Windows 11 Pro no longer shows preview of pdf files

stevethetrumpet · Oct 21, 2023

Prior to the last two Windows updates, I (and many others) could see a preview of a pdf file in Explorer. This is no longer possible.
I have carried out a lot of research on line and have installed/reinstalled Acrobat (5 different versions) and downloaded other pdf programs.
I have selected all the preview options in Acrobat and file explorer to no avail. I have downloaded the latest PowerToys (as suggested by some) but the Explorer add-on option is not there.
The preview of jpg files still display as they always did.
This is a fault of the updates - definitely. The recent update does now show a thumbnail representation which is not good enough to recognise what is in the file.
Now us users have to open the file to see the contents which can be very time consuming.
Windows version attached.
It is not me! There are many people complaining about this.
Please get the developers to reinstate this facility.

Berton · Oct 21, 2023

I just clicked once on a .pdf file in File Explorer, moved the mouse pointer to click the Preview button on right end of the toolbar and got the preview. Same Version and Build, most current. Clicking once opened the Preview pane, clicking again turns it off. Because I have to see what my clients see I do very little customization of Windows.

Kees · Oct 21, 2023

On my (normal) system, I have the old version of Windows working and the newest in a VirtualBox environment.
PDF files that I can display in the the old Windows version in the example window of file explorer (without any changes in the system), I can't display in the new Windows version. No one at all! All are having the same error message: "This file cannot be previewed due to an error in PDF preview handier" (that is a google translation from what is displayed in Dutch).

That's the first time I ever used this function (did not even know it existed), because if I want to view a lot of pdf's after another, I use Sumatra PDF and select next file by typing CTRL Shift [Cursor right key]. Or back by CTRL Shift [Cursor left key].

Dru2 · Oct 21, 2023

stevethetrumpet said:
Prior to the last two Windows updates, I (and many others) could see a preview of a pdf file in Explorer. This is no longer possible.

Under Explorer, click "View" and make sure there's a mark next to "Preview"....

IanMosley · Oct 21, 2023

stevethetrumpet said:
Prior to the last two Windows updates, I (and many others) could see a preview of a pdf file in Explorer. This is no longer possible.

Dru2 said:
Under Explorer, click "View" and make sure there's a mark next to

Just tried this on my build, and get the same results as @stevethetrumpet

Kees · Oct 21, 2023

Dru2 said:
Under Explorer, click "View" and make sure there's a mark next to "Preview"....

That's exactly what I did in my testsystem and got the same problem.

Dru2 · Oct 21, 2023

Kees said:
That's exactly what I did in my testsystem and got the same problem.

~~OK. I don't have anything else. Sorry.~~

See post #9

Dru2 · Oct 21, 2023

IanMosley said:
Just tried this on my build, and get the same results as @stevethetrumpet
View attachment 74971

Did you actually look at the image I posted? Nothing is going to show until you actually click on a PDF file

Dru2 · Oct 21, 2023

Ok, I just remembered this.... Enable thumbnail preview of PDFs in Windows Explorer

Yes, it works!!!...

IanMosley · Oct 21, 2023

Dru2 said:
Did you actually look at the image I posted? Nothing is going to show until you actually click on a PDF file

Yes I clicked on the illustrated .pdf file - no preview shown.

Fabler2 · Oct 21, 2023

I use the latest PowerToys v 0.74.1 and it has the File Explorer add-ons. I'm just using Edge as a PDF reader.

Edwin · Oct 21, 2023

Strange!
If I uncheck Show Preview Handlers in the preview Pane, I get a preview, but, just a cover, no scrolling of pages!

Dru2 · Oct 21, 2023

IanMosley said:
Yes I clicked on the illustrated .pdf file - no preview shown.

The link above your post from Adobe solves the issue. Not that hard to tick a box

No elaborate schemes or searching through Windows settings or registry necessary.

Berton · Oct 21, 2023

Edwin said:
Strange!
If I uncheck Show Preview Handlers in the preview Pane, I get a preview, but, just a cover, no scrolling of pages!

From what I've seen I think that's the intent of a Preview, just give a sample of what the document is, for identifying what it is.

Scott · Oct 21, 2023

IanMosley said:
Just tried this on my build, and get the same results as @stevethetrumpet
View attachment 74971

Select pdf file then select Preview top right corner

Kees · Oct 21, 2023

Scott said:
Select pdf file then select Preview top right corner

Preview in the top right corner is not available:

Dru2 said:
Ok, I just remembered this.... Enable thumbnail preview of PDFs in Windows Explorer

I don't use Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Left it many years ago when there repeatedly were reports of vulnerabilities.

Dru2 · Oct 21, 2023

stevethetrumpet said:
Prior to the last two Windows updates, I (and many others) could see a preview of a pdf file in Explorer. This is no longer possible.
I have carried out a lot of research on line and have installed/reinstalled Acrobat (5 different versions) and downloaded other pdf programs.

I'm sorry my suggestions don't work for you. Anyway, my post is more for the OP who is using Adobe Reader as well, so...

I just figured everyone else was using the same since PDF files are an Adobe invention.

Scott · Oct 21, 2023

Kees said:
Preview in the top right corner is not available:

It will be if you select View and tick Preview Pane.

Kees · Oct 21, 2023

I did!
As I already told before twice...

Kees said:
That's exactly what I did in my testsystem and got the same problem.

Kees · Oct 21, 2023

I just decided not to answer anymore in this topic.
The reason is that it's not my problem, the original poster was @stevethetrumpet

I was just trying to note that he's not the only one having this problem.

Kees said:
That's the first time I ever used this function (did not even know it existed), because if I want to view a lot of pdf's after another, I use Sumatra PDF and select next file by typing CTRL Shift [Cursor right key]. Or back by CTRL Shift [Cursor left key].

I think it's upon @stevethetrumpet to react.
I hope you don't mind...