Windows 10: Show or Hide Preview Pane in File Explorer in Windows 10

How to: Show or Hide Preview Pane in File Explorer in Windows 10

How to Show or Hide Preview Pane in 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.

This tutorial will show you how to show or hide the preview pane in File Explorer for your user account in Windows 10.



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.


CONTENTS:

• Option One: To Show or Hide Preview Pane using Keyboard Shortcut
• Option Two: To Show or Hide Preview Pane from File Explorer Ribbon
• Option Three: To Show or Hide Preview Pane using a REG file

EXAMPLE: Preview pane in File Explorer











OPTION ONE [/i] To Show or Hide Preview Pane using Keyboard Shortcut
1. While in File Explorer, press the Alt+P keys to toggle to show and hide the preview pane.





OPTION TWO [/i] To Show or Hide Preview Pane from File Explorer Ribbon
1. While in File Explorer, click/tap on the View (Alt+V) tab, and click/tap on Preview pane in the ribbon to toggle to show and hide the preview pane. (see screenshot below)









OPTION THREE [/i] To Show or Hide Preview Pane using a REG file
1. Do step 2 (show) or step 3 (hide) below for what you would like to do.


2. To Show Preview Pane in File Explorer
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Show_Preview_pane_in_File_Explorer.reg

Download
3. To Hide Preview Pane in File Explorer
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.

Hide_Preview_pane_in_File_Explorer.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 close and reopen or navigate to another folder to apply.

8. If you like, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.




That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials

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

:)

 

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.

 

How to get file to show up in all of preview pane

Hi Bill,

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.

Base on the information that you provided, it's possible that some of your files is small that's why it's only showing small preview in the preview pane. For us to have a better understanding of your concern, may we ask for a screenshot of the files that
are showing in a small box in the preview pane.

Hope to hear from you soon.

 

Hey rboppy, *Smile

I've always found it to be a bit flaky for what it shows a preview of in the preview pane for .txt files. Even with Notepad set as the default app for .txt files.

 

Thanks, too bad though, I thought I found a jewel.

Regards,

Jim