Details Pane - Enable or Disable in Windows 8

How to Enable or Disable the File Explorer "Details Pane" in Windows 8 and 8.1

information   Information
You can use the details pane in File Explorer to see the most common properties associated with the selected file. File properties are information about a file, such as the author, the date you last changed the file, and any descriptive tags you might have added to the file.

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the ability to show or hide the details pane in File Explorer for specific or all users in Windows 8.

You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.


EXAMPLE: Details Pane "Always hide" (disabled) or "Always Show" in File Explorer
W8_Details_Disabled.jpgW8_Details_Always_Enabled.jpg





OPTION ONE

Enable or Disable ability to Show or Hide "Details Pane" using a REG File



Note   Note
The .reg files below are for the registry key and value below.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

NoPreviewPane DWORD

0 = default not configured
1 = disable
2 = enable



1. Do step 2, 3, or 4 below for what you would like to do.​
2. To Enable File Explorer "Details Pane" for Only Current User
NOTE: This is the default setting.​
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below.​
W8_Enable_Details_Pane.reg
download
B) Go to step 5 below.​
3. To Disable and "Always Hide" File Explorer "Details Pane" for Only Current User
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below.​
W8_Disable_Details_Pane.reg
download
B) Go to step 5 below.​
4. To Enable and "Always Show" File Explorer "Details Pane" Only Current User
NOTE: This option will also disable the ability to turn on the Preview Pane.​
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below.​
W8_Always_Enable_Details_Pane.reg
download
B) Go to step 5 below.​
5. Save the .reg file to the desktop.​
6. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to Merge it.​
7. If prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK.​
8. Sign out and in, or restart explorer to apply.​
9. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.​





OPTION TWO

Enable or Disable ability to Show or Hide "Details Pane" in Group Policy


NOTE: This option for using group policy is only available in the Windows 8 Pro and Windows 8 Enterprise editions.
1. Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.​
2. In the left pane, click/tap on to expand User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, File Explorer, and open Explorer Frame Pane. (see screenshot below)​
W8-Details_GPEDIT-1.jpg
3. In the right pane of Explorer Frame Pane, double click/tap on Turn off details pane. (see screenshot above)​
4. Do step 5, 6, or 7 below for what you would like to do.​
5. To Enable File Explorer "Preview Pane"
A) Select (dot) Disabled or Not Configured, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below step 7A)​
NOTE: Not Configured is the default setting.​
B) Go to step 8 below.​
6. To Disable and "Always Hide" File Explorer "Preview Pane"
A) Select (dot) Enabled, select Always hide under Options, click/tap on OK, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below step 7A)​
7. To Enable and "Always Show" File Explorer "Preview Pane"
NOTE: This option will also disable the ability to turn on the Preview Pane.​
A) Select (dot) Enabled, select Always show under Options, click/tap on OK, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below)​
W8-Details_GPEDIT-2.jpg
8. You can now close the Local Group Policy Editor window if you like.​


That's it,
Shawn


 

Attachments

  • W8_Enable_Details_Pane.reg
    816 bytes · Views: 1,584
  • W8_Disable_Details_Pane.reg
    842 bytes · Views: 2,557
  • W8_Always_Enable_Details_Pane.reg
    842 bytes · Views: 1,108
  • Details_Pane.png
    Details_Pane.png
    845 bytes · Views: 202
Last edited:
Sir how to hide the details and preview pane? On my 1st install of windows 8 things werere much simpler. In fact I think the default was to hide those
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 64 bits
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i5-3350P Processor (6M Cache, up to 3.30 GHz)
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Intel Socket 1155 P-61-S3/rev 2.0
    Memory
    4 gb ddr3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte GeForce gtx 660 OC 2GB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Packard Bell Maestro 220Wdv
    Screen Resolution
    1680X1050
Hello StefaNafetS,

If you only wanted to turn on or off the "Details" and ""Preview" panes, then you could just click on them under the "View" tab in the ribbon like in the example screenshot in the tutorial.

Hope this helps, :)
Shawn
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
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    Custom self built
    CPU
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    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
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    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
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    Internet Explorer 11
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thanks but one would want to disable those when you can choose not to show!!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 64 bits
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i5-3350P Processor (6M Cache, up to 3.30 GHz)
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Intel Socket 1155 P-61-S3/rev 2.0
    Memory
    4 gb ddr3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte GeForce gtx 660 OC 2GB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Packard Bell Maestro 220Wdv
    Screen Resolution
    1680X1050

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
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