The File Explorer (popularly known as Windows Explorer) in Windows 10 offers a total of eight views: extra large icons, large icons, small icons, tiles, list, content, medium icons, and details. One can easily switch between these views by clicking the View tab and then clicking on a view mode.
When the File Explorer’s view is set to extra large icons, large icons, medium icons, details or tiles view, the File Explorer displays thumbnail previews of pictures and videos so that users can easily find files they are looking for.
Many users who are on Windows 10 are reporting that Windows 10 File Explorer doesn’t display thumbnail previews for pictures and videos.
If File Explorer is not showing thumbnail previews for videos or photos in Windows 10, try out the following solutions.
Solution 1 of 4
Check if thumbnail preview supported view is turned on
Before doing anything else, make sure that you have turned on the thumbnail preview supported view for the folder where you have your videos or photos. Note that every folder can have its own view setting, and when you change the view, it won’t be applied to all the folders on your PC.
To turn on thumbnail preview supported view, click on the View tab, and then click on one of the following views:
# Extra large icons
# Large icons
# Medium icons
# Tiles
# Content
All the views mentioned above support thumbnail previews. So, select one of the views mentioned above to turn on the thumbnail view.
Solution 2 of 4
Check if thumbnails are disabled
Even if the thumbnail preview supported view is turned on for a particular folder, thumbnails for files won’t be displayed if the File Explorer is configured to show icons instead of thumbnails. When thumbnails are turned off, the File Explorer displays icons of the default program for the file type instead of the thumbnail preview.
Here is how to turn on Thumbnails in Windows 10:
Step 1: Open up File Explorer. Click the File menu and then click Change folder and search options to open Folder Options. If a file is selected in the particular folder, you might see just Options instead of Change folder and search options. Clicking Options will also open Folder Options.
Step 2: Switch to the View tab. Under the Advanced settings section, uncheck the option labeled Always show icons, never thumbnails, and then click Apply button to enable thumbnails in Windows Explorer.
Solution 3 of 4
Clear thumbnail cache
If the File Explorer is displaying blurry thumbnails for one or more files, it could be because of the corrupted thumbnail cache. You can clear and reset the thumbnail cache with a few mouse clicks by following the instructions in our how to clear and reset the thumbnail cache in Windows 10 guide.
Solution 4 of 4
Install a third-party thumbnail generator
As some of you likely know, Windows Explorer or File Explorer doesn’t support thumbnail view feature for all file types. While most of the popular video and image file types are supported, icons are displayed instead of thumbnails for many file types.
If you prefer to get thumbnail preview for all video and image file types, you need to install a free program called Icaros. The program adds thumbnail support for over 15 file types.
JK says
I see image previews, like jpgs, and I have confirmed option 1, 2, and 3 above. My issue is that some of my Word and Excel icons show a thumbnail preview and some don’t. They are all saved as the same file type, xlsx and docx. I’ve looked all through the properties of those that display the thumbnail and those that don’t and can find no difference. I’ve looked through the settings in Word and Excel and can find nothing related. The only thing I have noticed is that it is only older documents that display the thumbnail view.
Has anyone else experienced this?
Paul Carless says
I had to re-install Windows 10 from scratch and couldn’t remember how to fix this issue. Your recommendation for using Icaros worked brilliantly. Have bookmarked this page for the next install :-)
Keyla says
The last Win10 update did something weird to my pictures but I was able to fix it following your instructions, thanks a lot! :D
Kevin Troughton says
Thanks you! What an idiotic default for Windows 10. So frustrating to have to spend so much time to get Windows working like it did on 7. All I had to do was uncheck “always show icons” box. WTF Microsoft?!
Taylor says
Every other solution for this had me going deep into the control panel and messing with some setting, all for me to find out that it didn’t work for whatever reason. Thank you for providing the easy and obvious solution that took two seconds!
Boomer Boomer says
Thank you so much. Such a simple fix. Had a PC tune-up online today, this was the only glitch , but a simple fix for the problem.
Subhasis Mukherjee says
Just install Media Preview Codec and select the file types. Its the easiest solution.
Abe says
BAM! That worked. Thanks homie!
Michael says
Thanks…. amazing how little things can be so frustrating.. was number 2 for me…
DM Yates says
Thank you so much. I was going insane trying to figure out what happened.
Jim Barchuk says
Christine says
January 23, 2019 at 10:39 pm
Nice. Thanks! Don’t know how I managed to click that off in the 1st place.
You didn’t turn it off. It was off by default.
Lano4606 says
I hate smartarse pr!cks like that Emre who suggest a nuclear option to solve problems.
Tom says
This did not work – why doesn’t windows 10 just show icons? for some reason only one file has a picture. It makes handling pictures on the surface pro impossible – a waste of money and time.
Do I really now need to download third party software to fix what is a Microsoft problem?
