Windows 8.1 Preview Pane only shows Icons for pictures - no previews

Anonymous
2013-11-18T15:19:36+00:00

I can view previews of documents (pdfs and docs) but previews of jpegs (and all other image file formats) will only show icons no matter what I configure as the Default Program, i.e. Photo, MS Paint, or Photoshop.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Music, photos, and video

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Anonymous
2013-11-18T19:34:26+00:00

Hi,

Thanks for reporting this problem! It sounds like you need to change a system setting relating to thumbnails. Perform the following steps to enable thumbnails to be shown:

  1. Launch File Explorer (Winkey+E).
  2. Click the View tab at the top of the window.
  3. Click the Options button.
  4. In the Folder Options window that appears, click on the View tab..
  5. Uncheck the "Always show icons, never thumbnails" option.
  6. Click Apply, then OK.

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-02-28T23:14:12+00:00

    Choosing the "Tiles" option will also give you photo previews.

    right click in any folder, select view, then tiles,

    Sheesh. You know if it wasn't for all the (mostly false) **** everybody's been reading about 8.1 most of you would have remembered to do that.

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-02-28T22:23:15+00:00

    Did you (or anyone else on this tread) figure this out?

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-02-28T22:22:03+00:00

    My settings (on 8.1) are as suggested in the post. Although able to see my ppt, png, jpg, etc. files, I still am unable to see PDF thumbnails, I have Acrobat Pro installed on my computer.  

    Any other ideas?

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-02-19T21:07:18+00:00

    Hi,

    Thanks for reporting this problem! It sounds like you need to change a system setting relating to thumbnails. Perform the following steps to enable thumbnails to be shown:

    1. Launch File Explorer (Winkey+E).
    2. Click the View tab at the top of the window.
    3. Click the Options button.
    4. In the Folder Options window that appears, click on the View tab..
    5. Uncheck the "Always show icons, never thumbnails" option.
    6. Click Apply, then OK.

    I wish it worked for me but no go.

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