Taskbar Thumbnail Preview not working in Windows 11/10

Hovering over any open program icon on the taskbar on your Windows 11/10 PC, you will see the Taskbar thumbnail preview. When you have so many programs open, thumbnail preview will be quite helpful in switching between programs as it gives you a quick glance of which screen you’re on some program you have open.

Taskbar Thumbnail Preview not working

If you’re faced with this issue, you can try our recommended solutions below in no particular order and see if that helps to resolve the issue.

Enable Taskbar Thumbnail Preview
Run SFC scan
Modify Windows Registry
Perform System Restore

Let’s take a look at the description of the process involved concerning each of the listed solutions.

1] Enable Taskbar Thumbnail Preview

The first thing to try if the Taskbar thumbnail preview is not working or showing for you on your Windows 10 device, is to check and ensure that taskbar thumbnail preview is enabled. If this isn’t the case, you can try the next solution.

2] Run SFC scan

If you have system file errors or corruption, you may encounter this issue. System File Checker is a utility in Windows that allows users to scan for corruptions in Windows system files and restore corrupted files. Run it and see.

3] Modify Windows Registry

This is a two-step fix which involves deleting the DisablePreviewDesktop registry key and then change the NumThumbnails registry key value.

Since this is a registry operation, it is recommended that you back up the registry or create a system restore point as necessary precautionary measures. Once done, you can proceed as follows:

Delete DisablePreviewDesktop registry key

Press Windows key + R to invoke the Run dialog.
In the Run dialog box, type regedit and hit Enter to open Registry Editor.
Navigate or jump to the registry key path below:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

At the location, in the right pane, right-click on the DisablePreviewDesktop registry key

Note: Depending on your version of Windows 10, you may see DisablePreviewWindow entry instead.

Select Delete.
Click Yes on the confirmation prompt.

Change NumThumbnails registry key value

Now, navigate or jump to the registry key path below:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Taskband

At the location, on the right pane, right-click the NumThumbnails entry to edit its properties.

If the key is not present, right-click on the blank space on the right pane and then select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value to create the registry key and then rename the key as NumThumbnails and hit Enter.

Double-click the new key.
In the properties dialog, set the Value data to 10 in Hexadecimal base or 16 in Decimal base.
Click OK or hit Enter to save the change.
Exit Registry Editor.
Restart your PC.

On boot check if the issue is resolved. If not continue with the next solution.

4] Perform System Restore

If the Taskbar thumbnail preview was working well earlier, it’s likely your system has undergone some background changes that you are are not aware of that is now interfering with the proper functioning of the Taskbar thumbnail preview. In this case, you can restore your system to an earlier point when the system was working correctly.

Any of these solutions should work for you!