windows 11 background browse files not showing

Hello, Hariom Bade

Welcome to Microsoft Community.

First, ensure that the pictures you are trying to browse are in a supported format, such as JPEG or PNG. Windows may not display files in unsupported formats. You can also go to the folder in File Explorer to see if the pictures are there actually.

Next, make sure that you have the necessary permissions to access the folder where your pictures are stored. Right-click on the folder, select "Properties," go to the "Security" tab, and ensure that your user account has the appropriate permissions.

You can also rebuild the thumbnail cache. Windows uses thumbnail images to display previews of pictures. If the thumbnail cache is corrupted, it may prevent pictures from appearing in the browse files window. You can try rebuilding the thumbnail cache by following these steps:

a. Press Win + E to open File Explorer.

b. Click on the "View" tab at the top of the window.

c. In the "Show/hide" section, check the box for "Hidden items."

d. Navigate to the following folder: C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer (replace "YourUsername" with your actual username).

e. Delete all files with the prefix "thumbcache" (e.g., thumbcache_32.db, thumbcache_96.db, etc.).

f. Restart your computer and try browsing for new pictures again.

If none of these steps resolve the issue, you may want to consider updating your graphics drivers from the manufacturer's website, or performing a system file check (How to Use System File Checker in Windows - Microsoft Support) to ensure that your Windows installation is not corrupted.

Yuhao Li

Microsoft Community Technical Support