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J
Joanne5FC3
Participant
November 11, 2020
Question

How to stop thumbnails being displayed by default when viewing a PDF

  • November 11, 2020
  • 3 replies
  • 2471 views

Hi,  I am using Adobe DC professional and since we moved to Windows 10 (coincidence??) when I now open a PDF the thumbnails open by default on the left hand side, which drives me nuts.  In an earlier version, I turned this off, but am unable to on this one. I can do it once I have opened the document, but I have to do it every time.. First world problems 😛

I would appreciate any advice, thanks...

3 replies

B
Beth23082061er6k
Inspiring
October 17, 2024

This has been driving me crazy for quite a while now and I just found a solution. Don’t know if it works in all versions of Acrobat or not, but I was able to right-click on the Thumbnail icon on the left toolbar and select Reset Panes. This closed the Navigation Pane and it stayed closed even after quitting Acrobat and opening up a different PDF. Your mileage may vary…

Souvik Sadhu
Community Manager
Souvik SadhuCommunity Manager
Community Manager
February 17, 2025

Hi @Beth23082061er6k,

 

Hope you are doing well. 

 

Thanks for writing about what worked for you.

Marking this as a correct answer for future users to use as reference.


-Souvik

AkanchhaS8194121
AkanchhaS8194121
Legend
November 12, 2020

Hi Joanne,

 

Hope you are doing well. I believe you are referring to the Page Thumbnail within Acrobat DC. Have tried disabling it from the menu-bar at the top?

If not, then choose View > Show/Hide > Navigation Panes > uncheck Page Thumbnails.

 

If it still doens't work, then let us know the exact version of Acrobat you are working currently?

 

Thanks,

Akanchha

J
Joanne5FC3Author
Participant
November 12, 2020

Hi Akanchha,

 

I have already tried your suggestion above, but the change doesn't remain as the default setting.

When I open a new, previously unopened pdf, it opens every time with the thumbnails visible. 

It is only when I reopen one that when I opened it previously, I turned them off , that it doesn't happen, as I have ticked it to "restore last view settings when reopening documents".

 

The version of Adobe Acrobat Pro DC I am using is 20.013.20064.

 

I look forward to hearing back from you, and thank you for your prompt response.

 

kind regards,

 

Jo

Amal.
Amal.
Legend
November 12, 2020

Hi Joanne,

 

Hope you are doing well and sorry to hear that the issue still exists.

 

++ Adding to the discussion

 

Please try the following steps and see if that helps.

  • Once you close the PDF thumbnail on the left side go to Edit > Preferences > Documents > Select 'Restore last view settings when reopening documents' > Click OK and reboot the application and check.

 

Regards

Amal

ls_rbls
Community Expert
ls_rblsCommunity Expert
Community Expert
November 12, 2020

I think that is a design behavior; it has not been addressed in any updates for almost a year now. I'm afraid is like those conversation that you get in a medical office, where the doctor says: "You're gonna have to learn how to live with that pain permanently".

ls_rbls
Community Expert
ls_rblsCommunity Expert
Community Expert
November 12, 2020

On second thought, maybe I'm wrong.

 

Have you tried to research about any registry or Plist preference settings online?

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