Windows 10: Cannot see PDF files in Windows Explorer

Problem:I have a user who cannot see PDF files in Windows Explorer. The computer is on Windows 10 Enterprise, winver 22H2.Here is what she is doing:1. She downloads zipped PDF file to C:\Downloads.2. She right clicks the file and chooses Extract All and extracts file to her Desktop.3. She goes to her desktop and there is no PDF file present.4. She goes in View, in file explorer and verifies that file name extensions and Hidden Items are checked.5. She tries extracting the file to another folder on her C: drive. She navigates to the location in file explorer and there is no PDF file there.6. I

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Windows 10 Tweaks

Pressing “Windows+Pause Break” (it’s up there next to scroll lock) opens the “System” Window.

Windows 10: In the new version of Windows, Explorer has a section called Quick Access. This includes your frequent folders and recent files. Explorer defaults to opening this page when you open a new window. If you’d rather open the usual This PC, with links to your drives and library folders, follow these steps:

• Open a new Explorer window.
• Click View in the ribbon.
• Click Options.
• Under General, next to “Open File Explorer to:” choose “This PC.”
• Click OK

credit to Lifehacker.

 

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.





Ron

 

Trouble Opening PDF's

Hi Parker,



Thank you for posting on Microsoft Community. We will assist you in resolving the issue.



Before assisting further, I would like to ask you few questions:

• Does the issue persist in Edge browser?
• Do you get similar error when you open the PDF file in Adobe reader?

Check if you are facing similar issue in Edge browser.



Step 1: Open PDF file in Adobe reader and check if you are facing similar issue.



To open PDF file directly from Adobe reader, follow the steps below:

• Open Adobe application and click on Edit.
• Click on Preferences and select Internet.
• Uncheck Display PDF in Browser option and check if you are able to open the PDF file without getting the error code.

Step 2: If you are able to open PDF file in Adobe reader, I suggest you to
Turn off Internet Explorer,
enable it again and check if the issue is resolved.



For further assistance, I suggest you to post your query in Adobe support forum.

Acrobat Reader - Adobe Support Community



Thank you.