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PDF Preview deactivated with Windows update

Forum|Forum|3 months ago
October 15, 2025
20 replies
60251 views

My computer restarted after windows updates and now I'm unable to preview pdf's as before. I have tried resetting View Options... in different options as suggested by multiple forums. None have been able to re-activate the Preview Pane option. In Adobe preferences, I've checked and unchecked "Enable PDF thumbnail previews in Windows Explorer" without success.

Coworkers are now experiencing the same thing after the automatic updates occurred after-hours. Suggestions or alternatives to opening each file?

PDF

Correct answer Randy Hagan

The first thing I'd try would be to first open Acrobat, then open a Windows File Explorer window.

You want to use the other toggle switches you describe in your post. Toggle your View Options to show large or extra large icons. Check the Enable PDF thumbnail previews in Windows Explorer check box and open your Preview Pane. The important things we want to test is whether the images show up in your dialog box in the Files Pane and/or the Preview Pane.

Sometimes doing this once will get you your previews. More often, you may find you have to open Acrobat every time you want to see a PDF preview in the Preview Pane. You'll know your course of action after you try this process a time or three.

Hope this helps,

Randy

Show previous replies

C

chantal_1382

Participant

Bonjour à tous et toutes,

Concernant le problème d'aperçus pour les fichiers pdf dans l'explorateur Windows, en attendant qu'une solution définitive soit trouvée par Microsoft, j'ai trouvé une parade, certes pénible mais qui fonctionne. (Yes !!)

Je vais dans l'explorateur et double clic sur le fichier dont je n'ai pas l'apercu. Il s'ouvre dans Adobe acrobate et je le ré-enregistre sous le même nom dans le même dossier que celui d'origine (on va nous dire qu'il existe déja, répondre oui pour supprimer l'ancien fichier). Ah ce moment là dans l'explorateur windows, j'ais alors de nouveau l'aperçu.

Mais j'espère que Microsoft trouvera vite une parade pour ce problème qui à priori ne se voit que sur les pdf téléchgargés de mails.

E

eve_7450

Participant

Bonjour, ici j'ai appelé mon service informatique qui m'indique que microsoft a pour but de supprimer totalement le volet de visualisation car juger dangereux. Et ils n'ont pas de solution à part pour chaque fichier faire un clique droit, propriété et cocher "débloquer".... ce qui fonctionne en effet, mais sur des centaines de documents chaque jour...

G

gaston_8056

Participating Frequently

S'ils le suppriment la productivité au boulot va en prendre un coup...

U

Utkarsh35493727za1t

Adobe Employee

Hi @jennifer_2464,

Thanks for reporting this issue. To help us investigate further, please provide the following:
System Details:
1. Adobe Acrobat/Reader version (Help > About Adobe Acrobat/Reader)
2. Windows OS version/build (type winver in the Windows search box)

Reproduction Information:
1. The exact steps you followed when the issue occurred
2. A short video or screenshot of issue, if possible

Troubleshooting Step (Please try and confirm):
1. Update Acrobat/Reader to the latest version, then:
2. Go to Preferences > General
3. Check “Enable PDF thumbnail previews in Windows Explorer”
4. Click OK
5. Relaunch Acrobat 1–2 times > Close it
6. Restart your PC and check if the issue persists

Once we have this information, we can assist you further.
Thank you.

J

jennifer_2464Author

Participating Frequently

1. Continuous Release | Version 2025.001.21111 | 64-bit

2.Windows 11 Home, version 25H2 (installed on 12/5/2024)

**Successfully installed on 1/31/2026 (2026-01 Preview Update (KB5074105) (26200.7705)

Still nothing.

J

jennifer_2464Author

Participating Frequently

Forgot to mention, after trying several suggestions 3 months ago I noted that I was able to preview word & excel files (which I was unable to when I lost my preview privileges). Today, I am unable to (again). So whatever windows is doing is making things react, but it is not solving the problem. Thanks

Dave Creamer of IDEAS

Community Expert

The preview pane for PDFs on my system (although I usually don't have it on).

Latest update: KB5066835

David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)

J

jace_4656

Participant

I wanted to share a temporary workaround for the Adobe issue we've all been experiencing. While it's not a permanent solution, it worked for me at least until a patch is available from Adobe.

1. Go to your computer's settings.

2. Navigate to Windows Updates --> Update History

3. Scroll down and click 'Uninstall Updates' and click uninstall the most recent "Security Update for Microsoft Windows"

3. Reboot your computer.

You'll still have the previous security updates, but this will remove the specific update that seems to be causing the current problem. I hope this helps until Adobe provides an official fix.

