How to Show or Hide Preview Pane in File Explorer in Windows 8 and 8.1

The preview pane can be used to see the contents of a file, such as an Office document, without opening it in an app.
This tutorial will show you how to show or hide the preview pane in File Explorer for your user account in in Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, and Windows RT 8.1.
This tutorial will show you how to show or hide the preview pane in File Explorer for your user account in in Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, and Windows RT 8.1.

- Setting the preview pane to hide or show in File Explorer is a universal setting applied to all folders, and not just specific folders.
- You can drag the left border of the preview pane left and right to increase or decrease its width in File Explorer.
- If you set the preview pane to show, then it will replace the details pane if it is currently showing.
- If you set the details pane to show, then it will replace the preview pane if it is currently showing.
EXAMPLE: Preview Pane in Windows 8
OPTION ONE
To Show or Hide Preview Pane with Keyboard Shortcut
1. While in File Explorer, press the Alt+P keys to toggle to show or hide the preview pane.
OPTION TWO
To Show or Hide Preview Pane in File Explorer
1. Open File Explorer.
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 the Preview Pane in Windows 8
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on Preview pane in the ribbon to select (highlight) it.
4. To Hide the Preview Pane in Windows 8
A) Click/tap on Preview pane in the ribbon to unselect (unhighlight) it.
OPTION THREE
To Show or Hide Preview Pane using a REG File
1. Do step 2 or 3 below for what you would like to do.
2. To Show the Preview Pane in Windows 8
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Show_Preview_Pane.reg
3. To Hide the Preview Pane in Windows 8
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Hide_Details_and_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.
7. If you have any File Explorer windows currently open, navigate to another folder in them to apply.
8. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn
Related Tutorials
- How to Enable or Disable Preview Pane in File Explorer in Windows 8 and 8.1
- How to Hide or Show Preview Handlers in Preview Pane in Windows
- How to Show or Hide Details Pane in File Explorer in Windows 8 and 8.1
- How to Show or Hide Navigation Pane in File Explorer in Windows 8 and 8.1
- How to Show or Hide Status Bar in File Explorer in Windows 8 and 8.1
- How to Enable or Disable Explorer Thumbnail Previews in Windows 7 and Windows 8
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