How To Fix Windows 11 Thumbnails Not Showing Issue - Step By Step Guide

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How To Fix Windows 11 Thumbnails Not Showing Issue

If you’re using Windows 11 and have noticed that your thumbnails are not showing up, don’t worry - you’re not alone. This issue can be frustrating, especially if you rely on thumbnails to quickly identify and open files. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to fix this problem and get your thumbnails showing again.

Step 1: Check Thumbnail Settings

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The first thing you should do is check your thumbnail settings. Sometimes, the problem can be as simple as having the “Always show icons, never thumbnails” option enabled. To check this, go to the File Explorer Options menu by clicking on the “View” tab in File Explorer, then selecting “Options” and “View” tab. Make sure the “Always show icons, never thumbnails” box is not checked.

Step 2: Clear Thumbnail Cache

If your thumbnail settings are correct, the next step is to clear your thumbnail cache. The thumbnail cache is a database that stores thumbnail images, and it can sometimes become corrupted or overloaded, causing thumbnails not to show. To clear the thumbnail cache, open File Explorer and navigate to the following location: %LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer. Once there, delete all files with the prefix “thumbcache_” and restart your computer.

Step 3: Update Graphics Drivers

If clearing the thumbnail cache doesn’t solve the problem, it could be due to outdated or incompatible graphics drivers. Outdated drivers can prevent thumbnails from displaying correctly. To update your graphics drivers, go to the manufacturer’s website (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) and download the latest drivers for your graphics card. Install the drivers and restart your computer.

Step 4: Run System File Checker

If you’re still experiencing issues with thumbnails not showing, you can run the System File Checker (SFC) tool to scan for and repair any corrupted system files. To run the SFC tool, open the Command Prompt as an administrator by right-clicking on the Start button and selecting “Command Prompt (Admin)”. Then, type “sfc /scannow” and hit Enter. Wait for the scan to complete, and if any errors are found, the tool will attempt to repair them.

Step 5: Reset File Associations

In some cases, incorrect file associations can cause thumbnails not to show. To reset file associations, open the Settings app, then go to “Apps” and “Default apps”. Scroll down and click on “Reset” under the “Reset to the Microsoft recommended defaults” section. This will reset all file associations to their default settings.

By following these steps, you should be able to fix the issue of thumbnails not showing in Windows 11. If the problem persists, you may want to consider reaching out to Microsoft support for further assistance.

How To Fix Windows 11 Thumbnails Not Showing Issue

If you’re facing an issue with Windows 11 where thumbnails of your files aren’t showing up, it can be quite frustrating. However, there are a few steps you can take to resolve this problem.

  1. Check Folder Settings:
  2. Open the folder where the thumbnails aren’t showing.
  3. Click on the “View” tab in the File Explorer.
  4. Make sure the “Icon” view is selected.
  5. Clear Thumbnail Cache:
  6. Open the “File Explorer Options” by searching for it in the Start menu.
  7. Go to the “View” tab.
  8. Under the “Advanced settings” section, check the box next to “Always show icons, never thumbnails.”
  9. Click on “Apply” and then click “OK”.
  10. Open the “Run” dialog box by pressing the “Windows” key + “R”.
  11. Type “cleanmgr” into the box and hit enter.
  12. Select the drive where your Windows installation is located.
  13. Check the box next to “Thumbnail Cache” and click “OK”.
  14. Click on “Delete Files” and wait for the process to complete.
  15. Update Graphics Drivers:
  16. Open the “Device Manager” by searching for it in the Start menu.
  17. Expand the “Display adapters” section.
  18. Right-click on your graphics card and select “Update driver”.
  19. Choose the option to search automatically for updated driver software.
  20. Wait for Windows to search for and install any available updates.
  21. Enable Show Thumbnails Option:
  22. Open the File Explorer and go to the folder where the thumbnails aren’t showing.
  23. Click on the “View” tab in the File Explorer.
  24. Click on the “Options” button and select “Change folder and search options”.
  25. Go to the “View” tab in the Folder Options window.
  26. Make sure the “Always show icons, never thumbnails” option is unchecked.
  27. Click on “Apply” and then click “OK”.
  28. Check Disk for Errors:

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29. Open the “Command Prompt” by searching for it in the Start menu. 30. Type “chkdsk c: /f” into the command prompt and press enter. 31. Press “Y” to confirm running the disk check on the next system restart. 32. Restart your computer and wait for the disk check to complete.

By following these steps, you should be able to fix the issue of Windows 11 thumbnails not showing up. If the problem persists, you may need to consider further troubleshooting or seeking help from technical support.

Step By Step Guide to Solving the Problem

If your Windows 11 thumbnails are not showing, it can be frustrating and make it difficult to identify files and folders at a glance. Luckily, there are several steps you can take to fix this issue. Follow the guide below to resolve the problem:

  1. Restart Explorer.exe: The first step is to restart the Windows Explorer process, which can often resolve thumbnail display issues. To do this, follow these steps:
a)Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
b)In the Task Manager, go to the Processes tab.
c)Scroll down and find Windows Explorer in the list of processes.
d)Right-click on Windows Explorer and select Restart.
  1. Clear Thumbnail Cache: If restarting Explorer.exe doesn’t fix the issue, the next step is to clear the thumbnail cache. Follow these steps:
a)Open File Explorer by pressing Win + E.
b)In the File Explorer window, click on the View tab.
c)Check the box next to Hidden items in the Show/hide section.
d)Go to the following folder: C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer (replace “YourUsername” with your actual username).
e)Delete all files with the .db extension in that folder.
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  1. Enable Thumbnail Preview: If the issue persists, you may need to enable thumbnail preview in the File Explorer options. Here’s how:
a)Open File Explorer by pressing Win + E.
b)Click on the View tab in the File Explorer window.
c)Click on the Options button, which is located on the right side of the window.
d)In the Folder Options window, go to the View tab.
e)Make sure the box next to “Always show icons, never thumbnails” is unchecked.
f)Click Apply and then OK to save the changes.
  1. Update Graphics Drivers: If none of the above steps work, there may be an issue with your graphics drivers. Updating them can often resolve thumbnail display issues. Here’s how:
a)Press Win + X and select Device Manager from the menu.
b)In the Device Manager window, expand the Display adapters category.
c)Right-click on your graphics card and select Update driver.
d)Choose Search automatically for updated driver software.
e)Wait for Windows to search and install any available updates for your graphics card.

