works with .htm, .html, .pdf and .reg files. I could even view a .csv spreadsheet file, probably depends upon having Microsoft 365 [Office] installed.

BigZot · Apr 26, 2024

Hi Berton, thanks for replay.
For my choice I have Preview Pane always displayed. It helps me to identify better and quicker what I'm searching for.

Surfing and reading on Web I understood there are more Preview Handler and 'Windows txt Previewer' handles .txt .bat and .cmd files. I'd like having preview of other extensions, but this is O.T. and not related to my question.

Finally I can see (in my Preview Pane) both .bat and .cmd file, not .txt files. Even .csv files are displayed correctly.
If I rename a .txt file as a .text file, it works! Preview Pane shows that file!

Stefano

LesFerch · Apr 26, 2024

Do you have anything installed that might affect previews, such as the PowerToys Explorer Add-ons?

iko22 · Apr 27, 2024

You can perform a Clean Boot to check if there are conflicts with any startup programs. It is not suggested as a permanent change, it just helps provide diagnostics.

To perform a Clean Boot you can try following this Forum tutorial:

Perform a Clean Boot in Windows 11 to Troubleshoot Software Conflicts

This tutorial will show you how to perform a clean boot to start Windows 10 or Windows 11 using a minimal set of drivers and startup programs for troubleshooting application conflicts. Troubleshooting Windows can be a complex process due to the many different drivers, settings, and programs...

www.elevenforum.com

BigZot · Apr 27, 2024

LesFerch said:
Do you have anything installed that might affect previews, such as the PowerToys Explorer Add-ons?

Hi LesFerch, yes, I actually have it since July 2023.
Although I have never used it.

Long time ago I opened it and never used it because my difficulty in understanding English. Bear in mind that I even renamed it as PowerToys Preview believing it wasn't a working version.

And Preview Pane worked fine until last December, roughly.
Do you suggest I uninstall it?

akbar291 · Apr 27, 2024

BigZot said:
Hello there
I beg your pardon for my English and I'll try to use correct terms because of (my) different language system.

Few days ago I realized that Explorer did not show my text (*.txt) files.
Preview handler seems to don't work for this extension only. Other files (docx, xlsx, pdf, bmp, jpg and so on) work properly.

I have already asked answers.microsoft.com for help and unfortunately their suggestions are invalid.
Someoneelse suggested to use a TenForum tutorial written by Shawn Brink to restore correct association.
Giving a look to txt.reg file I noted that some keys are not similar to those I found inside Register file and although I'm not so expert I did not apply that suggestion.

Last thing I tried is to download and run ShellExView (by NirSoft) and I found out that "Windows txt Previewer" properties show following extensions:
.bat, .cmd, batfile, cmdfile, text.
My deduction is that ".txt" is missing. And, if I rename a .txt file into a .text file, preview pane works.

Do you have a suggestion to fix the problem?

Thank in advance
Stefano

PreviewConfig may Help , Type .txt in search Box and Select as Plane-text and apply

BigZot · Apr 27, 2024

iko22 said:
You can perform a Clean Boot to check if there are conflicts with any startup programs. It is not suggested as a permanent change, it just helps provide diagnostics.

To perform a Clean Boot you can try following this Forum tutorial:

Perform a Clean Boot in Windows 11 to Troubleshoot Software Conflicts

This tutorial will show you how to perform a clean boot to start Windows 10 or Windows 11 using a minimal set of drivers and startup programs for troubleshooting application conflicts. Troubleshooting Windows can be a complex process due to the many different drivers, settings, and programs...

www.elevenforum.com

Hi iko22, thanks for suggestion.
Please, let the time for (well) understanding that tutorial and I'll let you know.
Stefano

BigZot · Apr 27, 2024

akbar291 said:
PreviewConfig may Help , Type .txt in search Box and Select as Plane-text and apply

Hello akbar291, thank you.
I remember that program used many years ago. Your link open a page explaining it is for Windows Vista and Win7.
I'll leave it as a last chance, in case I can't fix it.
I don't want everything to get messed up.
Stefano

BigZot · Apr 27, 2024

Hello everybody
I've just got new information about my question and would like to share.

