Preview Pane in Vista Windows Explorer

**Brink** · **STEP ONE:**

How to Turn the Preview Pane On or Off in Vista

Information

The Preview pane allows you to see a preview of the highlighted image, video, or document file in the opened Windows Explorer window without having to open it. This will show you how to turn the Preview pane on or off.

NOTE

The window pane Layout settings are universal in all window templates. These are the Search Pane, Details Pane, Preview Pane, and Navigation Pane. They can only be turned on or off for all windows with the same folder template. For example, the Music Details, Music Icons, Pictures and Videos, All Items, Contacts, and Documents templates. For more on folder templates, see: How to Change a Windows Explorer Folder Type Template in Vista

RELATED LINKS:

EXAMPLE: Windows Explorer Preview Pane

Preview_Pane.jpg

STEP ONE:
Set Folder Options

1. Open Folder Options.
NOTE: For how, see: How to Open and Change Folder Options in Vista

2. Click on the General tab. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: Having Use Windows classic folders dotted instead will remove the preview pane in the Windows Explorer window regardless of what you have set in Step Two below.
A) Dot Show preview and filters.

Folder_Options2.jpg

3. Click on the View tab. (See screenshot below step 5)

4. Check the Show preview handlers in preview pane box.
NOTE: Unchecking this will not remove the preview pane, but their will be no preview of the file in the preview pane. It will just be empty.

5. Click OK.

Folder_Options.jpg

STEP TWO:
In a Windows Explorer Window

1. Open a Windows Explorer window.
2. Click on Organize, then click Layout. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: If Preview Pane is not listed here, then see: How to Enable or Disable the Preview Pane in Vista

3. To Turn On the Preview Pane -
A) Click on Preview Pane to highlight the icon.

4. To Turn Off the Preview Pane -
A) Click on Preview Pane to unhighlight the icon.

Organize.jpg

That's it,
Shawn

jra · 06-03-2008

My efforts to enable Vista Home Premium preview pane were completely unsuccessful. The presentation is confusing, particularly because it says for my OS I should use "Method 3, below" which does not appear anywhere that I can see. I attempted Method 2, using the download. The process appeared to end properly, I restarted the computer, and found no change in "Organize" > "Layout." All that appears there is "Menu Bar" and "Navigation pane."

Instructions about how to find Method 3 or other suggestions would be appreciated.

jra

**Brink** · 06-03-2008

Hi JRA,

Sorry, Method 3 was a typo, it should have been Method 2 in that tutorial.

Preview Pane - Enable or Disable - Vista Forums

Have you also done Step 1 and Step 2 in this tutorial here?

Shawn

06-03-2008
Brink Administrator Join Date: Apr 2007 Vista x64 Ultimate SP1 15,097 posts Texas, USA Rep Power: 150	Re: Preview Pane in Vista Windows Explorer Hi JRA, Sorry, Method 3 was a typo, it should have been Method 2 in that tutorial. Preview Pane - Enable or Disable - Vista Forums Have you also done Step 1 and Step 2 in this tutorial here? Shawn
	There are no dumb questions, just the people that do not ask them. Vista Forums Please post feedback to help others.

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06-03-2008
jra Newbie Join Date: Jun 2008 Vista Home Premium 32bit 1 posts Rep Power: 2	Re: Preview Pane in Vista Windows Explorer My efforts to enable Vista Home Premium preview pane were completely unsuccessful. The presentation is confusing, particularly because it says for my OS I should use "Method 3, below" which does not appear anywhere that I can see. I attempted Method 2, using the download. The process appeared to end properly, I restarted the computer, and found no change in "Organize" > "Layout." All that appears there is "Menu Bar" and "Navigation pane." Instructions about how to find Method 3 or other suggestions would be appreciated. jra