Windows 10: Customize Preview Details in Details Pane of File Explorer in Windows

How to: Customize Preview Details in Details Pane of File Explorer in Windows

How to Customize Preview Details in Details Pane of File Explorer in Windows


The details pane shows you see the most common properties associated with the selected file. File properties provide more detailed info about a file, such as the author, the date you last changed the file, and any descriptive tags you might have added to the file.

If you like, you can customize what preview details you want to show for specific file types in the details pane of File Explorer (Windows 8/8.1/10) or Windows Explorer (Vista/Windows 7).

This tutorial will show you how to customize preview details of specific file types in the details pane of File Explorer for all users in Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.

*Warning You must be signed in as an administrator to customize preview details in the details pane.


EXAMPLE: Before and After custom preview details of ".exe" files in File Explorer details pane








Here's How:

*note If you would like help with any of the steps below, then please feel free to post a reply for what you need help with. I will be happy to help.

1. Press the Win+R keys to open Run, type regedit into Run, and click/tap on OK to open Registry Editor.

2. Navigate to the key below in the left pane of Registry Editor. (see screenshot below)
*Arrow HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.file extension

*note Substitute file extension in the key path above with the actual file extension (ex: ".exe") you want to customize preview details for.

Example: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe




3. In the right pane of the file extension key (ex: ".exe"), look to see what the data (ex: "exefile") is for the (Default) string value (REG_SZ). (see screenshot above)

4. In the left pane of Registry Editor, scroll past the other listed file extensions to the data (ex: "exefile") for the (Default) string value (REG_SZ). (see screenshot below)




5. Do step 6 (customize) or step 7 (undo) below for what you would like to do.


6. To Customize Preview Details for this File Extension
A) Right click on an empty space in the right pane of the key (ex: "exefile") for the (Default) value data, click/tap on New, click/tap on String Value, type PreviewDetails, and press Enter. (see screenshots below)

*note If you already have a PreviewDetails string value (REG_SZ) in the right pane of the key (ex: "exefile"), then skip this step and go to step 6B below instead.





B) Double click/tap on the PreviewDetails string value in the right pane to modify it. (see second screenshot above)

C) Type the data value below for the preview details you want with each separated by a semicolon ; in the order you want them to show, click/tap on OK, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below)

*Arrow prop:detail 1;detail 2; etc....





*note Substitute detail # in the value above with the actual preview details you want.

The link below at Microsoft will give you a full list of System preview details that you can use. You can click on a detail (ex: "System.ItemNameDisplay") link at the link below to see more information about what it is for.

*Arrow System Preview Details (Windows)

For example:

Code:

7. To Undo Customized Preview Details for this File Extension
A) In the right pane of the key (ex: "exefile") for the (Default) value data, right click or press and hold on the PreviewDetails string value (REG_SZ), and click/tap on Delete. (see screenshot below)



B) Click/tap on Yes to confirm, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below)



8. If you have explorer open, then refresh (F5) the window to see your changes.

9. When finished, you can close Registry Editor if you like.


That's it,
Shawn


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:)

 

preview/details pane in explorer

Is there a way to NOT show the preview/details pain in explorer?

 

preview/details pane in explorer

Hi,

Setting the Preview pane to show or hide in File Explorer will apply to all folders. If you wish to hide the Preview pane in File Explorer, we suggest that you follow the steps below:

• Open File Explorer.
• Tap on View tab.
• Click Preview Pane to view/hide it.

We would appreciate it if you could get back to us and provide us your feedback.

 

Thank you Denis. I'm glad it could help. *Smile

Here's some more properties: Windows Properties (Windows)

 

I could use some help adding the description field for .jpg images to the details preview. I have followed your instructions step by step several times, but it doesn't work.
Does it matter that whether the file extension is .jpg .JPG or .jpeg ?

Any help is appreciated!
I'm trying to display and edit the IPTC and/or EXIF description data field of an image, in order to benefit from its SEO value online.
Here is how it looks on my PC:

 

Hello Hagen, and welcome to Ten Forums. *Smile

You would indeed set the PreviewDetails string value for only "jpegfile" for the ".jpg" and ".jpeg" file types.

If you right click on the image, click on Properties, and click on the Details tab, are the details you want to see populated with info? If not, it won't show the detail in the Details Pane even if specified using this tutorial.

 

Thanks Brink for the quick reply.
The description field isn't displayed in the properties -details as well.
I guess then I have to find a third party software to edit those information?
I have tried irfanview, but that seems not to be consistent somehow.
Any other suggestions?

 

I'm not sure which program would be best for that, but you might create a new thread in the "Software and Apps" forum area to see if someone may know a good one for you.

 

Hello chummy, *Smile

You could use the method in the tutorial to have those details show for the file types you want, but the details will now show if not actually available for the file.

 

Is there a way to add Video codec information? I tried to find information about, but i guess thats not possible.

 

MediaInfo is good solution. MediaInfo 18.03.1

 

I want the information in preview details for explorer search reasons.