Why Is File Explorer Not Showing Thumbnails in Windows 11 and How Can I Fix It?

If you’ve recently noticed that your File Explorer in Windows 11 is no longer displaying thumbnails for your images, videos, or documents, you’re not alone. Thumbnails play a crucial role in helping users quickly identify files without opening them, making navigation smoother and more efficient. When these previews disappear, it can disrupt your workflow and leave you sifting through generic icons instead of visual cues.

Understanding why File Explorer stops showing thumbnails can be a bit perplexing, as the issue may stem from various settings or system glitches. Whether it’s related to performance tweaks, cache problems, or system configurations, the absence of thumbnails impacts the overall user experience. Fortunately, Windows 11 offers several ways to troubleshoot and restore this handy feature, ensuring your file browsing returns to its visually rich state.

In the following sections, we’ll explore the common causes behind missing thumbnails and outline practical solutions to fix the problem. By addressing these key areas, you’ll be able to bring back the vibrant previews in File Explorer and enjoy a more intuitive way to manage your files once again.

Checking and Adjusting Folder Options to Enable Thumbnails

One of the most common reasons File Explorer does not show thumbnails in Windows 11 is due to the folder options being set to display icons instead of thumbnails. To resolve this, you need to verify and adjust the relevant settings in the Folder Options.

Open File Explorer and navigate to the “View” tab on the ribbon. From there, select “Options” on the far right to open Folder Options. Switch to the “View” tab within this dialog.

Look for the setting labeled “Always show icons, never thumbnails”. If this box is checked, File Explorer will display generic icons instead of thumbnail previews. Uncheck this option to enable thumbnails.

Additionally, ensure the following settings are configured appropriately:

Display file icon on thumbnails: This should be checked to allow icons to overlay thumbnails.
Show preview handlers in preview pane: Enabling this helps in previewing file content.
Do not cache thumbnails: Make sure this is unchecked, as caching thumbnails improves performance and visibility.

After adjusting these settings, click Apply and OK to save changes. Restart File Explorer or reboot your computer to see if thumbnails now appear correctly.

Clearing and Rebuilding the Thumbnail Cache

Windows stores thumbnail images in a cache to speed up their display in File Explorer. Over time, this cache can become corrupted or outdated, causing thumbnails to stop showing.

To clear and rebuild the thumbnail cache:

Open Disk Cleanup by typing it into the Start menu search.
Select the drive where Windows is installed (typically C:).
In the Disk Cleanup window, check the box for Thumbnails.
Click OK and confirm by clicking Delete Files.

This process removes all cached thumbnails. Windows will regenerate the cache as you browse folders, which may take some time but often resolves thumbnail display issues.

Alternatively, you can use Command Prompt to delete the thumbnail cache manually:

“`powershell
taskkill /f /im explorer.exe
del /f /s /q %localappdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\thumbcache_*.db
start explorer.exe
“`

This stops the File Explorer process, deletes the thumbnail cache files, and restarts File Explorer.

Adjusting Performance Settings to Show Thumbnails

Windows performance settings can also influence whether thumbnails are displayed. When performance optimization is prioritized, Windows may disable thumbnails to reduce system resource usage.

To check these settings:

Open System Properties by right-clicking This PC and choosing Properties, then select Advanced system settings.
Under the Advanced tab, click Settings in the Performance section.
In the Visual Effects tab, ensure Show thumbnails instead of icons is checked.
You can select Adjust for best appearance to enable all visual effects or manually select necessary options.

These settings allow Windows to render thumbnails, improving the visual browsing experience.

Performance Setting	Description	Recommended Configuration
Show thumbnails instead of icons	Determines whether thumbnails are displayed in place of generic icons.	Enabled (checked)
Animate windows when minimizing and maximizing	Controls window animation effects.	Optional but recommended for smooth UI
Use visual styles on windows and buttons	Applies themed visual styles.	Enabled (checked)

Verifying Group Policy and Registry Settings

In some cases, Group Policy or registry settings may prevent thumbnails from displaying, especially in corporate or managed environments.

To check Group Policy settings:

Press **Win + R**, type `gpedit.msc`, and press Enter.
Navigate to **User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer**.
Locate the policy named Turn off the display of thumbnails and only display icons.
Ensure this policy is set to Not configured or Disabled.

If Group Policy Editor is not available, or to check via the Registry Editor:

Press Win + R, type `regedit`, and press Enter.
Navigate to:

“`
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
“`

Look for a DWORD value named DisableThumbnails.
If it exists and is set to 1, change it to 0 or delete the entry.
Repeat the same in:

“`
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
“`

Be sure to back up the registry before making changes. Restart your PC for changes to take effect.

Ensuring Relevant Services Are Running

Certain Windows services support thumbnail generation and display. Confirming these are running correctly can help resolve issues.

Key services to check include:

Windows Explorer (restart as needed)
Windows Search: Provides indexing that supports preview handlers.
Superfetch (SysMain): Improves system responsiveness and caching.
Windows Thumbnail Cache (indirectly supported by system processes)

To check services:

Press Win + R, type `services.msc`, and press Enter.
Find each service and ensure its Status is “Running” and Startup Type is “Automatic” or “Manual” as appropriate.
Right-click and select Restart if necessary.

Proper operation of these services facilitates smooth thumbnail generation and display in File Explorer.

Check and Enable Thumbnail Previews in File Explorer

File Explorer in Windows 11 may fail to show thumbnails if the preview settings are misconfigured. Ensuring that thumbnail previews are enabled is the first step in resolving this issue.

Open File Explorer and click on the View menu in the toolbar.
Select Show and confirm that File name extensions and Preview pane are enabled for better file visibility.
Go to the Options button on the right side of the toolbar and select Change folder and search options.
In the Folder Options window, switch to the View tab.
Uncheck the box labeled Always show icons, never thumbnails.
Ensure that Display file icon on thumbnails is checked to improve thumbnail visibility.
Click Apply and then OK to save the changes.

Clear Thumbnail Cache to Resolve Corrupted Thumbnails

Corrupted thumbnail cache data can prevent File Explorer from displaying thumbnails correctly. Clearing this cache forces Windows to regenerate thumbnail data.

Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
Type %localappdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer and press Enter.
In the Explorer folder, locate files starting with thumbcache or iconcache and delete them.
Alternatively, use Disk Cleanup:
- Search for Disk Cleanup in the Start menu and open it.
- Select the system drive (usually C:).
- Check the box for Thumbnails.
- Click OK and then Delete Files to clear the thumbnail cache.
Restart your computer to allow Windows to rebuild the thumbnail cache.

Adjust Performance Settings to Enable Thumbnail Generation

Windows 11 performance settings can impact whether thumbnails are generated or replaced by icons. Confirming that thumbnails are enabled in system performance options is essential.

Step	Instruction
1	Press Windows + S, type View advanced system settings, and open it.
2	In the System Properties window, navigate to the Advanced tab.
3	Click on Settings under the Performance section.
4	In the Visual Effects tab, ensure Show thumbnails instead of icons is checked.
5	Click Apply and OK to save changes.

Verify Registry Settings Related to Thumbnail Display

Incorrect registry values can disable thumbnail previews in File Explorer. Modifying these settings cautiously can restore thumbnail functionality.

Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.

Navigate to the following key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

Locate the IconsOnly DWORD value.
Double-click IconsOnly and set its value to 0 to enable thumbnails instead of icons.
Check the ThumbnailSize value to ensure it is set to a reasonable size (usually between 32 and 256).
Close the Registry Editor and restart File Explorer or reboot the system.

Ensure Relevant Services and Drivers Are Running Correctly

Certain Windows services and system drivers are necessary for generating and displaying thumbnails. Confirming their operational status can resolve related issues.

Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
Locate the Windows Search service and ensure it is running. If not, right-click and select Start.
Check the Shell Hardware Detection service and verify it is enabled and running.
Update your display drivers through Device Manager:
- Press Windows + X and select Device Manager.