How to Hide or Show Preview Handlers in Preview Pane of File Explorer in Windows 10
Information
The preview pane in File Explorer shows you the contents of a file, such as image or text files, without having to open it with an app.
Preview handlers show the content of text type files (ex: .bat, .html, .txt, etc...) in the preview pane.
This tutorial will show you how to hide or show preview handlers in preview pane of File Explorer for your account in Windows 10.
Note
Setting to hide or show preview handlers in the preview pane will not affect showing a preview of image files.
CONTENTS:
- Option One: To Hide or Show Preview Handlers in Preview Pane using Folder Options
- Option Two: To Hide or Show Preview Handlers in Preview Pane using a REG file
EXAMPLE: Hide or Show preview handlers in preview pane of File Explorer
1. Open Folder Options.
2. Click/tap on the View tab, check (default) or uncheck Show preview handlers in preview pane in "Advanced settings" for what you want, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
The .reg files below will modify the DWORD value in the registry key below.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
ShowPreviewHandlers DWORD
0 = Hide
1 = Show
1. Do step 2 (hide) or step 3 (show) below for what you would like to do.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Hide_preview_handlers_in_preview_pane.reg
Download
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Show_preview_handlers_in_preview_pane.reg
Download
4. Save the .reg file to your desktop.
5. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
6. If prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
7. If you currently have File Explorer open, then refresh (F5) the window to apply.
8. If you like, you can now delete the downloaded .reg file.
That's it,
Shawn
Related Tutorials
- How to Enable or Disable Thumbnail Previews in File Explorer in Windows 10
- How to Show or Hide Preview Pane in File Explorer in Windows 10
- How to Add Preview pane to Context Menu in Windows 10
- How to Reset Details and Preview Pane Width Size to Default in Windows 8 and 10
Hide or Show Preview Handlers in Preview Pane in Windows 10
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New #1
Hi Brink , a timely tutorial , I use this feature all the time, but 2 computers here were updated to 1703 in the last week and I have lost preview Handlers on both , even for images, the preview pane just shows the enlarged icon of Photos or Photo Gallery Programs....
I checked the Options and have run your .reg as well just in case , and restarted Explorer but no change...any ideas? Thx.
Last edited by Kbird; 23 Jul 2017 at 12:36.
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New #3
Hello kbird, :)
These preview handlers don't apply for image files, but check to make sure that you have thumbnail previews enabled. (Edwin beat me.
)
Enable or Disable Thumbnail Previews in File Explorer in Windows 10 Windows 10 Customization Tutorials
If that doesn't help, it may because you do not have the Photos app or Windows Photo Viewer set as the default app. The app you currently have set as the default app may not support previews.
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New #4
Thanks Guys , at least on this Computer ALL previews , not just Images , are now back . I would not of thought of the Preview as a Thumbnail , so would not of tried that.....not sure if that UNChecked , was the default in 1504? I had no issues till I got CE/1703 this week....
I'll boot the other computer and try it there too...
Thx , love 10Forums and the quick responses , this was driving me crazy(ier) :)
*** yep unchecking that and making sure the Preview Handlers box was Checked fixed it on the other computer too.Last edited by Kbird; 23 Jul 2017 at 13:44.
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New #6
Hello kbird, :)
These preview handlers don't apply for image files, but check to make sure that you have thumbnail previews enabled. (Edwin beat me.)
Enable or Disable Thumbnail Previews in File Explorer in Windows 10 Windows 10 Customization Tutorials
If that doesn't help, it may because you do not have the Photos app or Windows Photo Viewer set as the default app. The app you currently have set as the default app may not support previews.
My computer finally got 1803 about a week ago and I lost my Preview Handlers again, and this time I had to UNcheck thumbnails to get them back....
Preview Handlers do work for Images ( jpg,png etc) BTW....
..... just thought I'd post in case someone else has the same issues I did above and is trying that advice....
KB.
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New #7
Hey KB,
The preview handler setting in this tutorial doesn't affect the thumbnail previews of image files in the preview pane for me.
Did you mean something else?
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New #8
Hi Brink
Hmmmm , cos as soon as I unchecked show icons never thumbnails and hit apply , Explorer refreshed and the jpg I had selected showed the image in the Preview Pane as it did previously.
KB
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Hide or Show Preview Handlers in Preview Pane in Windows 10
How to Hide or Show Preview Handlers in Preview Pane of File Explorer in Windows 10Published by Shawn BrinkCategory: General Tips
23 Jul 2017
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