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PDF Preview deactivated with Windows update

Forum|Forum|4 months ago
October 15, 2025
22 replies
65513 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

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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.

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!

Randy Hagan

Community Expert

Cool. I'm rooting for you.

Hope it works out well for you,

Randy

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