Windows File Explorer offers a preview pane where, when a file is selected, a preview of the file content is displayed for some of the files. Text, PDF, and Images are some of them that support this.
However, if, for some reason, the Preview Pane doesn’t display anything, and displays the “No preview available” message when you select a file, then this post will show how to fix it. It is possible that it is not restricted to certain file types but with all or a few media file types. One of the users reported that images work, but not the media files such as audio and video.
Preview Pane not working or missing in Windows Explorer
If the Preview Pane missing or not working and cannot preview Files in Windows 11/10 Explorer, then there are three ways to fix the problem:
- Enable Preview Pane
- Run System File Checker
- Add More File Types to Preview Pane
Preview Pane is extremely helpful when you have many text and media files and want to preview without opening them. It can be a little tricky when there is a custom file type, but it will work if the software supports it.
Cannot preview Files in Explorer in Windows 11
1] Enable Preview Pane
- Open File Explorer.
- Switch to the View section.
- Select Folder/File Options button.
- In the Folder Options section, switch to the View tab,
- Select the checkbox against —Show Preview Handlers in Preview Pane.
2] Run System File Checker
SFC, or System File Checker, is a Microsoft utility that can scan and restore corrupt Windows System Files. Files related to previewing handlers may be corrupt, and this tool can help you fix it.
3] Add More File Types to Preview Pane
Use the PreviewConfig Utility to add more file types to the Preview Pane. The tool also helps you fix a Preview Type that is set to another, e.g., if the text file is set to Media file instead of Plain text.
If you have a custom file type and wish to register a plain text or a multimedia preview handler, you can use this utility for this custom file type.
I hope the post was useful and easy to understand, and that one of these tips helped you preview files as expected.
TIP: You can also Preview files in Windows using these free apps.
Why can’t I preview files in File Explorer?
You can’t preview files in File Explorer because preview handlers are disabled. To enable them, open File Explorer, click the “Options” button (3 dots), go to the “View” tab, and check the “Show Preview Handlers” option. This will allow the preview pane to display file previews.
How do I enable the preview pane in File Explorer?
To enable the preview pane in File Explorer, go to Options, select the View tab, and ensure that “Show preview handlers in preview pane” is checked. This will allow you to see file previews in the pane.
