Windows 11 File Explorer Preview Pane for PDF files not working consistently

Anonymous
2022-11-24T17:18:38+00:00

I am running Windows 11 version 21H2 patched up to date and have noticed this problem recently, although I am not sure exactly when it started in relation to recent patches.
When I open a folder the preview pane shows "Select a file to preview".
Selecting a .jpg file shows the preview.
Selecting a .doc file shows "No preview available" - expected as I do not have Microsoft Office.
Selecting a .pdf file causes the preview pane to go blank.

My solution is to untick the Show Preview Pane option, close explorer, open explorer, tick the Show Preview Pane option.
Selecting a .pdf file now shows the preview. (This does not work without closing explorer and reopening it.)
Has anyone else experienced this, and more to the point, does anyone know of a fix?

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

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  1. Anonymous
    2023-01-19T17:26:26+00:00

    Apologies for my error.

    Right-click does give me a run option, but from there the result is exactly the same as before.

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  2. Ramesh 181.9K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2023-01-19T17:17:38+00:00

    Clicking Start did not give me a run option.

    Sorry. But that's NOT what I said. I said, "right-click", but you simply clicked Start.

    Right-click is NOT the same as left-click.

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-01-19T17:09:35+00:00

    Your reply does not instill me with confidence.

    Clicking Start did not give me a run option.

    When I attempted to run "cleanmgr.exe" the system ran a program which only had a option to select a drive.

    Thanks, but I think I will live with what I have.

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  4. Ramesh 181.9K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2023-01-19T02:47:15+00:00

    See How to Clear the Thumbnail Cache in Windows 10 or 11

    • Right-click Start, click Run.
    • Type cleanmgr.exe and click OK.
    • Uncheck all the entries except Thumbnails
    • Click OK.

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  5. Anonymous
    2023-01-18T16:15:13+00:00

    "Clear the thumbnail cache using Disk Cleanup." ??

    Can you please enlighten us on how to do this?

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