File Explorer - Some PDF's show thumbnail image, some don’t

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  1. Posts : 10
    Windows 10 Pro
       #1

    File Explorer - Some PDF's show thumbnail image, some don’t


    In Windows 10 File Explorer, I see thumbnails for a few of my pdf files but still see the generic Adobe pdf icon for most of them.

    • In Windows 10 folder options, the checkbox for “Always show icons, never thumbnails” is unchecked.
    • On the Adobe Reader preferences general tab, “Enable PDF thumbnails previews in Windows Explorer” is checked.
    • Adobe Acrobat is set as my default PDF viewer.
    • I have used Disk Cleanup to delete all my thumbnails to clear and rebuild the cache, yet the problem persists.

    Any suggestions on how I can see all the pdf icons as thumbnails?
    Windows 10 Pro, Version 1903, Build 18362.657
    Adobe Acrobat Reader DC (20.006.20034)

    I asked over in the Adobe Acrobat Reader forum a few days ago but have received no replies.

    -pdf-icons.jpg

    Ron
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 5,299
    Windows 11 Pro 64-bit
       #2

    I'm using Foxit Reader as default PDF reader i have no problem viewing PDF files thumbnails.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 2,123
    Windows 11 Pro (latest update ... forever anal)
       #3

    banditrvp said:
    • On the Adobe Reader preferences general tab, “Enable PDF thumbnails previews in Windows Explorer” is checked.
    Uncheck this and see what happens.

    BTW, which are you looking for, generic Adobe icon or thumbnail ... or just curious why the difference?
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 5,899
    Win 11 Pro (x64) 22H2
       #4

    idgat said:
    BTW, which are you looking for, generic Adobe icon or thumbnail ... or just curious why the difference?
    I think the OP is looking for this (PDF thumbnails previews)....

    -pdf-previews.png

    Anyway I'm running Adobe Acrobat 2017, and for me it's "Enable PDF thumbnails previews in Windows Explorer" under Preferences > General.

    And yeah - untick > ok > tick again, and see what happens.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 10
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #5

    I would like to see thumbnails in Windows File explorer, not the generic pdf icon. Sorry I wasn't clear about that.

    I've checked and unchecked the “Enable PDF thumbnails previews in Windows Explorer” option in Adobe Reader DC quite a few times, and even cleared the Windows thumbnail cache a couple times. The curious thing is I see no effect either way. In the folder image in my original post, you'll see that 3 of the pdf's do show a thumbnail while all the rest do not. When I check and uncheck the option in Adobe Reader DC, nothing changes, I still see the same 3 pdf thumbnails while all the rest are icons whether “Enable PDF thumbnails previews in Windows Explorer” is checked or not. When I change from checked to unchecked (or vice versa) and click OK, I get the little popup window asking if I'm sure I want to make the change and when I click "Yes", I see the green progress bars scrolling by so something is happening but nothing changes with the icon/thumbnail display. I've tried hitting the F5 refresh and restarting my computer but no changes from what you see in the image I posted.

    When I check the
    Windows 10 folder option, “Always show icons, never thumbnails”, the 3 pdf thumbnails change to icons and change back when I uncheck it but all the rest of the pdf icons don't change either way.

    Kind of frustrating!
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 13,895
    Win10 Version 22H2 Pro and Home, Win11 Pro and Home
       #6

    I see the difference if the .pdf file has an image or images in it, text-only not.
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 10
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #7

    The folder I posted the image of contains all image PDF's.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 5,899
    Win 11 Pro (x64) 22H2
       #8

    Berton said:
    I see the difference if the .pdf file has an image or images in it, text-only not.
    I'm not exactly clear on what you mean, but it doesn't matter if the PDF file only has text, images only, or a combination of text and images the preview should work. I've many PDF files that's strictly text and I can preview them. If you look at the image I posted and take note of the Steam receipt and Steam purchase, those are text only files.

    Again, not sure what you meant so this is more a clarification response than anything else.

    Thanks.
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 10
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #9

    I took FreeBooter's advice and installed Foxit Reader. Works for me. Now I can see thumbnails of all my PDF's in the Windows Explorer icon views.

    I'm not going to mark this as solved as the issue when using Adobe Reader as the default PDF viewer still exists for me.

    Thanks for the help!
    Ron

      My Computer


  10. Posts : 5,899
    Win 11 Pro (x64) 22H2
       #10

    Yeah, but you're just hiding the other problem, not fixing it. As stated PDF preview works.

    Anyway good luck.
      My Computers


 

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