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

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.