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

 

[noyb]

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

 

[Brink]

Not that I know of.

 

[HulaLady]

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.

 

[Brink]

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.

 

[HulaLady]

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

 

[Brink]

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

 

[HulaLady]

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

 

[Brink]

Happy Holidays HulaLady. I hope it goes well.

 

[KremmenUK]

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.

 

[noyb]

I was beginning to think I'm the only one who think it's Stupid to replace some, but not all, Icons on the desktop with Thumbnails.

I've tried to track all the registry changes with all Thumbs disabled ...
But I can't figure out which ones (if any) will turn off the thumbs on the desktop only.

 

[Brink]

Hello Kremmen,

I'm afraid that it's all or none.

 

[cleftangels]

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

to view PSP files thumbnails just unzip this dll put it anywhere then run cmd goto where you put the file and run "regsvr32 psdcodec.dll"

All done restart explorer and you will see thubnails

 

[iFission]

any way to disable thumbnail viewing on the folders only and show thumbnails for other files like pictures?

 

[Brink]

Hello iFission,

Sorry, but it's either a all or none setting.

 

[sam2O1O]

any way to disable thumbnail viewing on the folders only and show thumbnails for other files like pictures?

Hello iFission,

Sorry, but it's either a all or none setting.

I love my folder icon & don't want thumbnails over it.This sucks

 

[Brink]

Hello Sam, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You could disable thumbnail previews, then do OPTION ONE in the tutorial below to change the default folder icon with your icon above.

How to Change the Windows 7 Default Folder Icon

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[sam2O1O]

Hello Sam, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You could disable thumbnail previews, then do OPTION ONE in the tutorial below to change the default folder icon with your icon above.

How to Change the Windows 7 Default Folder Icon

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Hi Shawn,

I have changed the folder icon. The thing is I don;t want thumbnails over the folder icon (saying which images are inide the folder). So I disable the thumbnails option but then I cannot see image thumbnails too unlike XP where only picture folder shown thumbnails over the folder which too can be cutomised . But as you said its all or none, which sucks

 

[peikojose]

Is there a way to do what sam2O1O wants to do?

I need it that way, to work just like XP.

I don't understand how that option is not available :-S

 

[Brink]

Hello Peikojose, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You could use the tutorial below to change the default folder icon used by Windows 7 using Resource Hacker. This way you can leave thumbnail previews turned on if you like to see thumbnails of files, but not have them for the folders.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/144807-folder-icon-change-default-icon.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn