Share via

Thumbnail previews in WIndows 11

Anonymous
2022-01-10T14:41:24+00:00

I am trying to sort some photos and have to open the individual folders, then the individual photo to see if it's the one I want out of thousands of photos. :O I tried the windows 10 method of checking and unchecking show thumbnails not icons and to no avail. What gives? I am reading responses that the option isn't available in Windows 11, but seriously Windows isn't that stupid to make this not available. Or are they? Yes I am **** because whoever designed that into this build needs a out behind the shed moment. If there is a work around rather than days of sorting through 1000's of photos well forgive my being a horse's behind.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Files, folders, and storage

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments No comments

34 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
  1. Anonymous
    2022-01-11T19:45:59+00:00

    Hi,

    Do you have any insight if this is being worked on? - For a Photographer or Graphic Designer the thumbnail preview on a folder is crucial. I understand for people who are mostly using Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc, it has no added value, but for professionals in my field it's an Essential feature. With 100's of folders I can quickly look at a thumbnail and instantly know what photos are in any particular folder - without that feature I now need to click through each folder to see whats inside; it was so crippling I had to roll back to windows 10. I know you're a volunteer and I appreciate you taking the time to answer these types of questions, but I think this was a completely unnecessary change - with literally no added benefit.

    Thanks,

    Myron

    80+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments
  2. Anonymous
    2022-08-28T05:42:47+00:00

    At least we've finally gotten a response as to why it was removed, even if it makes no sense. This is a classic case I think of tech nerds saying what users "should" want, and being dead wrong. As Myon has pointed out folder thumbnails was an essential feature for folks like me that work with a lot of images. If it was a resource hog they should have made it optional. If it was buggy they should have fixed it. Simply getting rid of a basic feature is stupid.

    DSL

    40+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments
  3. Anonymous
    2022-04-30T21:21:55+00:00

    I totally agree this was a bad change. It takes forever to click on each file and I am unsure how to roll back to Windows 10

    30+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments
  4. Anonymous
    2022-09-18T18:27:27+00:00

    If I had known Windows 11 eliminated thumbnails on folders, I would have made another plan before buying another W computer. As a commercial artist, I literally have 100s, if not 1000s, of folders filled with artwork on my computer. Having to click on individual folders to view the artwork inside is a SERIOUS time-consuming PAIN in the ****. Before W11, I could quickly find what was I was looking for with designated thumbnails on folders without having to open each one. Not having that feature in W11 is a game killer. FIX IT MICROSOFT!!!!

    20+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments
  5. Anonymous
    2022-06-23T16:06:27+00:00

    Hi.

    I have a workaround - that works for me at least.

    Firstly, how they could kill thumbnails is beyond me...

    Anyway - my workaround is that I noticed the thumbnails appear in the folder when the file is new / updated and awaiting upload to Cloud/OneDrive:

    So I have all of the jpegs and png's that I use regularly in one folder, and simply Select and Copy All, and paste into a Folder I call 'Thumbnails'. (and have my upload to cloud / one drive paused).

    That way, I can see the thumbnails all day / week - until I upload to One Drive.

    And then copy that folder (and delete the previous) and redo the process next time.

    It's not wonderful, but it only takes one minute and at least the thumbnails are visible.

    Lastly - how can they kill thumbnails. I cant stand changes like this.... WHY WHY WHY?!?!?

    I hope this helps.

    Chris

    20+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments