File preview thumbnails aren't working for Acrobat DC files in Windows Explorer

[julieb26452343]

I just upgraded from Acrobat XI to Acrobat DC on Windows 7, and now any new PDFs I create display with a generic PDF icon rather than a thumbnail preview of the file.  Files created in Acrobat XI are displaying correctly (see screenshot).  Is anyone else experiencing this and is there a resolution?

[asturias7]

For now I've given up.

I went back to using version XI with this fix (so you can see thumbnails) for 64-bit computers:

http://www.pretentiousname.com/adobe_pdf_x64_fix/Adobe_Reader_x64_fixes_v3_001_installer.zip

*Tip:

Delete the appropriate Adobe Acrobat or Reader folders & files in your AppData folder when wanting to install other versions of Adobe Reader. Or like me, you might have issues installing.

On Windows 7 machines, AppData can be found by typing %appdata% in the Run command.

[IvanoTls]

I just installed  Adobe Reader DC 15.010.20056 64 bits.

The option "Enable PDF Thumbnails in Windows Explorer" is still missing !!!

This option was implemented in the build 2015.009.20069 of Adobe Reader DC 32 bits version.

ADOBE, we are all waiting for this basic capability since long time now.

Please !!!

[SignLine]

Rubbish isn't it, in the meantime I have tried Foxit and no thumbnails, SageThumbs but that doesn't work, MysticThumbs does work but you have to pay for it but get thumbnails for all files pretty much so I may just run with that as an eps thumbnail along with pdf etc is very handy!

[asturias7]

They will read & approve our comments here, but listen to us and provide the thumbnails feature in the 64-bit version? Seems no one cares...

They just came out with a newer version and I had high hopes... but, as soon as I read the changes/fixes, those hopes were quickly shot down.

ADOBE, LISTEN TO YOUR USERS:

WE WANT THUMBNAILS PREVIEW IN THE 64-BIT VERSION OF READER DC.

Please!!!

[bnies813]

Genius! Thank you SO MUCH! A lot of the fixes I was finding were for Windows 7, but I'm now on Windows 10. This fix worked PERFECT!

So nice to have the previews back!

[djbillyd1]

I can't answer for anyone else's situation, but "the foxit thing" works, IF you do it right.

1. Uninstall any and all adobe reader programs

     a. I use RevoUninstaller Pro to uninstall adobe, because there are a ton of residual files deep in the registry. Use the "Advanced" button to scan for the leftover files.

2. If you have installed "FoxIt", use Revo to uninstall that, as well.

3. Reboot your system.

4. Install "FoxIt PDF Reader", and set it as "default". The installer will prompt you to do that.

5. Go to your PDF folder, and you should see the thumbnails there.

6. Install the latest version of Adobe Reader DC. It, too, will ask you to set it to default. Click "No", or "Cancel", to get past that box. Proceed with the install.

7. After the program/App has installed, go back to your PDF folder, and right click on any thumbnail. Choose the "Open with..." prompt, and choose Adobe Reader DC. All of the PDF's will default to Adobe, and they will remain there. Any new PDF's will display the thumbnails immediately.

That worked for me in Windows 7, 8, 8.1, and now, 10.

Note: In "FoxIt", choose to NOT update. Unless, of course, you decide to use it as a backup, as Adobe has a crash issue on all of my systems.

[asturias7]

I didn't use RevoUninstaller, I used the Adobe Reader Cleaner.

Anyhow, your instructions are/were useful and I finally ended up installing the DC version.

All works fine with Foxit installed.

Thanks.

Still, it is RIDICULOUS that we are forced to install another program for the sole purpose of having the thumbnail previews appear.

[djbillyd1]

Yes, it IS ridiculous that Adobe would be so callous as to just ignore PLEAS of it's customers for help. But, that is what it is...

[GideonLupine]

Is there a preview thumbnail solution?

I won't install Acrobat DC 64bit without it.

[Rave]

Hi All,

We are working on the thumbnail implementation on 64 bit machine in our next quarterly update.

Regards,
Rave

[wlt_1953]

I hope so!  I have too many .pdf to be looking at adobe logos and reading each name to determine which file to open.

For a subscription, I should get what I need to work.  Thank you.

[Philo89]

Sounds like Adobe finally upgraded their staff to 64 bit machines and somebody just realized that the "cool new icons" are useless and doing their job without thumbnail previews is REALLY HARD.

"Wow, have we been doing this to our customers for over three years? We really suck!" they said

"Maybe we should look at the customer forums more often and see what kind of other stupid things we're ignoring that might be aggravating folks?" someone else asked

Then they all laughed and went back to changing all the menus to Comic Sans

[djbillyd1]

LOL!!! That's about right!!!

