Recently an AskVG reader "Neo13" contacted us regarding a weird problem. Following is the problem description:
Hello VG
I'm using Windows 7 and suddenly Windows Explorer has stopped showing thumbnails for files and folders. When I change the view type to thumbnails, Windows doesn't show thumbnail previews.
Can you please help me in fixing the problem?
Actually its a very common problem in Windows. Sometimes Windows Explorer doesn't show thumbnail previews for images and other files as shown in following screenshot:
It might be due to a bug or the user accidentally turned off thumbnails using Folder Options or System Properties.
Anyway if you are also facing this problem, you can use following easy fix to show thumbnails again in Windows Explorer:
1. Open Windows Explorer, click on Organize button present in command bar and select "Folder and search options".
2. Now go to View tab and make sure "Always show icons, never thumbnails" option is not enabled i.e. its disabled.
If the option is enabled, uncheck the checkbox and click on Apply button.
It should fix the problem. If you can't access Folder Options, you can use following alternative method:
1. Type sysdm.cpl in RUN or Start Menu search box and press Enter. It'll open System Properties.
2. Go to "Advanced" tab and click on "Settings" button in "Performance" section.
3. Now make sure "Show thumbnails instead of icons" option is enabled.
If its not enabled, enable the option and click on Apply button.
That's it. Now you should get thumbnail previews in Windows Explorer without any problem as shown in following screenshot:
Posted by: Vishal Gupta | Categories: Troubleshooting, Windows 7, Windows Vista
jordanapit
I'm sorry VG. Can you show me how to fix this problem by using TuneUp Utilities? Cause i've tried to fix using the way you give in this article, but it didn't work for my Windows, and i think it cause of TuneUp Utilities. Can you help me? Thanks before.
VG
^^ Why do you think its because of Tuneup? Did you enable any similar option in that software?
Dan D.
Both options were set correctly in Windows 7, yet I still the icon of the application associated with that file type. I've cycled the option, i.e. inverted them, click Apply, restore to the good settings, click Apply. No success.
Yme
If thumbnails will still not show on the file icon even with thumbnails turned on from below :
make sure that Windows Photo Gallery is set as the default program with all of it's associations set to it.
Someone
@Yme
It worked! Thank you for the solution.
Lee
It's really helpful. Thanks! :)
norr
none of this works for me
hamed
thanks a lot dude.you fix my long term problem!
Ra Kumar Maharjan
when i start my windows 7 the black screen appears no mouse pointer no explorer but when i pres ctrl+Alt+delete then i could open task manager and start new task explorer then it is okay....how can you solve this problem so that we don 'ot need to use task managaer.
VG
^^ It seems like some file or settings are corrupt in your system. Try to restore default system files by running sfc /scannow command in Command Prompt.
fridrja
Thanks. This the exact article I needed!!!
sumit
hey in windows 7 i have a problem that is when i am installing any app like adobe photoshop CS4 the checkbox , buttons are not visible what should i do. pls email it to my account pls.
VG
^^ Are you using a custom theme or default Windows theme?
Gary C.
Thanks, this worked, now can see thumbnails!
JJ
thanks it worked like a charm :)
Bryan Alves
Whew! Thanks for this post. Was able to make it work again using a custom theme!
Bruce
Thanks. I think my preferences got switched without my knowing during a windows update.
DANIEL
THANK YOU THIS WORKED PERFECT FOR ME
Dee
The above FIX really worked and it was very helpful. Here is another way of doing the same thing.
Right-click the mouse on the Start Button
Click on Windows Explorer
Click on Tool
Click on folder options
Click on the View Tab
Uncheck “Always allow icons, never thumbnails”
Then click ok.
Edwin
Hi VG,
I got a similar problem.
All the solutions I found in Blogs and Fora do not work.
I have jpg's, BMP's Gif's etc where only a Microsoft Office Picture viewer WITH a grey cross in the left lower side, as shown in this link: i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x385/eewortel/picture.jpg
But no thumbnails...
Can you help me?
VG
^^ Try to restore image associations with built-in Image Viewer program using Control Panel -> Default Programs.
Cynthia
Life Saver!
Thank you.
Lnur
Thank your verry much.working
willanie bona
thank you so much! it worked!
yatendra
thanks buddy!!!
raghav
thanks! works perfectly
erman
also works for win 8. thanks a lot.
Dahi
Thank you so much for this tip. i was annoid when i was trying to open each image as a crazy searching for hundreds of images to select the most suitable. Excellent solution and i wish you all the succes.
Cory
Thanks for the fix, that was bugging me.