Fix: ‘PDF Thumbnails Not Showing’ issue

In this article we will explain how to Fix ‘PDF Thumbnails Not Showing’ issue. PDF thumbnails are really important to us when it comes to sending documents to coworkers and clients in a reliable and easy way. But PDF thumbnails don’t always show on Windows 11/10. This problem can be caused by bugs, an old version of Adobe Reader, or other things. A thumbnail is a smaller version of the image file you want to show.

Most of the time, it’s best to have a quick look at large pictures in the folder that might take a long time to open otherwise. Windows File Explorer shows thumbnails of images, videos, and other files so that you can tell them apart and quickly open the one you need. However, it displays a generic file format icon for many file formats including PDF.

When Windows doesn’t show previews for PDF files, the name of the file is the only way to tell them apart. Still, users don’t know much about the problem of PDF thumbnails not showing on Windows 11/10. When we saw this, we decided to make a guide to help people fix this problem. So let’s not waste any more of your valuable time and get started on how to Fix ‘PDF Thumbnails Not Showing’ issue.

What are PDF thumbnails?

Let’s talk about why PDF thumbnails might not show up on Windows 11. It could be a random bug that is making the PC act up in different ways. Out of the many problems that can happen, missing thumbnails in PDF files could be one. The PC might not have let you see thumbnails. When this is the reason you won’t see the thumbnail preview for any file format, you have on your computer. The thumbnail cache may have been broken for a long time because it held useless information.

If you downloaded the PDF file from the Internet in the wrong way, the file could have been damaged. So, it doesn’t have a thumbnail preview. The settings in Windows File Explorer to show thumbnails can be turned off, which means that image file icons will be shown without a preview. Other than these, you won’t be able to preview pictures in File Explorer folders if the thumbnail cache files get corrupted. There’s also a chance that your photos are broken, which is why you can’t see thumbnails in the folder.

What are the causes of PDF thumbnails not showing?

1. PDF viewer settings: The PDF viewer you are using may have specific settings that affect the display of thumbnails. Ensure that the settings are properly configured to show thumbnails.
2. PDF file type: If the PDF file you are trying to view has a different file type or is corrupted, it may not generate or display thumbnails properly. Ensure that the PDF file is of the correct type and is not damaged.
3. Thumbnail generation settings: Thumbnail generation settings on your computer or PDF viewer might be disabled or not functioning correctly. Check the settings to ensure that thumbnail generation is enabled.
4. Software compatibility: Some PDF viewers or operating systems may have compatibility issues that prevent thumbnail generation. Ensure that you are using a compatible PDF viewer and that your operating system is up to date.
5. File permissions: If the PDF file has restricted permissions or is located in a restricted folder, it may prevent thumbnail generation. Check the file permissions and ensure that you have the necessary access rights.

Ways to Fix ‘PDF Thumbnails Not Showing’ issue

Manage Thumbnail Preview on Adobe Acrobat Reader

1. Click right on any PDF file.
2. Choose Open With > Choose Another App from the menu.
3. Choose the Adobe Acrobat Reader program and click Always.
4. Start Adobe Acrobat Reader.
5. Click on Edit in the menu bar and then choose Preferences.
6. Click on the tab General under Preferences.
7. Select the checkbox Enable PDF thumbnail previews in Windows Explorer.
8. Move down and click OK to make sure the changes are made.

Restart the PC

1. Press the Windows key.
2. When the search box comes up, go to the bottom right and click the power icon.
3. Click on Restart from the menu.
4. Now, check whether or not the PDF thumbnails are showing.

Enable Thumbnails on Windows Explorer

1. To open File explorer, press Windows + E.
2. Find the three-dot button and click it to open a menu with more options.
3. Choose the word Options from the menu.
4. In the Folder Options dialogue box, click on the tab View.
5. You will have a choice. Never show thumbnails, only icons. Don’t choose this.
6. Click “Apply,” then click “OK.”

Reset the Thumbnail Cache

Cache stores the thumbnail images. This will make it easy for the system to make thumbnails for the files you use most often. By clearing the cache, you will get rid of any useless data that is in it.

1. To go to the Windows settings, press Windows + I.
2. Under the System tab, click on Storage.
3. Click on “Temporary Files” next.
4. Under that, only choose Thumbnails and uncheck all of the other boxes.
5. Select Delete Files.

Enable File Preview: A Better Alternative to Thumbnail

When you turn on this feature, you can see a preview of the file’s content on the right side of Explorer, as the name suggests. It will ado. k X. Xie a kinfolinx docx. Here’s how to make Windows OS show previews of files.

1. Press the hotkeys Windows + E, you can go to Windows Explorer.
2. Click on View, then Show from the menu.
3. Click on Preview Pane under the Show submenu.
4. When you click on a PDF file, the preview will show up on the right.

Importance of PDF Thumbnails

1. PDF thumbnails make it easy to tell: what’s in a PDF file by showing what it looks like. They show a preview or snapshot of the document, so users can quickly see what it is about without opening it. This visual identification saves time and helps users locate the desired document more efficiently.
2. Quick navigation: PDF thumbnails make it easy for users to move through a group of PDF files by just looking at the thumbnails. Instead of just using file names or metadata, it becomes easier to find a specific document based on how it looks. This is especially helpful when you are working with a lot of PDF files or putting documents into different groups.
3. Content preview: Thumbnails provide a glimpse into the content of a PDF file, allowing users to preview the document’s layout, graphics, charts, or images. This preview helps people decide if they want to open the file to look at it more closely or search for specific information in it. It can be especially helpful when the document’s title or metadata don’t fully explain what it is about.
4. PDF thumbnails make document management easier: because they make it easier to visually organize and sort documents. Users can drag and drop files based on their thumbnails, change the order of the files, or put files together based on how similar they look. This feature helps you make a filing system that is easy to use and fits your needs, which improves overall productivity and makes things easier to find.

Conclusion

We like thumbnails because they tell us about the file and what’s in it at a glance. an a… But after a lot of digging, we found out how to get PDF thumbnails to show in Windows. We hope you like it and that all the methods we’ve shared work. If you have any problems with this article, please let us know.

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