Microsoft’s Windows Explorer lets you take a peek at a file with the Preview Pane. That way, you get a preview of the file’s content without actually opening it. Explorer offers preview for images, text, PDF files, videos, and documents related to Microsoft Office. However, some Windows 10 users are unable to see a preview of their files in Explorer. For them, the Preview pane option is either grayed out or doesn’t show a preview for specific files.
If the Preview pane isn’t working in the Explorer on your Windows PC, try out the solutions below. Let’s start.
1. Enable Preview Pane
You might have accidentally turned off the Preview pane in File Explorer. You need to check and enable it. For that, open File Explorer using the Windows key + E keyboard shortcut and maximize it to take the full screen.
Click on the View tab at the top. Check if the Preview Pane option appears highlighted to ensure it is enabled. In case it’s not, click on the Preview pane option to enable it. As soon as you turn it on, you should see the Preview pane on the right side of the File Explorer.
To ensure the Preview pane works properly or not, use the Windows Explorer in maximized mode or ensure it’s wide enough to see the options in the View ribbon at the top.
2. Enable Show Preview Handlers
From the Folder Options, you need to enable the ‘Show preview handlers in preview pane’ setting for the proper functioning of the Preview pane. For that, follow these steps:
Step 1 : Open File Explorer and click on the View tab. Click on Options.
Step 2: The Folder options window will open. Go to the View tab.
Step 3: Under Advanced settings, check the box next to ‘Show preview handlers in preview pane’.
Step 4: Click on Apply followed by Ok.
Step 5: Relaunch File Explorer. The Preview pane should show you a preview of the relevant files.
3. Disable Always Show Icons Setting
In the Folder Options, you will find the ‘Always show icons, never thumbnails’ setting. If that is enabled, the Preview pane will not show anything. You need to disable it for the Preview pane to show content. Here’s how to do that:
Step 1: Open File Explorer. Click on the View tab at the top, and then click on the Options icon at the end of the ribbon. Alternatively, search for File Explorer options in Windows search.
Step 2: When the Folder Options open, click on the View tab.
Step 3: Uncheck the box next to ‘Always show icons, never thumbnails.’
Step 4: Click on Apply to save the changes. Relaunch File Explorer.
The issue should be resolved now.
4. Change File Explorer Startup Mode
One of the solutions at Microsoft Forum suggests that making File Explorer open to This PC instead of Quick Access fixes the issues with the Preview pane.
For that, open the File Explorer Options window either from File Explorer or using search as we did above. When the Folder Options window opens, click on the drop-down box next to ‘Open File Explorer to’ under the General tab.
Select This PC. Click on Apply to save the changes.
5. Change Performance Mode
Another solution that has helped users is changing the Performance mode from ‘Let Windows choose what’s best for my computer’ to ‘Adjust for best appearance.’ Here are the steps to achieve that:
Step 1: Open Windows Search on your PC. You can use the Windows key + S keyboard shortcut to open search.
Step 2: Type View Advanced system settings. Click on it.
Tip: You can open the Advanced system settings from Settings > System > About. Under Related settings, click on Advanced system settings.
Step 3: Under the Advanced tab, click on Settings next to Performance.
Step 4: Choose ‘Adjust for best appearance.’
Step 5: Click on Apply.
6. Run SFC Scan
Sometimes, problems in Windows 10 can occur if system files are corrupt. You can easily fix them by running an SFC scan . Here are the steps for the same:
Step 1: Open Command Prompt on your computer. For that, type CMD or Command Prompt in Windows search. Right-click on the Command Prompt icon and select Run as administrator.
Step 2: Type sfc /scannow in the Command Prompt window and hit the Enter key. Windows will now scan your computer and fix any corrupted files.
Note: The scan may take at least 15 minutes to complete. Kindly be patient and do not close the window.
Step 3: Restart the computer after the scan has finished.
7. Reset File Explorer
If nothing seems to help, you must try to reset File Explorer settings to default. Here’s how to do so:
Step 1 : Open File Explorer Options as shown above.
