How to Hide or Show Preview Handlers in Preview Pane in Windows
InformationThe preview pane can be used to see the contents of a file, such as an Office document, without opening it in an app.
Preview handlers show the content of files (ex: text files) in the preview pane. Turning off preview handlers in the preview pane will not affect images to still show in the preview pane.
This tutorial will show how to show or hide preview handlers in the preview pane for your user account in Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, and Windows RT 8.1.
Preview handlers show the content of files (ex: text files) in the preview pane. Turning off preview handlers in the preview pane will not affect images to still show in the preview pane.
This tutorial will show how to show or hide preview handlers in the preview pane for your user account in Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, and Windows RT 8.1.
EXAMPLE: Show and Hide Preview Handlers in Preview Pane of File Explorer
OPTION ONE
To Show or Hide Preview Handlers in Preview Pane in Folder Options
2. Click/tap on the View tab, and do to step 3 or 4 below for what you would like to do. (see screenshot below)
3. To Show Preview Handlers in Preview Pane
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Check the Show preview handlers in preview pane box, and click/tap on OK.
B) If you have not already, you will need to also turn on the preview pane in Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8.
4. To Hide Preview Handlers in Preview Pane
A) Uncheck the Show preview handlers in preview panebox, and click/tap on OK.
OPTION TWO
To Show or Hide Preview Handlers in Preview Pane using a REG File
NoteThe .reg files below are for the registry key and value below.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
ShowPreviewHandlers DWORD
0 = Off
1 = On
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
ShowPreviewHandlers DWORD
0 = Off
1 = On
1. Do step 2 or 3 below for what you would like to do.
2. To Show Preview Handlers in Preview Pane
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) If you have not already, you will need to also turn on the preview pane in Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8.
B) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Turn_On_Preview_Handlers_in_Preview_Pane.reg
3. To Hide Preview Handlers in Preview Pane
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Turn_Off_Preview_Handlers_in_Preview_Pane.reg
4. Save the .reg file to your desktop.
5. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
6. If prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
7. If Windows Explorer (Vista/Windows 7) or File Explorer (Windows 8) is open, then close and reopen it to apply.
8. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn
Related Tutorials
- How to Show or Hide Preview Pane in File Explorer in Windows 8 and 8.1
- How to Turn the Preview Pane On or Off in Windows 7
- How to Turn the Preview Pane On or Off in Vista
- How to Enable or Disable Preview Pane in File Explorer in Windows 8 and 8.1
- How to Enable or Disable Windows Explorer Preview Pane in Windows 7
- How to Enable or Disable the Preview Pane in Vista
- How to Enable or Disable Explorer Thumbnail Previews in Windows 7 and Windows 8
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