When you open File Explorer on your Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC, you may notice that pictures, videos, and other supported files display small preview images instead of their regular file icons. These images are called thumbnail previews. They help you identify files quickly without opening each one individually.
However, thumbnail previews are not always useful. If you work with large folders containing hundreds or thousands of files, generating thumbnails can sometimes slow down File Explorer. It can also make folder navigation less convenient, especially when you prefer a clean and consistent icon view.
In Windows, you can disable thumbnail previews for files and folders using several different methods. You can change File Explorer settings, adjust performance options, or modify Windows Registry settings if you need more control.
Disabling thumbnails does not delete your pictures, videos, or documents. It simply prevents Windows from displaying their preview images in File Explorer. Your files will remain accessible, and you can still open them normally.
In this guide, we’ll explain how to turn off thumbnail previews in Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Let’s get started!
Disable Thumbnail Previews for Files and Folders in Windows 11/10
To disable thumbnail previews for files and folders in Windows 11 or Windows 10, follow these steps:
- Open File Explorer by pressing Windows + E.
- Select the three-dot menu and choose Options in Windows 11. In Windows 10, select the View tab and click Options.
- Open the View tab in the Folder Options window.
- Find and check Always show icons, never thumbnails.
- Click Apply and then OK to save your changes.
- Restart File Explorer or reopen the folder to verify that thumbnail previews are disabled.
Let’s learn in detail!
1: Open File Explorer on Your Windows PC
The first step is to open File Explorer, where you can access the settings that control how Windows displays files and folders.
Press Windows + E on your keyboard. This keyboard shortcut immediately opens File Explorer without requiring you to search through the Start menu.
Alternatively, click the File Explorer icon on your taskbar or search for File Explorer using Windows Search.
Once File Explorer opens, navigate to any folder containing pictures, videos, or other files that currently display thumbnail previews. You may notice that image files show small versions of their actual pictures, while videos display preview frames.
For now, you do not need to change anything inside the folder. Simply keep File Explorer open because you’ll use it to access the thumbnail settings.
2: Open Folder Options in Windows 11/10
Next, you need to access Folder Options, where Windows provides different settings for controlling how files and folders appear in File Explorer.
If you’re using Windows 11, open File Explorer and click the three-dot menu on the command bar. From the dropdown menu, select Options.
Follow this navigation path: File Explorer > Three-dot menu > Options.
If you’re using Windows 10, the process is slightly different. Open File Explorer, select the View tab from the top menu, and click Options on the right side. Choose Change folder and search options if that option appears.
The navigation path for Windows 10 is File Explorer > View > Options > Change folder and search options.
After selecting Options, the Folder Options window will appear. This window contains several settings related to file browsing, folder views, and search behavior.
3: Open the View Tab in Folder Options
Once the Folder Options window appears, you’ll notice three main tabs: General, View, and Search.
Select the View tab to access advanced settings that control how Windows displays files and folders.
This section includes options for displaying hidden files, showing file extensions, managing folder views, and controlling thumbnail previews.
Scroll through the Advanced settings list until you find the option named Always show icons, never thumbnails.
This setting is particularly useful because it allows Windows to display standard file icons instead of preview images. You can enable it without deleting thumbnail files or changing the original content of your documents and media.
Follow this navigation path: Folder Options > View > Advanced settings.
Make sure you locate the exact setting before moving to the next step. Changing unrelated options may affect how File Explorer displays other files and folders.
4: Enable Always Show Icons, Never Thumbnails
Now that you’ve located the correct setting, you can disable thumbnail previews.
Under the Advanced settings section, find Always show icons, never thumbnails. Click the checkbox next to this option to enable it.
When this setting is enabled, Windows stops displaying thumbnail images for supported files in File Explorer. Instead, you’ll see their standard application or file-type icons.
For example, a JPG image will display an image file icon rather than a small preview of the actual photograph. Similarly, supported video files will no longer show preview frames in their folder listings.
After checking the option, click Apply and then OK to save the changes.
The complete navigation path is File Explorer > Options > View > Always show icons, never thumbnails > Apply > OK.
Open a folder containing pictures or videos to check whether the previews have disappeared. If the changes are not immediately visible, move to the next step.
5: Restart File Explorer to Apply the Changes
Sometimes, File Explorer may continue displaying previously generated thumbnails even after you change the settings. Restarting the process can help refresh the interface.
To do this, right-click the Start button and select Task Manager. Alternatively, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager directly.