Step 2: Click on the Restore defaults button under the General tab.
Step 3: Go to the View tab and click on Restore defaults.
Step 4: Hit apply to save the changes.
Tip: Resetting File Explorer also comes in handy if File Explorer is loading slowly .
8. Use Third-Party App
In case resetting File Explorer also doesn’t come to the rescue, you can use the QuickLook app for the same purpose. It’s a third-party app that shows the file’s preview when you hit the spacebar. Interestingly, it supports more file formats as compared to the Preview feature in Windows 10.
Download QuickLook from Microsoft Store
Previews Can Be Helpful
Some files take a bit longer to appear in the Preview pane. You should wait for a few seconds before picking holes in the Preview pane, especially if you are using an old PC.
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- You may start by enabling the Microsoft Print to PDF feature.
- Running the printer troubleshooter will fix any underlying problems that cause this printer issue.
- If the issue is caused by outdated or corrupt drivers, uninstalling and reinstalling the printer should work.
Fix 1: Ensure Print to PDF Is Enabled in Windows Features
Microsoft Print to PDF integrates into the Print dialog box on your PC. Sometimes, the feature no longer appears when you open the Print dialog box for a certain file. Whatever the reason, you can ensure the feature is enabled with the following steps.
Step 1: Click the Start button, type Windows Features , and click the first result .
Step 2: Find and check the box for Microsoft Print to PDF .
Note : If it’s already enabled, disable it and wait a few seconds. Then, repeat the steps to open Windows Features and enable the feature again.
Step 3: After that, click on OK .
If you need to install it, follow the on-screen instructions and proceed. Reboot your PC and open the Print dialog once again. You should see the Print to PDF option back.
Now, you can save images and perform other functions using Microsoft Print as PDF.
Fix 2: Run the Print Troubleshooter
Using the built-in print troubleshooter would resolve most problems and is a good fix when Microsoft Print to PDF is not working on Windows 11.
Step 1: Click the Start button, type Control Panel , and press Ente r to open the Control Panel on your Windows 11 PC.
Step 2: Click on View devices and printers under Hardware and Sound.
Step 3: Click Printer & scanners .
Step 4: Click Microsoft Print to PDF .
Step 5: Click on Run the troubleshooter and follow the wizard to complete the process.
Step 6: Click Next and follow the wizard to complete the troubleshooting.
Fix 3: Uninstall and Reinstall Print to PDF Drivers
Your PC comes with Microsoft Print to PDF drivers pre-installed by default. If you haven’t updated these drivers recently, they could have become obsolete, preventing the feature from functioning. Uninstall the drivers and reinstall them using the steps below.
Step 1: Click the Start button, type Control Panel , and press Ente r to open the Control Panel on your Windows 11 PC.
Step 2: Click on View devices and printers under Hardware and Sound.
Step 3: Click Printer & scanners > Microsoft Print to PDF .
Step 4: Lastly, click on Remove .
Now, you may reinstall it by following the steps below.
Step 5: Click the Windows button, type Windows PowerShell , and select Run as Administrator from the right pane.
Step 6: Type the following command and hit Enter :
Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -online -FeatureName Printing-PrintToPDFServices-Features -All
Step 7: You should see the text True next to Online. This confirms that the feature has been re-enabled.
Step 8: Finally, restart your computer and check if Print to PDF works as intended.
Fix 4: Set Print to PDF as Your Default Printer
Print to PDF is essentially a software feature that emulates the presence of an actual printer. Hence, setting it as your default printer might be a good option. This way, giving the print command on any document should automatically trigger Print to PDF. Here’s how to set it as your default printer on Windows 11.
Step 1: Click the Start button, type Control Panel , and press Ente r to open the Control Panel on your Windows 11 PC.
Step 2: Click on View devices and printers under Hardware and Sound.
Step 3: Click Printer & scanners .
Step 4: Disable Let Windows manage my default printer .
Step 5: Click Microsoft Print to PDF .
Step 6: Lastly, click Set as default .