Christine says
Nice. Thanks! Don’t know how I managed to click that off in the 1st place.
seseorang says
oh my GOD, you save my live…. after 3day searching for this problem i found app called icaros and BOOM my thubnails s back!!! thank you very much sire!
Emre says
folder options/restore defaults. Done!
Internet rando says
wtf is with all these positive comments on the solution? That is the bloody windows default setting.
So if that setting doesnt solve what else do you do?
Greg says
I have The enterprise version at work. There is no option for “always show icons”. My advanced settings start at “Display file icon on thumbnails”
Jen says
It did nothing for me at all did not fix it
fumbl3 says
>>If you prefer to get thumbnail preview for all video and image file types, you need to install a free program called Icaros.
Wow, that is a cool deal – freeware, and not a trogan or malware hiding. No bloat, simple interface, and not only did it fix my mp4 thumnail issue, I now have thumnails for a lot more things as well, like my photoshop files and other.
Thank you for the information! (And to others, do be sure and enable the checkbox for it to work, and make sure you have thumbnails enabled in view).
Best wishes, awesome to have this work!
????? ????????? says
What worked for me:
1. Right click volume c: (or your volume d:, f:, g: etc.)
2. General Tab click Disk Cleanup
3. Make sure to check Thumbnails at the bottom
4. Click OK
5. Confirm Delete Files
6. Refresh your desktop or folder and thumbnails starting to show again!
Have a nice day!
Frank Story says
It didn’t work for me despite several attempts. Still no thumbnails for photos :(
Omar says
Thank you soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo MUCH! I fixed my gone icons with Icaros, you dont know how grateful I am for thie post. Thank you thank you!
Don F says
Worked perfectly !
Thank you.
Ryan says
Option 2 was the thing that made me turn into a normal person again. Before i was bulky, green, and breaking things.
Cecil says
Thanks – this worked! My question is, how did this change? I have always been able to view thumbnails and preview files and images in Preview Pane.
David Johnson says
You know who rocks? You do. THANK YOU!! I don’t even know why that option was checked. I’ve been trying this for months, even had IT look at it. All it took was option 2 for me! I was this close to a complete reinstall. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Mark says
Thank you. Such a simple fix :)
Lyz says
Doin a lil happy dance! Thank you!!!!!!
Nathan says
ALELUIA!!!!
WORKS!
Wayne T says
November 7, 2016 at 6:42 pm
After a recent install of 10 on my P.C., the File Explorer view tab had sections that were greyed out, and I couldn’t preview any photos. The thumbnails and icon just would never come up. So, I searched and searched and attempted all of the solutions found…..but nothing. Until one day I started the Task Manager and saw a reset button on the lower right side of the window. I highlighted file explorer, hit the reset button and like magic, my thumbnails, icons and view settings appeared. This is the only fix I found. If it doesn’t work on the first try, just do it again; it usually doesn’t take more than three attempts.
j says
Solution #2 does not work for just one folder. It is a global setting. How stupid!
Jim says
This seems to be a global setting and applies to ALL folder. How can disable thumbnail previews for just ONE folder????
adam says
Option 2 worked for me. Thanks so much!
gene buchanan says
thank you. as usual, so very helpful.
Don Ray says
This was really helpful, a million thanks
Rick says
Awesome and ;many thanks
Renee' says
THANK YOU!! Solution #2 was the answer I needed.
S.D. Wodinsky says
Thank You for your detailed yet “easy to follow along with” directions. I truly am not a fan of either Win8 or Win10; however this said, both OS have a few decent features.
Sincerely,
SD Wodinsky, BScP,MBA
Fiona says
There’s thumbnail preview for my photos and some of my music but there’s completely no preview at all for my video files. I tried solution #2 but still not solving my issue. :(
Wayne T says
After a recent install of 10 on my P.C., the File Explorer view tab had sections that were greyed out, and I couldn’t preview any photos. The thumbnails and icon just would never come up. So, I searched and searched and attempted all of the solutions found…..but nothing. Until one day I started the Task Manager and saw a reset button on the lower right side of the window. I highlighted file explorer, hit the reset button and like magic, my thumbnails, icons and view settings appeared. This is the only fix I found. If it doesn’t work on the first try, just do it again; it usually doesn’t take more than three attempts.
Happy Camera says
This was a big help, thanks! Solution 2 of 4 was the problem!
pat says
Thanks!! u da man.
Margot says
Solution #2 works for a while, and then I get icons again. Going back to #2 doesn’t always work. It seems ridiculous to use solution #4. Why on earth would Windows require third-party software to do something that all previous Windows versions did without a problem?
Debbee Huston says
This did not solve my issue :-( I still can NOT see the pictures in Windows Explorer. Any thoughts ?
John H says
Helpful! #2 did the trick.
shorty short says
AWESOME! Thank you!
mousey says
fantastic help thanks I was freaking out
Ron de Weijze says
Very helpful!
Sudip Majhi says
I was getting the exact same problem and it is solved. Thanks.