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Windows 7 - Thumbnail Previews - Enable or Disable



 

Thumbnail Previews - Enable or Disable

How to Enable or Disable Thumbnail Previews in Windows 7 Explorer
Published by Brink
06-01-2009
Default Thumbnail Previews - Enable or Disable

How to Enable or Disable Thumbnail Previews in Windows 7 Explorer

information   Information
This will show you how to enable or disable thumbnail previews in Windows Explorer for just your account or all users in Windows 7 Windows Explorer displays thumbnails by default in Windows 7.
Note   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   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   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
Name:  images.jpg
Views: 23105
Size:  5.8 KBName:  Folder_ON.jpg
Views: 194883
Size:  3.0 KBName:  Image_On.jpg
Views: 194912
Size:  3.4 KB
EXAMPLE: Thumbnails Disabled in Windows Explorer
Name:  Folder_OFF.jpg
Views: 195354
Size:  2.6 KBName:  Image_Off.jpg
Views: 194924
Size:  3.1 KB





OPTION ONE

Through Folder Options

NOTE: This option will only enable or disable thumbnails in the current user 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.

2. Click on the View tab. (See screenshot below)
Thumbnail Previews - Enable or Disable-folder_options.jpg
3. To Turn Off Thumbnails
A) Check Always show icons, never thumbnails, then click on OK. (See screenshot above)
4. To Turn On Thumbnails
A) Uncheck Always show icons, never thumbnails, then click on OK. (See screenshot below step 2)




OPTION TWO

Through Visual Effects

NOTE: This option will only enable or disable thumbnails in the current user account.
1. Open Visual Effects settings. (See screensho below)
Thumbnail Previews - Enable or Disable-visual_effects.jpg
2. To Turn Off Thumbnails
A) Uncheck Show thumbnails instead of icons, then click on OK. (See screenshot above)
3. To Turn On Thumbnails
A) Check Show thumbnails instead of icons, then click 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

Using a REG File Download
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.
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Disable_Explorer_Thumbnails_All_Users.reg

download
B) Go to step 5.
2. To Enable All Users Thumbnails
NOTE: 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.
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Enable_Explorer_Thumbnails_All_Users.reg
download
B) Go to step 5.
3. To Disable Only Current Logged On User 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 on the Download button below to download the file below.
Disable_Explorer_Thumbnails_Current_User.reg

download
B) Go to step 5.
4. To Enable Only Current Logged On User Thumbnails
NOTE: 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 on the Download button below to download the file below.
Enable_Explorer_Thumbnails_Current_User.reg
download
5. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the desktop.

6. Right click on the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge.

7. Click on Run, Yes, Yes, and OK when prompted.

8. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply.

9. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.




OPTION FOUR

Through the Local Group Policy Editor
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. In the left pane, click on the arrow to expand User Configuration, Administrative Templates, then click on Start Menu and Taskbar. (See screenshot below)
Thumbnail Previews - Enable or Disable-group_policy.jpg
3. In the right pane, right click on Turn off the display of thumbnails and only display icons and click on Edit. (See screenshot above)

4. To Enable Thumbnails
A) Select (dot) Not Configured or Disabled. (See screenshot below step 6)

B) Go to step 6.
5. To Disable Thumbnails
A) Select (dot) Enabled. (See screenshot below step 6)
6. Click on OK. (See screenshot below)
Thumbnail Previews - Enable or Disable-poperties.jpg
7. Close the Local Group Policy Editor. (See screenshot below step 2)
That's it,
Shawn




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Tutorial Tools
11-08-2009   #1
noyb


XP MCE .... XP Pro 64 .... W7 U x64
 
 


Any way to disable thumbnail viewing on the Desktop only ???

My System SpecsSystem Spec
11-08-2009   #2
Brink


Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
 
 


Not that I know of.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
12-19-2009   #3
HulaLady


Windows 7
 
 

Tried Option 3

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.

Thank you.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
.


12-19-2009   #4
Brink


Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
 
 


Hello HulaLady, and welcome to Seven Forums.

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.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
12-20-2009   #5
HulaLady


Windows 7
 
 


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....

Aloha all
My System SpecsSystem Spec
12-20-2009   #6
Brink


Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
 
 


Aloha HulaLady,

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.

Hope this helps,
Shawn
My System SpecsSystem Spec
12-21-2009   #7
HulaLady


Windows 7
 
 


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.

Happy Holidays
My System SpecsSystem Spec
12-21-2009   #8
Brink


Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
 
 


Happy Holidays HulaLady. I hope it goes well.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
02-22-2010   #9
KremmenUK


MSDN Home Premium
 
 


Quote   Quote: Originally Posted by noyb View Post
Any way to disable thumbnail viewing on the Desktop only ???
That's my problem

They work for a second user and in all my sub folders - just not on the desktop.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
Comment

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