Search for gpedit.msc and click OK to open the Local Group Policy Editor.To disable thumbnails with Group Policy, use these steps:
How to enable or disable thumbnails using Group PolicyĪlternatively, you can even manage the display of thumbnail previews using Group Policy. To use the visual effects settings to re-enable thumbnails, use these steps:Ĭheck the Show thumbnails instead of icons option.Īfter you complete the steps, files should appear with the respective previews in File Explorer. Once you complete the steps, File Explorer will no longer show thumbnails for files. Under the "Performance" section, click the Settings button.Ĭlear the Show thumbnails instead of icons option. Under the "Related settings" section, click the Advanced system settings option in the right pane. To disable the thumbnails for files using the visual effects settings, use these steps: You can also use the Settings app to access the visual effects settings that allow you to enable or disable thumbnail previews, among other appearance and performance effects. How to enable or disable thumbnails using Settings If, after adjusting the settings, you don't see the thumbnails, then restart File Explorer and repeat the instructions one more time. Under the "Advanced settings" section, clear the Always show icons, never thumbnails option.Īfter you complete the steps, previews will now appear for files in File Explorer. To enable thumbnails for files on Windows 10, use these steps: If you ended up in this guide because thumbnails are not showing in File Explorer, it's possible that for some reason or system update, the feature got disabled by mistake. Once you complete the steps, files will appear as icons without previews.
Under the "Advanced settings" section, check the Always show icons, never thumbnails option. On Windows 10, the easiest way to disable or enable thumbnail previews for files is to use the File Explorer settings. How to enable or disable thumbnails using File Explorer How to enable or disable thumbnails using Group Policy.How to enable or disable thumbnails using Settings.How to enable or disable thumbnails using File Explorer.
In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the steps to disable (and enable) thumbnails for files in File Explorer.