If you’re using Windows 11, select the Processes section from the left navigation panel. In Windows 10, open the Processes tab.
Find Windows Explorer in the list of running processes. Select it and click Restart task in Windows 11 or Restart in Windows 10.
Follow this navigation path: Task Manager > Processes > Windows Explorer > Restart.
Your taskbar and desktop may briefly disappear while Windows Explorer restarts. This is normal. Wait a few seconds for the interface to return.
Now reopen File Explorer and check whether thumbnail previews are disabled.
Disable Thumbnail Previews Using Performance Options
If you prefer another method, you can also disable thumbnail previews through Windows performance settings.
This method is useful when you want to manage visual effects and improve the responsiveness of your PC.
Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box. Type sysdm.cpl and press Enter. The System Properties window will appear.
Select the Advanced tab and locate the Performance section. Click the Settings button to open Performance Options.
Under the Visual Effects tab, find the option named Show thumbnails instead of icons.
Uncheck this option and click Apply, followed by OK.
The navigation path is Windows + R > sysdm.cpl > Advanced > Performance Settings > Visual Effects > Show thumbnails instead of icons.
This setting disables thumbnail previews through Windows visual effects. However, it can affect how thumbnails appear across File Explorer, so use it if you want a broader visual setting rather than changing individual folder preferences.
If you want thumbnails back later, simply return to the same window and check the option again.
Disable Thumbnail Previews Through Registry Editor
If the regular Folder Options method does not work as expected, you can use Registry Editor to manage the thumbnail display setting.
However, be careful when editing the Windows Registry. Incorrect changes can cause system problems. It is a good idea to create a restore point or back up the relevant registry key before proceeding.
Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter. If User Account Control asks for permission, select Yes.
Navigate to the following registry location:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
Look for a DWORD value named IconsOnly. If it exists, double-click it and change its Value data to 1. This setting tells File Explorer to display icons instead of thumbnails.
If the value does not exist, right-click an empty area in the right pane, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it IconsOnly. Open it and set its value to 1.
Click OK to save the change. Close Registry Editor and restart Windows Explorer using Task Manager.
The navigation path is Registry Editor > HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Software > Microsoft > Windows > CurrentVersion > Explorer > Advanced > IconsOnly.
To restore thumbnail previews, change the value data to 0 or remove the custom value if you created it specifically for this setting.
For most beginners, the Folder Options method is simpler and safer. Use Registry Editor only when you are comfortable modifying Windows settings.
FAQs
1. How do I turn off thumbnail previews in Windows 11?
Open File Explorer, select the three-dot menu, and choose Options. Open the View tab, check Always show icons, never thumbnails, and click Apply and OK.
2. How do I disable thumbnails in Windows 10?
Open File Explorer and navigate to View > Options > View. Find Always show icons, never thumbnails, check the option, and select Apply and OK.
3. Does disabling thumbnail previews delete my pictures?
No. Disabling thumbnails does not delete, modify, or move your files. It only changes how Windows displays them in File Explorer. You can still open and edit your pictures and videos normally.
4. Will disabling thumbnails make File Explorer faster?
It may improve File Explorer responsiveness, especially when browsing folders containing large numbers of pictures and videos. However, the performance improvement depends on your computer’s hardware, folder size, and workload.
5. Can I disable thumbnails for only one folder?
Yes, you can adjust folder view settings, but the Always show icons, never thumbnails option is generally a broader File Explorer setting. Windows does not provide a straightforward, universal thumbnail-disable switch for just one folder through this option.
6. How do I enable thumbnail previews again?
Open File Explorer > Options > View and uncheck Always show icons, never thumbnails. Click Apply and OK. Restart File Explorer if the previews do not return immediately.
7. Why are thumbnails still showing after disabling them?
File Explorer may need to refresh before the change becomes visible. Restart Windows Explorer through Task Manager and reopen the affected folder. Also, check whether another visual effects setting is overriding your preferred display behavior.
Final Words
Disabling thumbnail previews for files and folders in Windows 11 or Windows 10 is a simple way to customize File Explorer and potentially reduce the time Windows spends generating image previews.
The easiest method is to open Folder Options > View and enable Always show icons, never thumbnails. If you want an alternative, you can also use Performance Options or Registry Editor.
Remember that disabling thumbnails does not affect your actual files. Your pictures, videos, and documents remain safe and accessible. You can also reverse the changes whenever you want to bring thumbnail previews back.
Choose the method that works best for your needs, save your settings, and enjoy a cleaner File Explorer experience.