General Show or Hide Preview Pane in File Explorer in Windows 11


  • Staff
Preview_pane_banner.png

This tutorial will show you how to show or hide the preview pane in File Explorer for your account in 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 an app.


Setting the preview pane to show or hide in File Explorer is a global setting that is applied to all folders, and not just in the current folder.

You can drag the left border of the preview pane left and right to increase or decrease its width in File Explorer.

If you set the preview pane to show, then it will replace the details pane if currently showing.

If you turn off thumbnail previews in File Explorer, image files will also not show a preview in the preview pane.



Contents

  • Option One: Show or Hide Preview Pane in File Explorer from File Explorer Command Bar
  • Option Two: Show or Hide Preview Pane in File Explorer using REG file


EXAMPLE: Preview pane in File Explorer

Preview_pane_in_File_Explorer.png





Option One

Show or Hide Preview Pane in File Explorer from File Explorer Command Bar


1 Open File Explorer (Win+E).

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

3 Check (show) or uncheck (hide - default) Preview pane for what you want.

Preview_pane_command_bar.png





Option Two

Show or Hide Preview Pane in File Explorer using REG file


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

2 To Show Preview Pane in File Explorer

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

Show_Preview_pane_in_File_Explorer_for_current_user.reg​


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

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Modules\GlobalSettings\DetailsContainer]
"DetailsContainer"=hex:02,00,00,00,01,00,00,00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Modules\GlobalSettings\Sizer]
"DetailsContainerSizer"=hex:15,01,00,00,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,c0,03,00,00

3 To Hide Preview Pane in File Explorer

This is the default setting.


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

Hide_Preview_pane_in_File_Explorer_for_current_user.reg​


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

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Modules\GlobalSettings\DetailsContainer]
"DetailsContainer"=hex:02,00,00,00,02,00,00,00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Modules\GlobalSettings\Sizer]
"DetailsContainerSizer"=hex:15,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,c0,03,00,00

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 If File Explorer is currently open, then close and reopen File Explorer to apply.

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


That's it,
Shawn Brink


Related Tutorials

 

Attachments

  • Preview_pane.png
    Preview_pane.png
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  • Hide_Preview_pane_in_File_Explorer_for_current_user.reg
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  • Show_Preview_pane_in_File_Explorer_for_current_user.reg
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Last edited:
Click to expand...
Hi,
Yeah I don't mind the new menus it's the darn inability to use details pane on the bottom that burns me up still :ffs:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win-7-10-11Pro's
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer 17" Nitro 7840sn/ 2x16gb 5600c40/ 4060/ stock 1tb-os/ 4tb sn850x
    CPU
    10900k & 9940x & 5930k
    Motherboard
    z490-Apex & x299-Apex & x99-Sabertooth
    Memory
    Trident-Z Royal 4000c16 2x16gb & Trident-Z 3600c16 4x8gb & 3200c14 4x8gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Titan Xp & 1080ti FTW3 & evga 980ti gaming
    Sound Card
    Onboard Realtek x3
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1-AOC G2460PG 24"G-Sync 144Hz/ 2nd 1-ASUS VG248QE 24"/ 3rd LG 43" series
    Screen Resolution
    1920-1080 not sure what the t.v is besides 43" class scales from 1920-1080 perfectly
    Hard Drives
    2-WD-sn850x 4tb/ 970evo+500gb/ 980 pro 2tb.
    PSU
    1000p2 & 1200p2 & 850p2
    Case
    D450 x2 & 1 Test bench in cherry Entertainment center
    Cooling
    Custom water loops x3 with 2x mora 360mm rads only 980ti gaming air cooled
    Keyboard
    G710+x3
    Mouse
    Redragon x3
    Internet Speed
    xfinity gigabyte
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    mbam pro
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