Photo Thumbnails Not Showing in Windows 10 File Explorer

After reinstalling Windows 10, users may find that image files such as JPG or PNG no longer display thumbnail previews in File Explorer. Instead, only generic icons appear for image files. Changing folder views or adjusting registry settings may not resolve the issue permanently.

Cause:
This issue can occur due to disabled thumbnail preview settings in File Explorer or Windows performance options. It may also result from corrupted cache or incorrect folder view settings.

Solution:

Step 1: Restore Folder View Settings

1. Open File Explorer.

2. Click the View tab at the top, then select Options on the right.

3. In the Folder Options window, go to the View tab.

4. Click Restore Defaults at the bottom, then click OK.

Step 2: Enable Thumbnail Display in Performance Settings

1. Open Control Panel (press Windows key, type “Control Panel” and open it).

2. Set View by to Small icons.

3. Click System, then select Advanced system settings.

4. Under the Advanced tab, click the Settings button in the Performance section.

5. In the Performance Options window, make sure Show thumbnails instead of icons is checked.

6. Click Apply, then OK.

Step 3: Clear and Rebuild Thumbnail Cache (Optional)

1. Press Windows + R, type cleanmgr, and press Enter.

2. Select the system drive (usually C:), then click OK.

3. In the list, check Thumbnails, then click OK and Delete Files.

4. Restart your computer.

Summary:
If image thumbnails do not appear in File Explorer, it is usually due to view or performance settings being reset or disabled. Restoring folder options, enabling thumbnail view in system settings, and clearing the thumbnail cache can resolve the problem in most cases.