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Participant
May 14, 2017
Answered

Lost Windows Explorer thumbnails for pdf files

  • May 14, 2017
  • 2 replies
  • 2009 views

A couple of months ago, on my Windows 10 desktop PC I enabled in the latest version of Acrobat Reader DC "Enable PDF thumbnail previews in Windows Explorer".  It worked.

Recently, it stopped working, for no reason I can discern. 

- I confirmed the "Enable PDF thumbnail..." is still checked.  I've tried un-checking and re-checking it.

- I confirmed that my Windows Explorer setting "Always show icons, never thumbnails" is NOT checked.

- I've rebooted my PC several times

- I've confirmed Acrobat Reader DC is my default pdf app, associated with all pdf files. 

- I have tried uninstalling and re-installing Acrobat Reader DC

- I have tried setting up a new user account in Windows 10, and it also does not show pdf thumbnails

A possible factor: I installed Nuance PDF software as part of installing my new scanner software (ScanSnap iX500)

- But I have since completely uninstalled it. 

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer robt0536

Actually, I tried one more thing: Uninstalling Acrobat Reader DC using the Adobe cleaner tool this time, rebooting my computer, then reinstalling it.  It worked!  My pdf thumbnails are back. 

2 replies

Participating Frequently
August 7, 2020

VOILA! That worked..., for now. I have looked everywhere for a solution to that issue, to no avail. Thank you. Is it OK that I share this with the threads that I've shared my grief with?

robt0536AuthorCorrect answer
Participant
May 14, 2017

Actually, I tried one more thing: Uninstalling Acrobat Reader DC using the Adobe cleaner tool this time, rebooting my computer, then reinstalling it.  It worked!  My pdf thumbnails are back.