Preview pane doesn't work in Windows 10

Hi RuthZekowski,

Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Community. 

1. Are you facing issue with all your files or any particular files?

2. Which version of Windows you are using?

3. Since when are you facing this issue?

The Preview pane shows the contents of certain files selected in File Explorer. For images, it is a thumbnail preview.

If you are unable to preview in File explorer, I suggest you to try the below steps.

1. Open a new File Explorer window and click the View tab from the ribbon toolbar.

2. Click Options, and then click Change folder and search options to open Folder Options dialog.

3. Check the Show preview handlers in preview pane box, and click/tap on OK.​

    

Please reply for all the required information to help you further.

Hope it helps.

Hi RuthZekowski,

Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Community. 

1. Are you facing issue with all your files or any particular files?  All files

2. Which version of Windows you are using?  v.10

3. Since when are you facing this issue? Since I first got this MS Surface computer a few months ago.

The Preview pane shows the contents of certain files selected in File Explorer. For images, it is a thumbnail preview.

If you are unable to preview in File explorer, I suggest you to try the below steps.

1. Open a new File Explorer window and click the View tab from the ribbon toolbar.

2. Click Options, and then click Change folder and search options to open Folder Options dialog.

3. Check the Show preview handlers in preview pane box, and click/tap on OK.​

I tried all these steps and none of them worked.  What now??

Please reply for all the required information to help you further.

Hope it helps.

I found the answer at:

https://www.tekrevue.com/tip/configure-windows-10-file-explorer-this-pc-view/

It now works like a charm. It was very strange, because when I had Windows Explorer set to open with Quick View, sometimes the preview pane would flash on and quickly go off.  Now that it opens with This PC, the preview pane opens consistently and I also have the hover-over-a-file mechanism where just hovering shows the summary of the info about the file. All is good.

Ruth Zekowski

Hi,

Thanks for the reply.

We are glad to hear that you were able to fix the issue and I thank you for providing the information about how to fix it, since it might help other users with similar issues.  Please feel free to contact us back, in case you face any other issues with Windows in future.

Regards,