How to Enable or Disable Explorer Thumbnail Previews in Windows 7 and Windows 8
Information
This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable thumbnail previews in Windows Explorer for all or specific users in Windows 7 and Windows 8.
Note
Displaying thumbnails in Windows Explorer will require that Windows Photo Viewer is set as the default program with all of it's default associations (except .gif files) set with it as well.
Tip
If there are a lot of thumbnails in a Windows Explorer window, then it can slow down your computer while you wait for the thumbnails to load. If this happens, then disabling thumbnails will speed up how fast a Windows Explorer window will open by displaying only icons instead of thumbnails.
Warning
When thumbnail previews is enabled, you will need to have the icon view size in the Windows Explorer window set to either Medium Icons, Large Icons, or Extra Large Icons to see a thumbnail of the file or folder.
EXAMPLE: Thumbnails Enabled in Windows Explorer
EXAMPLE: Thumbnails Disabled in Windows Explorer
OPTION ONE
To Enable or Disable Thumbnail Previews in Folder Options
NOTE:This option will only enable or disable thumbnails in your account. If this option is not available in Folder Options, then you will need to enable either OPTION THREE or OPTION FOUR below to enable for all users.
1. Open Folder Options in Windows 7 or Windows 8, and click/tap on the View tab. (see screenshot below)
2. Do step 3 or 4 below for what you would like to do.
3. To Turn Off Thumbnails
A) Check Always show icons, never thumbnails, and click/tap on OK. (See screenshot above)
4. To Turn On Thumbnails NOTE:This is the default setting.
A) Uncheck Always show icons, never thumbnails, and click/tap on OK. (See screenshot below step 2)
OPTION TWO
To Enable or Disable Thumbnail Previews in Visual Effects
NOTE: This option will only enable or disable thumbnails in your user account.
1. Open Visual Effects settings in Windows 7 or Windows 8. (see screenshot below)
2. To Turn Off Thumbnails
A) Uncheck Show thumbnails instead of icons, and click/tap on OK. (See screenshot above)
3. To Turn On Thumbnails NOTE:This is the default setting.
A) Check Show thumbnails instead of icons, and click/tap on OK. (See screenshot below step 1) NOTE:If this option will not stay checked when you reopen this window, then you will need to enable either OPTION THREE or OPTION FOUR below.
OPTION THREE
To Enable or Disable Thumbnail Previews using a REG File
1. To Disable All Users Thumbnails NOTE:This option will disable thumbnails for all users on the computer and overrides step 3 and 4 below. This is the same as doing OPTION FOUR with Group Policy. You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do this option.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.
Disable_Explorer_Thumbnails_All_Users.reg
2. To Enable All Users Thumbnails NOTE:This is the default setting. This option will enable thumbnails for all users on the computer and overrides step 3 and 4 below. This is the same as doing OPTION FOUR with Group Policy. You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do this option.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.
Enable_Explorer_Thumbnails_All_Users.reg
3. To Disable Only Your Thumbnails NOTE:This option will disable thumbnails for only the currently logged in user. This is the same as doing OPTION ONE or OPTION TWO above.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.
Disable_Explorer_Thumbnails_Current_User.reg
4. To Enable Only Your Thumbnails NOTE:This is the default setting. This option will enable thumbnails for only the currently logged in user. This is the same as doing OPTION ONE or OPTION TWO above.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.
Enable_Explorer_Thumbnails_Current_User.reg
5.Save the .reg file to your desktop.
6. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
7. Click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK when prompted.
8. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply.
9. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
OPTION FOUR
To Enable or Disable Thumbnail Previews in Group Policy
NOTE:You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do this option.
2. In the left pane, click on the arrow to expand User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, and Windows Explorer (Windows 7) or File Explorer (Windows 8). (see screenshot below)
3. In the right pane of Windows Explorer (Windows 7) or File Explorer (Windows 8), double click/tap on Turn off the display of thumbnails and only display icons to edit it. (see screenshot above)
4. Do step 5 or 6 below for what you would like to do.
5. To Enable Thumbnails
A) Select (dot) Not Configured or Disabled, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below step 7) NOTE: Not Configured is the default setting.
6. To Disable Thumbnails
A) Select (dot) Enabled, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below step 7)
System Manufacturer/Model Number HP d4996t (upgraded) OS XP MCE .... XP Pro 64 .... W7 U x64 CPU E6750, 2.67GHz C2D Memory 4GB, PC2 6400 Graphics Card GeForce 9400GT Monitor(s) Displays Twin Samsung 2443BWT Screen Resolution 1920x1200
PSU 460W Hard Drives Many .. 3 Installed Internet Speed Cable
Tried both with no changes, but now I can't get it back to what it was prior. Can someone help me with the exact registry files so I can get in there and remove both.
I would be happy to help, but could you give more details on exactly what problem you are having with thumbnails and if you are wanting to enable or disable them?
Also, check the NOTE box at the top of the tutorial to see if that may be the issue for now.
I used to use Thumbnail Handler which automatically showed my Paint Shop Pro tubes (versus just a PSP icon), but have been unsuccessful locating a program that will do this. I found this site and downloaded both and installed both. Nothing worked, so I am wondering if I should delete the registry files that these downloads installed (thus my asking if anyone had the exact file name that I should delete).
If anyone does have a PSP Thumbnail Handler that works with Windows 7 64 bit, for all versions of PSP, I would appreciate hearing back. Thank you Brink for your prompt response.
I spent hours at this site, thank you so much for sharing your knowledge....
I'm sorry, but I do not know of one for Paint Shop Pro files. Hopefully someone may though.
If you wanted to use the default thumbnail handler again for them, then using Windows Photo Gallery as described in the blue NOTE box at the top of the tutorial will restore that for you. The downloads in the tutorial are just default settings, so installing on or the other will either enable or disable thumbnails. No need to do anything with them other than to make sure that you have it enabled again.
Thank you Shawn, for now I have the icon feature turned off (default), so I can see what's in my folders. I have ISOs in the PSP community regarding this issue, if I am successful, I will be sure to post back here.
System Manufacturer/Model Number Novatech (UK) iRush Pro OS MSDN Home Premium CPU Intel i5 Motherboard Intel DP55WB Memory 4Gb Graphics Card ATI Radeon HD 5770 Sound Card On Board Monitor(s) Displays Philips 170B
Keyboard Microsoft 3000 Wireless Mouse Microsoft 5000 Wireless BlueTrack PSU 750W Case Antec 300 Cooling Tricool Fans Hard Drives 1 x 1Tb
(7 Partitions) Internet Speed 6.1 Mbps
Information
Note
Tip
Warning
OPTION ONE 
Quote: Originally Posted by noyb 
Photoshop PSD files - Enable Thumbnail Previews 
