Windows 10: Preview pane - Add to Context Menu in Windows 10

How to: Preview pane - Add to Context Menu in Windows 10

How to Add Preview pane to Context Menu in Windows 10


Information The preview pane shows you see the contents of a file, such as image or text files, without having to open it with an app.

By default, you can click/tap on Preview pane from the View tab in the ribbon of File Explorer to quickly toggle to show or hide the preview pane in File Explorer.

This tutorial will show you how to add Preview pane to the context menu in File Explorer for all users to quickly toggle the preview pane in Windows 10.

While you must be signed in as an administrator to add or remove the context menu, all users will be able to use the context menu.



Note Setting the preview pane to show or hide in File Explorer is a global setting that is applied to all folders, and not just in the current folder.

You can drag the left border of the preview pane left and right to increase or decrease its width in File Explorer.

If you set the preview pane to show, then it will replace the details pane if it is currently showing.

If you turn off thumbnail previews in File Explorer, image files will also not show a preview in the preview pane.


EXAMPLE: "Preview pane" context menu








Here's How:

1. Do step 2 (add) or step 3 (remove) below for what you would like to do.


2. To Add "Preview pane" to Context Menu
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Add_Preview_pane_to_context_menu.reg

Download

3. To Remove "Preview pane" from Context Menu
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.

Remove_Preview_pane_from_context_menu.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 on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

7. You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.



That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials

• How to Show or Hide Preview Pane in File Explorer in Windows 10
• How to Reset Details and Preview Pane Width Size to Default in Windows 8 and 10
• How to Hide or Show Preview Handlers in Preview Pane of File Explorer in Windows 10
• How to Add Details pane to Context Menu in Windows 10
• How to Add Navigation pane to Context Menu in Windows 10

:)

 

Video in the preview pane

Aileen,

Thank you so much for your reply.

What I really need to know is how get the video to play in the preview pane. Prior to Windows 10, this worked wonderfully and was an asset. Now, it requires making changes to the Windows registry - not recommended due to the enormous amount of issues with
Windows 10.

Any other suggestions?

 

Windows 7 Preview Pane

I use the preview pane quite often so I can watch videos without having to launch an application to play them. I do this with mostly with tutorials. Most of the tutorials were in quicktime format; quicktime takes a significant amount of time to open on my system, so I used format factory to change them into MP4's (they will play in the preview pane). Just out of boredom, I installed a new convert, called CoverterLite. Now every single video that I converted causes WMP to crash even inside the preview pane. If I were to change my default media player would that affect to preview pane as well? Or does it require so registry editing?

 

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.

 

Video in the preview pane

Hi,

To enable the Preview pane, open File Explorer and follow these steps:

• 
  In the File Explorer window, click the View
  tab.
  
• 
  In the Panes section, click the Preview Pane button. The Preview pane is added to the right side of the File Explorer window.
  
• 
  Select several files one by one to preview their contents. You can preview their contents if they are text, images, or videos.
  

Let us know if you need further assistance.

 

Preview pane doesn't work in Windows 10

Hi RuthZekowski,

Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Community.

1. Are you facing issue with all your files or any particular files?
   
2. Which version of Windows you are using?
   
3. Since when are you facing this issue?
   

The Preview pane shows the contents of certain files selected in File Explorer. For images, it is a thumbnail preview.

If you are unable to preview in File explorer, I suggest you to try the below steps.

1. Open a new File Explorer window and click the View tab from the ribbon toolbar.
   
2. Click Options, and then click Change folder and search options to open Folder Options dialog.
   
3. Check the Show preview handlers in preview pane box, and click/tap on OK.​
   
   
   

Please reply for all the required information to help you further.



Hope it helps.