After completing these steps, your Windows 11 thumbnails should start showing correctly. If the issue persists, it may be worth considering other troubleshooting steps or contacting Microsoft support for further assistance.

Common Causes of Windows 11 Thumbnails Not Showing Issue

1. Corrupted thumbnail cache: One of the common causes of Windows 11 thumbnails not showing is a corrupted thumbnail cache. The thumbnail cache is a database that stores thumbnail images for quick retrieval. If the cache becomes corrupted, it can result in missing or blank thumbnails.

2. Incorrect folder settings: Another possible cause is incorrect folder settings. Windows 11 allows you to customize the view settings for individual folders. If the settings for a specific folder are set to not display thumbnails, it can result in the thumbnails not showing up.

3. Disabled thumbnail generation: Windows 11 has an option to disable thumbnail generation for certain file types. If this option is enabled, the system will not generate thumbnails for those file types, leading to the thumbnails not appearing.

4. Outdated or incompatible graphics drivers: Graphics drivers play a crucial role in displaying thumbnails correctly. Outdated or incompatible graphics drivers can cause issues with thumbnail rendering, resulting in missing or distorted thumbnails.

5. Insufficient system resources: In some cases, a lack of system resources such as memory or processing power can prevent Windows 11 from generating and displaying thumbnails. This is especially true for large files or folders with numerous items.

Summary of common causes:

| Cause | Description | | Corrupted thumbnail cache | The thumbnail cache database is corrupted, leading to missing thumbnails. | | Incorrect folder settings | The folder settings are configured to not display thumbnails. | | Disabled thumbnail generation | Thumbnail generation is disabled for certain file types. | | Outdated or incompatible graphics drivers | Graphics drivers are outdated or incompatible, causing issues with thumbnail rendering. | | Insufficient system resources | Lack of system resources prevents thumbnail generation and display. |

Troubleshooting Tips for Windows 11 Thumbnails Not Showing Issue

If you’re experiencing issues with your Windows 11 thumbnails not showing up, there are a few troubleshooting tips you can try to resolve the issue. Thumbnails are small preview images that allow you to quickly identify files and folders without having to open them.

Here are some tips to troubleshoot the Windows 11 thumbnails not showing issue:

  1. Check Folder Options: Make sure that the “Always show icons, never thumbnails” option is unchecked in the Folder Options settings. To access Folder Options, open File Explorer, click on the “View” tab, and then click on “Options” on the right side.
  2. Clear Thumbnail Cache: Clearing the thumbnail cache can help resolve issues with missing thumbnails. To do this, open the Run dialog box by pressing Windows key + R, type in “cleanmgr” and hit Enter. Select the Windows drive (usually C:), check the “Thumbnails” option, and click on “OK” to clear the cache.
  3. Update Graphics Drivers: Outdated or malfunctioning graphics drivers can cause issues with thumbnails not showing up. Visit the website of your graphics card manufacturer and download the latest drivers for your specific model.
  4. Check Disk Errors: Run a disk check to scan for any errors on your computer’s hard drive. Open the Command Prompt as an administrator and type in “chkdsk /f /r” followed by the drive letter (e.g., “C:”) and hit Enter. Follow the prompts to schedule the disk check and restart your computer.
  5. Disable Third-Party Shell Extensions: Sometimes, third-party shell extensions can interfere with the display of thumbnails in Windows 11. Use a tool like ShellExView to disable non-Microsoft shell extensions and see if the thumbnails start showing up.
  6. Run System File Checker: Running the System File Checker can help repair any corrupted or missing system files that might be causing the issue. Open the Command Prompt as an administrator and type in “sfc /scannow” and hit Enter. Wait for the process to complete and restart your computer.

If none of these troubleshooting tips work, you may need to consider performing a system restore or reinstalling Windows 11 to fix the thumbnails not showing issue. Remember to back up your important files and settings before attempting any major changes to your system.

Hopefully, one of these tips will help you resolve the issue and get your Windows 11 thumbnails to show up again.

FAQ:

Why are my thumbnails not showing in Windows 11?

The thumbnails may not be showing in Windows 11 due to issues with the thumbnail cache, incorrect file associations, or a problem with the graphics driver.

How can I fix the issue of thumbnails not showing in Windows 11?

To fix the issue of thumbnails not showing in Windows 11, you can try clearing the thumbnail cache, resetting the file associations, or updating the graphics driver.

What is the process of clearing the thumbnail cache in Windows 11?

To clear the thumbnail cache in Windows 11, you can open the Disk Cleanup utility, select the “Thumbnails” option, and click on “OK” to delete the cache.

How do I reset the file associations in Windows 11?

To reset the file associations in Windows 11, you can go to the Settings app, navigate to the “Apps” section, select “Default apps,” and click on “Reset” to reset the file associations to their default settings.

Why should I update the graphics driver to fix the thumbnails not showing issue?

Updating the graphics driver can resolve compatibility issues and ensure that the graphics card is functioning properly, which may help in fixing the thumbnails not showing issue in Windows 11.

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