Thumbnail Previews - Enable or Disable

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.

If you disable thumbnail previews, then they will also not display in the preview pane in Windows 7 or Windows 8.

   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


Download


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

Download


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


Download


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

Download


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. 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, 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)
7. Click/tap on OK. (See screenshot below)
8. Close the Local Group Policy Editor.
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Enable or Disable the Windows 7 Taskbar Thumbnail Previews
• How to Enable or Disable the Thumbnail Cache in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• How to Clear and Reset the Thumbnail Cache in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• How to Enable or Disable Windows 7 Pop-up Descriptions
• How to Change the Thumbnail Previews Border in Windows 7
• How to Change the Windows 7 Default Folder Icon
• Add "Enable/Disable Thumbnails" to Context Menu in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8

 

[pboong]

I just formatted my computer and found that my preview thumbnails does not work at all.

When the cursor were on the icon of task bar, i did not see the preview. Instead, I got the view that is like a box. May I know, how do I get back the preview? I checked on the folder view and followed through out, but still getting the box..

 

[Brink]

Hello Boon,

It sounds like you are talking about taskbar thumbnail previews instead.

Could you post a screenshot to see if anything may stand out for why?

 

[pboong]

Taken from other thread:

I have the same situation as this.
Is it because of the theme?

Please advise

 

[Brink]

Boon,

Did you try the options in the tutorial link in my post above to see if you could enable the taskbar thumbnail previews?

 

[pboong]

Ah! I managed to get that when I selected the theme.
Now at least, something good tho. =0)

 

[Brink]

Great news.

 

[simonsez9]

hi Brink

is there any way to change the thumbnail preview for quick preview instead of going to the mention folders options ?
if its available please let me know how to do that appreciate it

 

[Brink]

Hello Simon,

I'm not sure of what you mean, but you could use any of the other OPTIONS in the tutorial to enable or disable thumbnail previews. Could you give more details on what you mean if this is not what you meant?

 

[nuthut957]

Option One (as shown with check marked items in thumbnail)
BTW: Find 'Folder Options' in control panel with icon view - top right.

---> THEN right click inside folder and click VIEW and choose EITHER: Extra Large, Large or Medium Icons to size thumbnails...

Worked for me!

 

[Rashou812]

This is what I did and it fix my problem.

Click on "START"
Click on "All Programs"
Click on "Accessories"
Click on "Windows Explorer"
Click on "TOOLS"
Click on "Folder Options"
Click on "View"
at the top you should see "Always Show Icons" Never Thumbnails <UN-CLICK THIS> and that should fix the problem..

 

[skumar]

JPG Thumbnail Cache

awesome article brink
simply awesome thank you......

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Skumar, and welcome to Seven Forums.

 

[SteeLx]

thanks for so much info, helped me

 

[Brink]

Glad it could help SteeLx.

 

[tomcat14ea]

Desktop Thumbnail.

Its disable thumbnail view in all explorer and Desktop too!
I want to disable only desktop icon thumbnail view [desktop icon is in icon mode but show preview of files like thumbnail view mode! how I can disable desktop thumbnail view only but view any other thumbnails?

 

[Brink]

Hello Tom, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Unfortunately, thumbnail previews is an all or none setting.

 

[tomcat14ea]

Why?! Desktop icons mode is tile or icon! [no thumbnail] :huh:

 

[Brink]

Yep, thumbnail previews work on the desktop as well. You could test it by placing an image file on the desktop.

 

[LostinAZ]

Tried everything

So about 4 days ago I lost most but not all of my video thumbnails after uninstalling McAfee total protection. I have done everything to get them back from checking the folder options to changing the redegit... I have uninstalled and re-installed haali, ffdshow and reset everything to default. Nothing works.Everything plays just fine. I am however a person with OCD and cannot have a mix of thumbnails and icons. I attempted to clean the cache and everything I have ever read on how to fix it and it's not fixed. I am a 50 yr old woman who is basic computer literate but anything more gets easily lost. Why would a system just stop showing all the thumbnails and only do some... I have a series with 24 episodes and only 3 show the rest are icons and they are all the same format.

 

[boohbah]

I have a series with 24 episodes and only 3 show the rest are icons and they are all the same format.

what format are they?