Do you have a problem with the Windows Explorer Preview Pane not working correctly for PDF files? If so, don’t worry – you’re not alone. Many people are reporting this issue, and there is a fix!
PDF files are one of the most popular file types for saving or presenting a document. Unfortunately, sometimes Windows Explorer doesn’t preview them correctly.
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In this blog post, we will discuss what to do if the preview pane doesn’t work for PDF files in Windows Explorer.
Why is File Explorer Preview Pane not Displaying PDF Preview?
There could be the following reasons for the File Explorer preview not working for PDF:
- The most common reason for the preview pane not working correctly is that the PDF file is corrupted. This can happen if the file was not downloaded correctly, or if it was damaged during the transfer.
- Another possible reason is that the PDF file is password-protected. The preview pane cannot display password-protected files.
- If you’re sure that the PDF file is not corrupted and it’s not password-protected, then the issue might be with your Windows settings. It’s possible that the “Preview pane” option has been turned off in the “View” tab of Windows Explorer.
- It is also possible that the system files are corrupted causing Windows Explorer Preview Pane Not Working for PDF. This can happen if you have installed a lot of programs, or if you have viruses or malware on your computer.
Fix Windows Explorer Preview Pane Not Working for PDF
If you’re having trouble with the preview pane not working correctly for PDF files, here are some solutions that may help:
Check if the PDF is Not Corrupted
The first thing you should do is check if the file is corrupted. You can do this by opening the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader. If the program can’t open the file, then it’s likely that the file is corrupted.
If the file is corrupted, you can try downloading it again or copying it from another source. Once you have a good copy of the file, the preview pane should work correctly.
Check if the PDF is Password-Protected
Another possible reason for the preview pane not working is that the PDF file is password-protected. The preview pane cannot display password-protected files.
If you need to view the contents of a password-protected PDF, you will need to enter the password in Adobe Acrobat Reader. Once you have entered the password, the file will open and you will be able to view it in the preview pane.
Turn On the Preview Pane in Windows Explorer
It’s possible that the Preview pane in File Explorer has been inadvertently disabled. You must verify and turn it on again.
If the preview pane is turned off, you will not be able to see previews of files in Windows File Explorer. To turn on the preview pane, open Windows File Explorer, click on the View option at the top menu, hover your mouse pointer to Show, and select the Preview pane option.
Enable Show Preview Handlers
If you’re still having trouble with the preview pane not working correctly, it’s possible that your system settings are causing the issue. One setting that can affect the preview pane is “Show preview handlers in preview pane.”
This setting is located in the Folder Options dialog box. To access this dialog box, follow these steps:
- Go to File Explorer, click on the three dots at the top menu, and select Options.
- In the Folder Options dialog box, go to the View tab and make sure that “Show preview handlers in preview pane” is enabled.
- Relaunch File Explorer. The Preview pane should show you a preview of the relevant files.
Disable “Always Show Icons, Never Thumbnails”
If you’re still not seeing previews in the preview pane, try disabling “Always show icons, never thumbnails.” This setting is also located in the Folder Options dialog box.
To access this dialog box, follow these steps:
- Go to File Explorer, click on the three dots at the top menu, and select Options.
- In the Folder Options dialog box, go to the View tab and make sure that “Always show icons, never thumbnails” is disabled.
- Relaunch File Explorer and you should see previews in the preview pane.
Restore File Explorer to Default Settings
If none of the above solutions work, you can try restoring File Explorer to its default settings. This will reset all of the File Explorer settings, including the preview pane.
To restore File Explorer to its default settings, follow these steps:
- Go to File Explorer, click on the three dots at the top menu, and select Options.
- In the Folder Options dialog box, go to the View tab and click on the “Restore Defaults” button, and then click Apply and OK.
Enable Thumbnail Preview on Adobe Acrobat
If you are using Adobe Acrobat DC or Acrobat Reader DC, you can enable thumbnail preview for PDF files. This will allow you to see previews of PDF files in File Explorer.
To enable thumbnail preview on Adobe Acrobat, follow these steps:
- Open Adobe Acrobat DC or Acrobat Reader DC, and go to Edit > Preferences.
- In the Preferences dialog box, go to the General tab and make sure that “Enable PDF thumbnail previews in Windows Explorer” is checked.
- Click OK to save the changes.
- Your PDF files should now show up in the preview pane in File Explorer.
Conclusion
If you’re having trouble with the preview pane not working for PDF files, try one of the solutions in this article. With a little troubleshooting, you should be able to get the preview pane working correctly.
There are a few possible reasons why the preview pane is not working. It could be that the preview pane is turned off, or that your system settings are causing the issue. You can try troubleshooting by turning on the preview pane or restoring File Explorer to its default settings.
To enable the preview pane, open Windows File Explorer, click on the View option at the top menu, hover your mouse pointer to Show, and select the Preview pane option.
Peter is an Electrical Engineer whose primary interest is tinkering with his computer. He is passionate about Windows 10 Platform and enjoys writing tips and tutorials about it.