[rvipinkumar]

This is just ridiculous... Adobe have not updated their flagship Acrobat product to show up thumbnails for years now... I had just tried MysticThumbs, but it took a hell amount of time to render just a group of 100 PDFs. Why the heck, oh Adobe, you isolated the x64 systems for the update?

[djbillyd1]

This has been an issue since Windows 7. That's several YEARS. It's not like this is the first time they've heard about it. I think it's totally sad to be a software "giant", and not be attentive to the needs of the entity that made them that way. WE are the reason they are even in business! Yet, for 8 years now, I have been looking to "fix" a thumbnail issue. So what do we do? We find our own solution.

"Ridiculous"? Way more ill than that!

[AshuMittal]

Hi Gideon, all,

This was fixed in our update released yesterday. Make sure you are on the latest update by visiting Help > Check for updates (15.016.20039 Planned update, May 10, 2016 — Acrobat and Adobe Reader Release Notes).

Next, to enable thumbnail previews go to Preferences > General and then select Enable PDF thumbnail previews in Windows Explorer.

Thanks,

-ashu

[UdoLe]

Still does NOT work for me!

Previously I had installed Foxit, which worked with thumbnails in Windows Explorer.

I uninstalled Foxit, then installed latest version of Adobe Reader DC.

Checked "Preferences > General > Enable PDF thumbnail previews in Windows Explorer".

-> No thumbnails

Then I turned "Always show icons instead of thumbnails" in Windows Explorer off and on.

Copied a pdf, opened a pdf, commented it and saved it, created a new PDF.

-> Still no thumbnails

Called "repair installation" in Reader.

-> Still no thumbnails

What can I do now?

[gener7]

Try running Disk Cleanup and when the scan is finished, checkmark Thumbnails to clean out the cache.

Click OK to run the cleanup.

Restart your PC.

[joaos68439502]

Hello,

Here i've tried

- uninstall previous version of adobe DC and clean registry with ccleaner.

- cleaned thumb on disk cleanup.

- installed version of 10th may. -- no thumbs

- unistall this version and clean registry

- installed again

- Enable PDF thumbnail previews in Windows Explorer (in all times). Marked. -- no thumbs

Dismarked. -- no thumbs

Marked. -- no thumbs

- repaired instalation -- no thumbs

- Assigned DC to be default viewer. -- no thumbs

- I have any more pdf viewers

activated and deactivated several windows folder view options regarding thumbs and activated and deactivated preview pane -- no thumbs... small... medium... large... on any type of view...

i've tried all options on forum... no work

this happens on two diferent computers.

One has windows 7 pro 64 bits portuguese and 2015.016.20039 English version of DC

Other computer has windows 10 pro 64 bits portuguese and 2015.016.20039 Portuguese version of DC

result is the same. No works.

what can i do more?

[TanviRastogi]

Hi Joao

Can you please try these steps and let us know your findings:

1. Set “Enable PDF thumbnail previews in Windows Explorer” in your Acrobat Preferences to checked. Save the preferences. Quit Acrobat.

     >> Does the installer run when you do this?

If yes, are you able to see the PDF thumbnails in Explorer?

2. If first step does not work, can you try this:

1. Go to Control Panel> Programs and Features.

2. Select Acrobat/Reader DC.

3. Click on Change.

4. In the Setup dialog box, choose Modify.

5. click Next.

6. Click on + icon of View Adobe PDF

7. Click on dropdown of "PDF Thumbnail Preview" > Select "This feature will be installed on the local hard drive" option.

8. click on Install

9. Once teh installer completes, you should be able to see the thumbnails.

Let us know if this works for you.

Thanks

Tanvi

[djbillyd1]

You should install FoxIT. We KNOW it works!

[rvipinkumar]

Adobe Team,

What the heck is this now? I checked for updates in Acrobat DC, (not reader, I don't have reader installed) since the thumbnails are not coming for me too, and it showed it has some updates:

Download started and it began to install the software and at the end, it roll backs everything (???) and it showed me this message:

FYI, I am a Adobe CC Subscription member with Adobe Acrobat DC and the Photography Subscription (PS + LR).

Seems like I have to revert back to Foxit for the thumbnails. Hopefully it didn't screwed up the PS + LR updates!!!

-Vipin

[djbillyd1]

I hope you'll be OK. I am determined to just us what works..., what I KNOW works, and forget Adobe and their updates!

[gener7]

It's a common problem. Here are some ideas. Error 28000. Installation of Acrobat Licensing Module has failed?

You do not have to worry about Ps or Lr. They are separate

[rvipinkumar]

Hmm... I am reluctant to do that.... First, the registry keys they have mentioned to delete; for me it contains lots of other keys, which might be necessary for other Adobe software.... The second solution of renaming the Adobe folder has the same problem... It contains other important sub-folders. If someone knows of which specific folder to rename or which key to delete for Acrobat DC, that would be helpful.