Windows 11: Thumbnail previews do not show on folders

Anonymous
2021-11-28T18:05:14+00:00

My folders are appearing as blank folder icons, where in Win 10 they showed thumbnail previews of the contents.

I've searched online for answers, and most appear to apply to earlier versions, and tell me to uncheck the 'icon only, no thumbnail' choice in View|Options, but that is already unchecked, so that is not the answer.

Does anyone have an actual working answer? Thanks if you do!

.....ph

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Files, folders, and storage

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Sumit 44,306 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2022-02-17T07:04:33+00:00

The Windows 11 2022 update brings Thumbnail previews to folders.

Windows 11 2022 update now available - Microsoft Community

Was this answer helpful?

20+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

149 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2021-12-22T19:23:11+00:00

    "Windows 11 does not support showing thumbnails on folders"

    This is unacceptable. How does one scroll around looking for the pictures?? I use a lot of pictures and now - I've lost ready access to all of them without the thumbnails. Major mistake here on the part of MS, no? Please advise.

    Was this answer helpful?

    100+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2022-01-12T16:44:53+00:00

    You absolutely need to restore the thumbnail function. This is a MAJOR headache since I work as a web developer and need to be able to see both text and images quickly.

    Why would MS remove such a useful function?

    Was this answer helpful?

    80+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2022-01-13T06:41:46+00:00

    So, if "Microsoft" doesn't support this, why is there still a way to turn on thumbnails selection in the setting view. If unchecking "always show icons, not thumbnails" doesn't work, why is it even on the menu still?

    I think this is a huge take-a-way. People identify using images far faster than thinking what date the items were in the folder.

    Take my wife for example. She has her own photography business. Has 750GB of pictures in hundreds of folders. She was horrified to learn of the thumbnail removal.  That's the only way she could quickly find certain folders quickly.

    Didn't the W11 MS team poll average users to see their response before deciding this would be better?

    Was this answer helpful?

    50+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2021-12-26T17:52:07+00:00

    "Windows 11 does not support showing thumbnails on folders"

    This is unacceptable. How does one scroll around looking for the pictures?? I use a lot of pictures and now - I've lost ready access to all of them without the thumbnails. Major mistake here on the part of MS, no? Please advise.

    Exactly! "Ready access" is a feature consumers want more of, customization is another . . . your generic folder graphics are nice looking in a sort of Ayn Rand/ Anthem sort of way, but in who's wheelhouse does taking features away and making your GUI less convenient seem like a selling point?

    Was this answer helpful?

    50+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments