Show Thumbnails Instead of Icons for Images Videos Files

Yes, you can show thumbnails instead of generic icons for images, videos, and files in Windows File Explorer, and this guide shows you exactly how to turn that setting on for any folder. The key is the folder’s “View” option: setting it to Large or Extra Large icons displays actual file previews for most image and video formats, while other file types show their associated program icon unless you enable a separate preview pane or third-party tool.

Why File Explorer Shows Icons Instead of Thumbnails

Windows decides between a thumbnail and an icon based on the file type and the current folder view. For images (JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP) and many video formats (MP4, MOV, AVI), Explorer can generate a preview from the file’s content. But if the folder view is set to “List,” “Details,” or “Small Icons,” you will only see generic icons because those views are designed for compactness, not previews. Additionally, Windows disables thumbnail generation entirely if the folder contains more than a certain number of files (historically around 500) to keep performance stable, or if the system is in “Performance Options” with “Show thumbnails instead of icons” unchecked.

How to Enable Thumbnails in File Explorer (Windows 10/11)

Follow these steps to switch any folder to thumbnail view:

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to the folder containing your images or videos.
2. Click the “View” tab in the ribbon at the top of the window.
3. In the “Layout” group, select either “Large icons” or “Extra large icons.” You can also right-click in the folder background, hover over “View,” and choose the same options.
4. If you still see icons, click “Options” on the View tab (or “Folder Options” in older versions), go to the “View” tab in the dialog, and make sure “Always show icons, never thumbnails” is unchecked.
5. Click Apply, then OK. The folder should now display preview thumbnails.

For videos, the thumbnail usually shows the first frame of the video, which may be black or unhelpful. You can change that by installing a codec pack or using a third-party thumbnail generator that captures a frame at a specific time.

How to Make All Folders Show Thumbnails by Default

If you want every folder to open in thumbnail view, you can set a global default. In File Explorer, go to the “View” tab, click “Options” (or “Folder Options”), then the “View” tab. Under “Folder views,” click “Apply to Folders.” This applies the current view (e.g., Large icons) to all folders of the same type (e.g., General Items). However, Windows uses folder templates (General Items, Pictures, Videos, Music, Documents) and may override your choice for special folders like Pictures or Videos. To force thumbnails for all templates, you can use a registry tweak (advanced) or simply set the view per folder as needed.

Why Some Files Still Show Icons: File Types and Thumbnail Support

Not every file type supports thumbnails natively. Common file types that show previews include:

• Images: .jpg, .jpeg, .png, .gif, .bmp, .tiff, .webp (with codec)
• Videos: .mp4, .mov, .avi, .mkv (depending on installed codecs)
• Documents: .pdf (sometimes shows first page), .docx (only in preview pane, not as thumbnail)
• RAW camera files: if the manufacturer codec is installed

Files like .exe, .zip, .txt, .mp3, and .html will always show their associated program icon because Windows does not generate previews for them. For those, you need a third-party utility like Icaros or SageThumbs that adds thumbnail generation for additional formats.

How to Fix Thumbnails Not Showing

If you have enabled large icons but still see generic icons, try these common fixes:

• Clear the thumbnail cache: Open Disk Cleanup (search “cleanmgr”), select the drive, check “Thumbnails,” and run it. This rebuilds the cache.
• Ensure “Show thumbnails instead of icons” is enabled: Go to Control Panel > System > Advanced system settings > Performance Settings > Visual Effects, and check the box.
• Check for corrupted system files: Run “sfc /scannow” in an elevated Command Prompt.
• For videos, install a codec pack like K-Lite Codec Pack, as Windows may lack the necessary codec to generate previews.
• If the folder has too many files, move some to a subfolder to reduce the count.

Thumbnails vs. Icons: Pros and Cons

Thumbnails give you visual recognition, which speeds up finding the right image or video. They are essential for photographers, video editors, and anyone managing media collections. Icons, on the other hand, are lightweight, use less memory, and load faster in large folders. If you work with documents or code, icons are often more useful because the file type matters more than the content. For mixed folders, you can use the “Preview pane” (Alt+P) to see a thumbnail of a selected file without changing the view to large icons.

Third-Party Tools for More Thumbnail Control

If built-in options are insufficient, several free tools extend thumbnail support. Icaros adds thumbnails for many video formats and allows you to choose the frame used. SageThumbs adds previews for additional image formats like PSD and RAW. Media Preview (free for personal use) gives more control over video thumbnails. These tools integrate with File Explorer and are generally safe, but always download from official sources and scan with antivirus.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my video thumbnails show a black screen?

Windows uses the first frame of the video as the thumbnail, which is often black or blank. To get a representative frame, you need a third-party tool like Icaros or Media Preview that lets you specify a time offset (e.g., 10% into the video) for the thumbnail.

How do I show thumbnails for PDF files?

Windows does not generate PDF thumbnails by default. You can install a PDF reader that provides a shell extension, such as Adobe Acrobat Reader (which does not always enable thumbnails) or a third-party tool like PDF-XChange Editor. Alternatively, use the Preview Pane in Explorer, which can render PDFs if you have a PDF handler installed.

Can I show thumbnails in the “Details” view?

No, the Details view is designed for columns of metadata and does not display thumbnails. You can add a “Thumbnail” column in some third-party file managers, but native Windows Explorer does not support that. Use the Preview Pane instead.

Why do thumbnails disappear after I restart my computer?

Windows caches thumbnails in a hidden file called thumbs.db (or iconcache.db). If the cache is corrupted or the folder is on a network drive, thumbnails may regenerate each time. Clearing the cache (as described above) often fixes this. Also, check that the folder is not set to “Always show icons, never thumbnails” in Folder Options.

How do I show thumbnails for files on a network drive?

By default, Windows disables thumbnails on network drives for performance. To enable them, go to Folder Options > View and uncheck “Always show icons, never thumbnails.” Then restart Explorer. Note that this can slow down browsing on slow networks.

Is there a way to show thumbnails for all file types?

No, not without third-party software. Windows only generates thumbnails for file types that have a registered thumbnail handler. For unsupported types, you can use a tool like Icaros or SageThumbs to add handlers for many popular formats, but not every obscure format will be covered.

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