make Windows 11 photo thumbnails larger than extra large in file explorer

I agree! I suggest you file a complaint directly with MS. The more of us that gripe the more likely a fix will be forthcoming:

Settings > Help & Feedback > Contact Support

Or just use the feedback hub and search for something like, "explorer extra large icons too small" and upvote all you see!

I have the same issue on windows 10 Dell XPS 15 and i was hoping that windows 11 solved this issue. Shame on you microsoft.

It only happens with high screen resolutions like 4k. Its a windows explorer issue since windows 10. The tumbnail size cant be larger than 256 pixels. It looks just fine and big enough (with the right spacing also) in 1080p resolution. But in 4k resolutions the thumbnail itself remains 256pixels (too small for 4k screens) so the white spacing between thumbnails becomes huge and stupid.

Down here i upload 2 print-screen images in 4k, one of weird windows explorer 256px max thumbnails and tons of not needed white spacing.

And also the thumbnails from Acdsee application 800pixel thumbnails and how well they resolve the grid view.

Microsoft **** are you waiting for? How many years we have to wait for a stupid fix?

Even the MacOS shows amazingly huge thumbnails. Its such a pleasure to work.

We need at least 512px thumbnails. Best would be 800pixels.

MOVE, MOVE. DO IT.

Thank you everyone for confirming that I'm not crazy! I purchased a new laptop last month. The ridiculous amount of time I've spent trying to get Windows 11 to do things that Windows 10 did is unacceptable and very frustrating. The "large view" of thumbnails is just the tip of the iceberg for me. Why in the world should one have to spend time and effort figuring out changes in an OS "upgrade" It doesn't affect my real work much but the workflow of my photography hobby/side gig has been severely slowed down and aggravates me every time I go to it. When I got on with Microsoft support and asked to be put back in Windows 10 until they get their act together I was told I'd have to buy that license! I have it on the 6 year old laptop I'm still running side by side with new one for when I work on my photos. Also, why in the WORLD would they put an extra click on the right click just to rename a file?? Is Microsoft monetizing clicks in some way? I would NOT have bought this laptop with 11 after this miserable experience

Thank you to the people mentioning the same / continuing issue from Windows 10 machines running ultra-high (4K) resolution.

More people reporting the issue and asking, begging, even screaming for help with this issue cannot hurt but likely will not receive the response or results we have been seeking for years now.

I first ran into this with a new 4K Dell XPS 9500 running Windows 10 that I purchased for photo editing. If I connect it to an older monitor at a lower resolution the extra-large thumbnails works just fine. If I connect it to my 4K monitor it has the same issue as the laptop monitor.

For two years now, while searching for a solution, I have read dozens and dozens of forums and help pages with the begging and screaming for Microsoft to resolve this. Still an issue. There are pages of vids on YouTube about thumbnail size issues and errors. I have not researched them yet but will after posting this.

To the people here, and all the other pages on the net about this issue, suggesting reducing the resolution to fix the issue are ridiculous suggestions: Why the hell would someone pay for the high resolution just to reduce it to satisfy a ridiculous shortcoming by Microsoft.

With the 4K screens and monitors becoming the norm for several years now I cannot believe that Microsoft has not addressed the antiquated maximum thumbnail resolution/size.

Just a couple hours ago I finally upgraded to Windows 11 hoping that the developers would have addressed this. SOOO disappointed that it is still an issue. SOOO disappointing that Microsoft continues ignore peoples wishes and delete/limit options for the end user to customize and optimize basic settings to improve their  productivity and experience.

If I am allowed a vote, I will vote with the people who do not like the “dumbing down” Microsoft has been doing to office and Windows.

OK, enough of a rant. For now. But keep up the pressure everyone. It cannot hurt. Maybe someone will come up with a fix that works. And again, NO, Reducing resolution is NOT a fix.

PS:

JOE300,

If your new laptop has a 4K screen you will likely have the same issue if you downgrade to Windows 10 since this is a maximum thumbnail size and the “large” thumbnails are already at or near that size on a 4K screen. At least that is what us using Windows 10 on a 4K machine or monitor have been experiencing.

Well written reply. I agree with you 100% on all points. I have been with MS since 1983. It has been downhill ride since Windows XP. It was years before they even got that working half way right. Now 11 is a bad joke that is not funny. I have 3 computers. One Windows 10. One Windows 11 and one I dual boot into Windows 10 or Linux Mint 20. Linux is looking better all the time. It is so easy (and FREE, did I mention FREE) to install now that Grandma can literally install it. It has no viruses. Windows has millions of viruses. It is extremely seecure. And yes you can play games on it. I currently play Elder Scrolls Online on it and it looks awesome and runs smooth. So if MS does not get it together, I WILL format all the machines in Linux for FREE. And depending on the hardware, will install different versions of Linux. There tons of Linux versions with different features from hundreds of companies now. I hope MS wakes up but after watching the current MS CEO who said at one of the online meetings that he did not care what we the customers wanted, we would get what he gave us. Uh huh. You just keep telling yourself that. Good luck and take care.

Danny Grimes