I created a new account (local, not Microsoft) and gave it administrator privileges.
By opening Explorer and its Pane Preview I can read a .txt file as well as .bat .cmd and others.

I believe that my question is not related to my PC software and problem hides itself in my Current User Profile, does it?

What have I to do for "importing" such behavior in my original account?

Thanks in advance for helping me
Stefano

LesFerch · Apr 27, 2024

BigZot said:
I created a new account (local, not Microsoft) and gave it administrator privileges.
By opening Explorer and its Pane Preview I can read a .txt file as well as .bat .cmd and others.

What have I to do for "importing" such behavior in my original account?

Presumably the new account does not have the PowerToys Explorer add ins enabled, so I would start with disabling that on your original account.

Also, check this tutorial:

Enable or Disable Show Preview Handlers in Preview Pane of File Explorer in Windows 11 Tutorial

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable showing preview handlers in the the preview pane of File Explorer for your account in Windows 10 and Windows 11. The preview pane in File Explorer shows you the contents of a file, such as image or text files, without having to open it with...

www.elevenforum.com

BigZot · Apr 27, 2024

LesFerch said:
Presumably the new account does not have the PowerToys Explorer add ins enabled, so I would start with disabling that on your original account.

For disabling the PowerToys Explorer you intend to uninstall it or what else?

LesFerch · Apr 27, 2024

BigZot said:
For disabling the PowerToys Explorer you intend to uninstall it or what else?

You don't have to uninstall. You can go into its settings and enable/disable individual tools.

BigZot · Apr 27, 2024

OK, I'll let you know.

LesFerch · Apr 27, 2024

If the problem persists, check this registry key:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppID\{6d2b5079-2f0b-48dd-ab7f-97cec514d30b}

Normally it would have one entry:

DllSurrogate REG_EXPAND_SZ %SystemRoot%\system32\prevhost.exe

BigZot · Apr 27, 2024

LesFerch said:
You don't have to uninstall. You can go into its settings and enable/disable individual tools.

YOU DID IT! Thank you. Once I disabled all items, Preview Pane works fine.
I don't understand why, but it works!
Thank you very very much!
Stefano

BigZot · Apr 27, 2024

LesFerch said:
If the problem persists, check this registry key:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppID\{6d2b5079-2f0b-48dd-ab7f-97cec514d30b}

Normally it would have one entry:

DllSurrogate REG_EXPAND_SZ %SystemRoot%\system32\prevhost.exe

Just for verification, that key has two entries: the 2nd one is that you wrote, in italian version first one is: (Predefinito) REG_SZ Preview Handler Surrogate Host
Predefinito means Default, I don't know how English Registry File states it.
Once more: Grazie!
Stefano

LesFerch · Apr 29, 2024

BigZot said:
Just for verification, that key has two entries: the 2nd one is that you wrote, in italian version first one is: (Predefinito) REG_SZ Preview Handler Surrogate Host
Predefinito means Default, I don't know how English Registry File states it.

Yes, mine also has the Default (Predefinito) entry, so that's all normal.

Updating PowerToys (if not already up to date) may allow for the Explorer add-ins to work correctly (if you care to use that feature). The last time I tested the source code previewer, it worked, but it caused plain text file previewing to be much slower than the default previewer, so I didn't use it. I opened an issue about the performance problem:

Source code preview causes very slow TXT file preview in Explorer · Issue #29750 · microsoft/PowerToys

Microsoft PowerToys version 0.75.1 Installation method Microsoft Store Running as admin Yes Area(s) with issue? File Explorer: Preview Pane Steps to reproduce Enable File Explorer add-ons Enable So...

github.com

PowerToys has 5K+ open issues. Granted, it has a huge user base and many of those issues could be duplicates or user error or environmental, but still... wow. To be fair, the PowerToys tools I do use (e.g. File Locksmith) have worked fine for me.

Preview Pane does not show .txt files

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