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Does windows have a shortcut to preview files ?

Ashish Rana 0 Reputation points
2025-03-21T10:27:17.5566667+00:00

Like macOS has a feature of previewing a file by using QuickLook framework where, when you select a file and press SPACE bar, it opens the preview of that file instead of opening the file with a supported app.
Does windows (any version) also has such a feature ?

I got to know only about preview pane (in file explorer) where when you select a file and press Alt + P, it opens the preview of that file in the preview pane (the same thing is also available in macOS).
Apart from this, the only way to open preview of a file is by using some 3rd party apps (like QuickLook (Microsoft Store), Seer, WinQuickLook (Microsoft Store)).

So, does windows support something at native level (apart from preview pane), wherein I can preview a file like QuickLook on macOS ?

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-03-25T08:06:03.6033333+00:00

    Hello Ashish Rana,

    Thank you for posting in Q&A forum.

    Windows doesn't have a built-in feature exactly like macOS's QuickLook, but there are some alternatives you can use:

    1. PowerToys Peek:

    • Microsoft PowerToys includes a feature called "Peek" which allows you to preview files quickly by pressing Shift + Spacebar. This feature is similar to QuickLook and works for various file types.

    1. Preview Pane in File Explorer:

    • While not exactly the same, you can enable the Preview Pane in File Explorer by going to the "View" tab and selecting "Preview Pane". This allows you to see a preview of the selected file on the right side of the window.

    1. QuickLook for Windows:

    • You can download a third-party app called QuickLook from the Microsoft Store. It provides a similar experience to macOS's QuickLook by allowing you to preview files with a press of the space bar.

    I hope the information above is helpful.

    If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to let us know.

    Best Regards,

    Daisy Zhou

    ============================================

    If the Answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and upvote it.

    1 person found this answer helpful.
  2. Darrell Gorter 2,731 Reputation points
    2025-03-21T21:41:48.1666667+00:00

    Hello,

    Open file explorer, choose the view menu and select preview pane.

    See if this gives you what you are looking for.

    Darrell

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