Windows 10: Preview pane stopped working with pdf files in both windows 11 and windows 10

Yesterday the preview pane in my work pc running Windows 11 stopped loading pdf in the preview pane. just a blank screen. The apparent fix while searching the web was to update Acrobat but I don't have those installation files so I told the boss and that was that. In the meantime I installed the powertoy for file explorer which works but the resulting pdf image looks blurry but it will have to do for now.I knew the preview pane worked with pdf files at home, where I have Windows 10 and Foxit free pdf, so I tried there and guess what, same thing, preview pane is blank. So the culprit has to be

:)

 

Windows Explorer Preview Pane Stopped Working for PDF Files

I've used the preview pane in Windows Explorer for years to preview several file types. Just last week the preview of PDF files suddenly stopped working. Instead of displaying the contents of the file, it shows a first line in a large font that says the following:
Index of C:\Users\MyName\

Below that is a long list of folders. I haven't changed any settings recently in either Windows or Adobe Acrobat Reader DC, which is my default PDF reader. The preview pane works fine for .eml, .docx and other types of files. Any ideas?

Windows Version 21H1 OS Build 19043.1586

 

Windows 11 File Explorer Preview Pane for PDF files not working consistently

I am running Windows 11 version 21H2 patched up to date and have noticed this problem recently, although I am not sure exactly when it started in relation to recent patches.
When I open a folder the preview pane shows "Select a file to preview".
Selecting a .jpg file shows the preview.
Selecting a .doc file shows "No preview available" - expected as I do not have Microsoft Office.
Selecting a .pdf file causes the preview pane to go blank.

My solution is to untick the Show Preview Pane option, close explorer, open explorer, tick the Show Preview Pane option.
Selecting a .pdf file now shows the preview. (This does not work without closing explorer and reopening it.)
Has anyone else experienced this, and more to the point, does anyone know of a fix?

 

No PDF viewer in File explorer preview pane

Hi Steve,

Conflicts with the program settings is one of the possible reasons why you are unable to view the PDF preview in the File Explorer Preview Pane. We suggest that you try the troubleshooting steps in this

thread, and go to the post that was provided by Michalis_Georgiou
on October 24, 2017 in the 2nd page, and check if you will still encounter the same issue.

Should you need further assistance, don't hesitate to get back to us.