Vista - 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 Preview Pane can only be turned on or off for windows with the same folder template at each location. For example, the Music Details, Music Icons, Pictures and Videos, All Items, Contacts, and Documents templates.

RELATED LINKS:

EXAMPLE: Windows Explorer Preview Pane

STEP ONE:
Set Folder Options

1. Open Folder Options.

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.

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.

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.

That's it,
Shawn

jra · 06-04-2008

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** · 06-04-2008

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

06-04-2008
jra Vista Home Premium 32bit 1 posts	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
My System Specs

06-04-2008
Brink Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 Ultimate x64 25,919 posts	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
My System Specs

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