Troubleshooting Thumbnails Not Showing Images or Videos in File Explorer in Windows 11

In today’s digital age, thumbnails not only serve as small icons representing visual content but also as the first gateway that grabs the user’s attention.

In the Windows 11 operating system, thumbnails play a crucial role in facilitating navigation and quick access to files and folders. They provide a visual preview that helps users quickly identify content without the need to open every file.

However, the issue of thumbnails not showing up has become a hindrance for many users. According to the latest data, about 15% of Windows 11 users report that they are having problems with thumbnails not displaying correctly. This not only interferes with work efficiency but also reduces the visual comfort that thumbnails are supposed to provide.

This can be caused by a variety of factors, ranging from hardware or software issues to improper system configuration. Statistics about users experiencing the thumbnail not showing up the issue can provide insight into how common this problem is and help in identifying the necessary solutions.

Common Causes and Solutions for Thumbnails Not Showing Up

Thumbnails that do not appear in Windows 11 are often caused by improper folder settings. To make sure your thumbnails display correctly, follow these steps:

How to Access Folder Settings

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Click on the Three dots tab at the top.
3. Select the Options option on the right side to open Folder Options.

Ensure Always show icons, never thumbnails option is not selected

1. In the Folder Options dialog, navigate to the View tab.
2. Scroll down and look for the option Always show icons, never thumbnails.
3. Make sure the check box isn’t selected. If selected, uncheck it.
4. Click Apply, then OK to save the changes.

System Performance Settings

To ensure thumbnails display optimally in Windows 11, you need to reset the system performance settings. Follow these steps:

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Select System and Security and then System.
3. Click on Advanced System settings on the left side.
4. In the Advanced tab, click Settings… under Performance.
5. Select the Adjust for best appearance option to activate all visual effects, including thumbnails.

By setting the system to display the best visual effects, your thumbnails will be more likely to be displayed without problems.

Cache Thumbnail

A corrupted thumbnail cache can cause thumbnails not to appear. To clean it:

1. Open Disk Cleanup.
2. Select the system drive (usually C:) and click OK.
3. In the list of files that can be cleaned, check Thumbnails.
4. Click OK and then Delete Files to clear the cache.

For automation of this process, you can use tools like CCleaner or System Ninja. These tools offer scheduled and automatic clearing of the thumbnail cache, ensuring your system remains optimized.

Step-by-Step Guide to Fix Thumbnails

Through Windows Explorer

To reset thumbnails through Windows Explorer, follow these steps:

1. Open Windows Explorer by clicking the folder icon on the taskbar or pressing the Windows key + E.
2. Switch to the directory where you’re having problems with thumbnails not appearing.
3. Inside that directory, delete the thumbs.db file. This file is a thumbnail cache for a specific directory. By deleting it, Windows will create a new thumbnail the next time you open the directory.
4. After removing the thumbs.db, exit Windows Explorer and reopen the same directory to see if thumbnails now appear correctly.

Using Command Prompt

Thumbnails that don’t appear can also be fixed via Command Prompt:

1. Type cmd in the Start menu.
2. Right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
3. Type the following command and press Enter:

del /s /q /f %LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\thumbcache_*.db

4. This command deletes all thumbnail cache files for your user account.
5. Once the above command is executed, exit Command Prompt and try reopening the folder having problems with thumbnails to see if the problem is resolved.

Third-Party Software

Some third-party software that can help in fixing thumbnail issues are:

1. CCleaner: CCleaner is a system cleaning utility that can help clear cache and temporary files that might affect the appearance of thumbnails.
2. IrfanView: Apart from being a lightweight image player, IrfanView also has a feature to update the thumbnail cache, which can help in overcoming the issue of thumbnails not showing up.
3. TuneUp Utilities: This is a comprehensive software package for repairing and optimizing Windows system performance. One of its features is that it clears the cache and temporary files that can affect thumbnails.

Additional Tips and Tricks

How to Prevent Thumbnail Issues in the Future

• Periodic Updates: Make sure your Windows 11 operating system is always updated with the latest updates to avoid bugs that can affect thumbnails.
• Periodic Cleanup: Perform periodic thumbnail cache cleaning using tools such as Disk Cleanup or third-party software.
• Registry Backup: Before making significant changes to the system, make a backup of the registry to make it easier to recover in case of problems.

Plugins and Extensions for Better Thumbnail Management

• Zoom Plus thumbnails: This extension allows you to preview the full size of a thumbnail by simply hovering over it.
• FastStone Image Viewer: This plugin offers quick and easy thumbnail management, as well as basic image editing features.
• XnView: This software is not only an image viewer but also has powerful thumbnail management features.

Conclusion

Through this article, we have explored different methods to solve the issue of thumbnails not showing up the issue on Windows 11. From customizing folder and system settings to clearing the thumbnail cache, to using Command Prompt and third-party software, each solution is presented with easy-to-follow steps to ensure that you can get back to enjoying visual previews of your files quickly and efficiently.