Known Participant

Question

Windows 11 and PNG thumbnails

Forum|Forum|6 months ago
September 9, 2025
3 replies
633 views

I'm not sure if this is a Windows issue or Microsoft. I just transferred everything to a new PC and cannot get any artwork/graphics saved as a PNG to show the thumbnails in file explorer. I have tried a few "fixes" found on the web but to no avail. I was wondering if anyone has had the same issue and found a fix that works. I uninstalled OneDrive, made sure the "always show icons, never thumbnails" is unchecked, cleared caches, etc. Nothing is working. Any help would be appreciated.

Windows

D Fosse

Community Expert

Windows Explorer displays PNG thumbnails, there shouldn't be any need for third party codecs. If it doesn't, something's wrong - but that would be on the Windows side, not Photoshop.

laurenh22769Author

Known Participant

So far none of the solutions have worked for Windows 11. I just transferred from a Win 10 computer to this new one with PC Mover so new nothing was added.

laurenh22769Author

Known Participant

installed software like Adobe.

By @laurenh22769

I still believe this is the problem. Any complex software needs to be installed, not moved. And the reason is as I said above: the Windows registry. An installer manages a large number of registry keys that need to be correctly entered. Thumbnails is one of many things that is ultimately controlled by the registry.

The first thing I would try is to uninstall and reinstall all larger software packages, like Adobe. Use the Adobe CC desktop app to do this, don't uninstall from Windows. The CC desktop app is the application manager for all Adobe apps and handles installs and updates. That should set the registry right.

@D Fosse the OS was already in the computer and I already uninstalled & reinstalled PS, Illustrator, Indesign & Fresco. It didn't help.

L

Lucas.s.clark

Participant

Hi @laurenh22769

Have you considered any third party software? I heard MysticThumbs has been a good tool to help present icons.

laurenh22769Author

Known Participant

Hi Lucas, Yes, I am actually looking at this now. All of my other image thumbnails, PDF and even Word have thumbnails. It's just my PNG art that I am most concerned with since I have lots of it and don't really want to open the folders in Bridge to view what I may need to place into PS or Illustrator.

Sameer K

Community Manager

Hey, @laurenh22769. Welcome to the Photoshop Community. I'll help you figure this out.

While I am unsure how this is related to Photoshop or Adobe, it would be appropriate to reach out to Microsoft for help with the Explorer. Here is a top conversation that I found on the internet that has an accepted answer: https://adobe.ly/4mRLqbX

You can try Adobe Bridge from the Creative Cloud desktop app, and it should show you thumbnails of almost all creative file types.

Thanks!
Sameer K
(Type '@' and type my name to mention me when you reply)

laurenh22769Author

Known Participant

Hi @Sameer K

Yes, I have Bridge installed but when I am designing it's a bit counterproductive to go back and forth if you know what I mean. I did review the article, thank you. I even noticed some mf my taskbar icons are missing (like Fresco). The space is there and if I roll my arrow over the space it says it's there...just not visible.

Sign up

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Sign in to Adobe Community

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Scanning file for viruses.

This file cannot be downloaded