M

m.t_th�o

Participant

Puisque la désinstallation de sécurité a bien marché pour vous jace_4656, c'est donc certain que le problème est bien la derniere mise à jour windows et non un problème Adobe. C'est déjà un bon pas, d'autant que des collegues admin rapportent aussi d'autres problèmes provoqués après cette mise à jour.

M

monika_3023

Participant

I am having the same issue, I work with pdf files most of the time, need to rename it according to their content, so it is very frustrating not being able to do it as I am used to, but need to open it to see, make notes on paper, then close and rename.... are we not living in the 21st century any more surranded by robots any more?
My observation is that pdf files that were created by "print to pdf" action is still previewable, but not one that were downloaded from different platforms, even though I created them.
I have been trying to find solution in the last two days, never thought of that it was caused by a Windows update, but maybe we should start questioning Microsoft then?
I hope you find a solution and let us all in trouble know.

J

jennifer_2464Author

Participating Frequently

Thanks for providing feedback everyone! There is an update in adobe this morning and after updating it my coworker was able to preview downloads from after the udpate, but not files from yesterday or before. I did the adobe update on my pc and it did not change anything.

I'm hoepful and will continue to search for the solution. Best of luck!

M

monika_3023

Participant

I uninstalled and reinstalled Adobe Acrobat Reader today - no changes. Installed PowerToys - no changes. Tried all suggestions one can find on Google - nothing helped. I feel totally lost.

G

gaston_8056

Participating Frequently

Il est marqué problème résolu mais j'ai le même problème et ça ne fonctionne toujours pas.

C'est suite à la mise à jour windows...

C

chantal_1382

Participant

Bonjour

Concernant le problème d'aperçus pour les fichiers pdf dans l'explorateur Windows, en attendant qu'une solution définitive soit trouvée par Microsoft, j'ai trouvé une parade, certes pénible mais qui fonctionne. (Yes !!)

Je vais dans l'explorateur et double clic sur le fichier dont je n'ai pas l'apercu. Il s'ouvre dans Adobe acrobate et je le ré-enregistre sous le même nom dans le même dossier que celui d'origine (on va nous dire qu'il existe déja, répondre oui pour supprimer l'ancien fichier). Ah ce moment là dans l'explorateur windows, j'ais alors de nouveau l'aperçu.

Mais j'espère que Microsoft trouvera vite une parade pour ce problème qui à priori ne se voit que sur les pdf téléchgargés de mails.

D

debra_1043

Participant

I am having this exact issue and have tried ALL the fixes posted here and nothing is working. Very frustrating!

Any other fixes available? I pay for the Adobe Pro version for my work and having to open EVERY .pdf is very frustrating!

Thanks for any help

Z

Zebas25760351gfs2

Participant

I am having the same issues and have tried multiple fixes with no luck!! It is so frustrating and time consuming to have to open every .pdf!!! Hopefully someone can figure out what is making this happen. Thanks for any help.

N

nicole_7070

Participant

I'm having this same issue and its very frustrating because I use the preview pane all day long for my pdf's. I have checked all settings in file explorer and adobe and they are correct. I now have to open each pdf file to view it, which defeats the purpose of the preview pane and is time consuming and I never had to do it before.

J

jennifer_2464Author

Participating Frequently

I understand the frustration Nicole, especially the extra time consumption. I'm switching all my setting arounds to trigger the resetting and I hope to find the correct ones to share.

Please let us know if you come across the correction for this, thanks.

R

Randy Hagan

Correct answer

Community Expert

The first thing I'd try would be to first open Acrobat, then open a Windows File Explorer window.

You want to use the other toggle switches you describe in your post. Toggle your View Options to show large or extra large icons. Check the Enable PDF thumbnail previews in Windows Explorer check box and open your Preview Pane. The important things we want to test is whether the images show up in your dialog box in the Files Pane and/or the Preview Pane.

Sometimes doing this once will get you your previews. More often, you may find you have to open Acrobat every time you want to see a PDF preview in the Preview Pane. You'll know your course of action after you try this process a time or three.

Hope this helps,

Randy

J

jennifer_2464Author

Participating Frequently

Although it has not solved the issue with previewing files in the preview pain, your suggestion did trigger preview of word & excel files. On a positive note, switching View Options does allow me to catch a glimpse of what the file is.

I will explore all possibilities and let you know if I get it back to the previous settings.

Thank you!

R

Randy Hagan

Community Expert

Cool. I'm rooting for you.

Hope it works out well for you,

Randy

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