Windows 11 is one of Microsoft's most modern and advanced operating systems, bringing many improvements over previous versions. However, one of the changes that has caused a stir among users is the removal of the ability to display full thumbnails in folders. This feature was particularly useful for those working with images, videos, and multimedia files, as it allowed a quick preview of the contents of each folder without having to open it.
In this article, we will see how you can restore this feature in Windows 11, what are the advantages and disadvantages of this particular method, and what are the best practices for optimizing the user experience.
How to show full folder thumbnails in Windows 11
By following the steps below, you can restore full thumbnails to your folders:
🔵 1. Enable thumbnail display via File Explorer
- Open it File Explorer (File Explorer).
- Click on the menu View and select Options.
- In the window that appears, go to the tab View.
- Make sure the option "Always show icons, never thumbnails" It is NOT selected.
- Click Apply and then OK.
🟢 2. Setting via Performance Options
- Click Win + R to open the window Run.
- Type
sysdm.cpland press Enter. - Go to the tab Advanced and select Settings in unit Performance.
- In the list that appears, make sure the option "Save taskbar thumbnail previews" is activated.
- Click Apply and OK.
🟠 3. Registry Editor for advanced users
If the above methods do not work, you can edit the Windows registry:
- Click Win + R, type
regeditand press Enter. - Go to the path:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced - Locate the key IconsOnly.
- Double click on it and change the value from 1 into a 0.
- Click OK and close the Registry Editor.
- Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
🟣 4. Using third-party applications
If you want an easier solution without modifying Windows settings manually, you can use programs like Explorer Patcher or QTTabBar, which restore the old look of File Explorer and add additional functionality.
✅ Advantages:
- Faster file preview: You don't need to open each folder to see its contents.
- Ease of multimedia management: Ideal for photographers, designers, and anyone who works with images and videos.
- Save time: It speeds up your workflow, especially if you are managing large file collections.
❌ Disadvantages:
- Increased resource usage: Continuously creating and saving thumbnails can be a burden on the system, especially on computers with low specifications.
- Possible performance issues: If you have a large number of folders with many images, File Explorer performance may decrease.
- Ability to alter thumbnails: If thumbnails are not refreshed properly, old or incorrect images may appear.
In conclusion
The removal of full folder thumbnails in Windows 11 was a controversial change, but luckily there are ways to bring it back. Whether you prefer a simple settings change or you're an advanced user who wants to tweak the Windows Registry, the methods we've outlined will help you get this useful feature back.
If you run into any problems, you can always use third-party apps to customize your experience even further.
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