Vista Tutorial - Folder Preview Picture Change

**Brink**

How to Change a Folder Preview Picture in Vista

Information

By default a folder in Vista will show a thumbnail preview picture of the folder contents in the folder icon. This will allow you to change that thumbnail preview picture in the folder icon to any image you would like instead.

WARNING

This will not work with a folder in a external device like a USB key or DVD. External devices do not retain their Windows Explorer folder view settings in Vista.
This will not work on folder shortcuts, only on the main folder itself.

RELATED LINKS:

EXAMPLE: Before and After Preview Picture Change

Here's How:

1. Right click on the folder and click Properties.
2. Click the Customize tab. (See screenshot below step 4)

3. To Customize the Folder Preview Picture -
A) Click the Choose File button. (See screenshot below step 4)
WARNING: Only check the Also apply this template to all subfolders box if you want this preview picture for all of the subfolders in this folder to. You can change them individually instead if you wanted to or not at all.

B) Go to step 5.

4. To Restore the Default Folder Preview Picture -
A) Click the Restore Default button. (See screenshot below)
B) Go to step 7.

5. Navigate to the location of the image you want to use. (See screenshot below)
6. Select the image and click Open.

7. Click OK to apply. (See screenshot below step 4)
NOTE: You may need to press F5 to refresh the window to see the new preview picture you selected.

8. If for some reason the selected preview picture will not show on the folder, then try this:
A) Do step 2 and 3 in this link: How to Hide or Show Hidden Files and Folders in Vista
B) Open the folder you want to change the preview picture for.
C) Right click on the faded (means it is a hidden file) Desktop.ini file (if you have one) and click on Delete.
NOTE: The Desktop.ini file will be automatically be regenerated the next time you make a change to the folder.

D) Clear the thumbnail cache.
NOTE: For how, see: How to Clear the Thumbnail Cache in Vista

E) Rebuild the icon cache.
NOTE: For how, see: How to Rebuild the Icon Cache in Vista

F) Now try the above steps again.

That's it,
Shawn

Borna_mir · 10-11-2007

Hi there:

I have a strange situation in this regard, I assigned a few pictures to some directories exactly the way you mentioned here, it worked fine but one of these pictures has been attached to my "Program Files" directory too!!!!!! It happened all by itself and since there's no customize option about "Program Files" directory, I can't change or remove this picture from folder preview of my "Program Files"!!!

Any suggestions?
thanks alot.

**Brink** · 10-11-2007

Hi Borna mir,

Go back to the one that you changed with this picture and change it back to the default (Restore Default) picture. It should restore the Program Files folder with it like it did before.

Curious, which folder did you change that changed the Program Files folder to?

Shawn

**Dr.Zaius** · 10-12-2007

My issue seems simpler but probably more intractable: sometimes it works and sometimes it does not. Initially I thought it depended on whether or not there were subfolders, but that ain't it.

Refreshing, rebooting, or simply waiting doesn't help either. I'm talking about just regular old folders with nothing but JPEGs in them but some (if not most) leopards absolutely refuse to change their spots!

**Brink** · 10-12-2007

Hi Dr. Zaius,

Welcome to the forum.

Vista can be picky when it comes to what it will allow to be changed or remembered. Try resetting the folder view settings to see if that will help. Look at method two in this tutorial for how.

How to Reset Windows Explorer Folder View Settings to Make Vista Remember

Shawn

Borna_mir · 10-12-2007

Dear Shawn:

It was an ordinary folder including some pictures that I had customized!! I had similar problem with another folders too!! so finally I decided to forget customizing folders and reset everything to its default condition. using your method on "How to Reset Windows Explorer Folder View Settings to Make Vista Remember" solved the problem with "Program Files" too.

Thanks a lot, Borna

**Brink** · 10-12-2007

Borna,

I am glad to hear that it solved your problem for you. Could you tell me the full path or location of that ordinary folder? I would like to run some tests by placing a folder in the same location to see if I can come with a way to prevent the problem you had when customizing.

Thank you for the feedback,
Shawn

**Dr.Zaius** · 10-13-2007

The method did not work for changing the preview image, but it definitely seemed to make folder settings more stable in general. Many thanks for that!

**Brink** · 10-14-2007

Dr. Zalius,

Glad to hear that it helped for your folder settings. Where are the folders located for the ones you want to change the preview picture? I have noticed that some system file folders will not change at all.

Shawn

**Dr.Zaius** · 10-15-2007

Mainly just subfolders of JPEGs in "C:\Users\DrZ\Pictures." I have found a work-around that's not really a solution but does the trick consistently on my machine at least.

I chose a single pic for the preview thumbnail, then copied and pasted it into the folder making sure it was the only image on that level.

I hoped that would set the preview permanently so the out-of-place copy could be deleted, but it wants to revert back unless you leave it. Not ideal, but easy as falling off a log!