How to fix file explorer not showing thumbnails windows 11​？

File Explorer in Windows 11 offers a visual representation of files through thumbnails, making it easier to navigate and identify different types of media files. However, users often encounter an issue where File Explorer fails to display thumbnails, instead showing generic icons. This problem can be frustrating, especially for those working with images, videos, or design files.

Thumbnail cache corruption – Windows stores thumbnail previews in a cache, which can become corrupted over time.

Incorrect File Explorer settings – Some settings might disable thumbnail previews, causing them not to show.

Performance settings – If Windows is optimized for performance, it may disable thumbnails to save system resources.

Outdated or corrupted graphics drivers – Display issues may result from outdated or faulty GPU drivers.

Third-party software conflicts – Some external applications or antivirus programs can interfere with thumbnail generation.

System file corruption – Corrupted Windows system files may affect File Explorer’s ability to display thumbnails.

Storage issues – Low disk space or corrupted storage can impact thumbnail rendering.

Solutions to Fix Missing Thumbnails in Windows 11

1. Enable Thumbnails in File Explorer Options

Windows 11 has an option to disable thumbnails for performance reasons. Here’s how to ensure they are enabled:

Open File Explorer (Windows + E).

Click on the three-dot menu at the top and select Options.

In the Folder Options window, go to the View tab.

Ensure that Always show icons, never thumbnails is unchecked.

Click Apply and then OK.

2. Restart File Explorer

Restarting File Explorer can refresh its functionality:

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.

Find Windows Explorer in the Processes tab.

Right-click on it and select Restart.

3. Clear and Reset the Thumbnail Cache

Corrupted thumbnail cache files can cause display issues. Clearing the cache can resolve this:

Press Windows + R, type cleanmgr, and press Enter.

Select C: drive (or the drive where Windows is installed) and click OK.

Check the box for Thumbnails and click OK.

Restart your computer.

Alternatively, reset the cache manually:

Open File Explorer and go to:

C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer

Delete all thumbcache_*.db files.

Restart your PC.

4. Modify Performance Settings

Thumbnails may not appear if Windows is set to prioritize performance over appearance.

Press Windows + R, type sysdm.cpl, and press Enter.

Go to the Advanced tab and click Settings under the Performance section.

Ensure that Show thumbnails instead of icons is checked.

Click Apply and OK.

5. Change File Explorer View Settings

Sometimes, thumbnails fail to load due to the selected view mode.

Open File Explorer.

Click the View tab and select a larger icon size (e.g., Medium, Large, or Extra Large Icons).

6. Update Graphics Drivers

Outdated or corrupted drivers can cause graphical issues.

Press Windows + X and select Device Manager.

Expand Display adapters.

Right-click your graphics driver and select Update driver.

Choose Search automatically for drivers.

7. Disable Third-Party Applications

Some applications interfere with thumbnails, particularly third-party file managers or antivirus programs.

Disable any third-party antivirus temporarily and check if thumbnails reappear.

If thumbnails work after disabling the antivirus, consider adding File Explorer to the exception list.

8. Run System File Checker (SFC) and DISM

Corrupted system files can affect Windows functions, including thumbnails.

Open Command Prompt as Administrator.

Run the following commands:

sfc /scannow

After the scan completes, run:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Restart your PC.

9. Check for Windows Updates

Microsoft regularly releases updates that fix bugs.

Press Windows + I to open Settings.

Go to Windows Update and click Check for updates.

Install any available updates and restart your PC.

10. Reset File Explorer Settings

If nothing works, resetting File Explorer settings might help.

Open File Explorer and go to Options.

Click on the View tab and press Restore Defaults.

Click Apply and OK.

11. Perform a System Restore

If thumbnails were working before but stopped suddenly, a system restore may resolve the issue.

Press Windows + R, type rstrui, and press Enter.

Choose a restore point when thumbnails were working.

Follow the prompts to restore your system.

12. Use a Third-Party Thumbnail Repair Tool

Panda Assistant is a powerful tool designed to troubleshoot and fix various Windows issues, including File Explorer not displaying thumbnails correctly. If your Windows 11 system fails to generate thumbnail previews for images, videos, or other files, Panda Assistant can provide an efficient solution.

How Panda Assistant Helps:

Thumbnail Cache Repair – Panda Assistant can automatically scan and clear corrupted thumbnail cache files, ensuring fresh thumbnails are generated.

File Explorer Settings Adjustment – It detects incorrect settings that prevent thumbnails from displaying and restores them to optimal configurations.

System Optimization – The software ensures that performance settings do not interfere with thumbnail generation by adjusting system preferences accordingly.

Driver Updates – Outdated or faulty graphics drivers can affect thumbnail previews. Panda Assistant scans for driver issues and updates them automatically.

Antivirus Conflict Detection – Some security programs block thumbnail generation. Panda Assistant identifies such conflicts and recommends necessary exclusions.

System File Repair – It runs automated SFC (System File Checker) and DISM scans to repair corrupt system files affecting thumbnails.