Does windows have a shortcut to preview files ?

Question

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 ?

Answer 1

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.

2. 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.

3. 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

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Answer 2

Hello,

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

See if this gives you what you are looking for.

Darrell