Skip to main content
J
jennifer_2464
Participating Frequently
October 15, 2025
Answered

PDF Preview deactivated with Windows update

  • October 15, 2025
  • 24 replies
  • 75812 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?

    Correct answer FRNZZZ

    TRY THIS!

     

    open Powershell as admin


    paste this:
    Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\3" -Name "180F" -Value 0 -Type DWord; Stop-Process -Name explorer -Force; Start-Process explorer.exe

    DONE!

    24 replies

    Show previous replies
    G
    gaston_8056
    Participating Frequently
    October 17, 2025

    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
      October 21, 2025

      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
        October 16, 2025

        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
          October 16, 2025

          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
          October 16, 2025

          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
            October 16, 2025

            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
            Community Expert
            Randy HaganCommunity Expert
            Community Expert
            October 15, 2025

            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
              October 16, 2025

              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
              Randy HaganCommunity Expert
              Community Expert
              October 16, 2025

              Cool. I'm rooting for you.

               

              Hope it works out well for you,

               

              Randy

              Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
              Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices