windows explorer microsoft excel previewer not working "This file cant be previewed because of an error in Microsoft Excel previewer"

Question

Hello all,

To anybody else having the Widows Explorer Microsoft excel preview error "This file cant be previewed because of an error in Microsoft Excel previewer" when trying to preview excel files and in replay to this post that is locked: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/all/excel-file-is-not-able-to-preview-in-windows/f7b78a29-9593-45fc-8cd1-500c642284de?page=2 I found out that it was due to the PDF creator Add-in being enabled - I have Office 365 and Foxit PDF.

To disable the PDF creator Add-in, open excel , go to "File" click "Options" and in the "Excel Options" menu that opens click "Add-ins" on the left side the second at the bottom, and then on the right side all the way at down under "Manage:" click in the field next to it and a drop down menu opens: select "COM Add-in" and then click "Go" and a smaller menu opens. Un-ckeck the box in front of the PDF creator Add-in and click OK.

Now the " Preview pane" in windows explorer should work for excel files and it should show a preview of the excel workbook you click on.

Answer 1

Cris,

I *do* have FoxIt, so I figured your solution would do the trick for me! But unfortunately, I don't have that COM add-in to disable. I followed your instructions, but the only COM add-ins I have are:

* Inquire

* Microsoft Data Streamer for Excel

* Microsoft Power Map for Excel

* Microsoft Power Pivot for Excel

* and Microsoft Power View for Excel

Back to the drawing board for me...

Answer 2

One possible cause of this issue is the automatic BLOCKing protection applied to files that you download from the internet. It may also apply to files downloaded over a network.

When you encounter this problem, your first check should be for BLOCKing on the file.

unBLOCKing is easy. In Windows File Explorer simply right click on the filename and select Properties from the pop-up context menu.

At the bottom of the pop-up, if you see Unblock as shown in the red box on the image below, then you simply need to check UNBLOCK to see it in the preview pane again. BLOCKing may also cause the office app to impose editing protections when you open it.

Please help other with this issue by upvoting this reply if it works for you.

Answer 3

Thanks so much for this! Although I do have Foxit installed, it was actually "Acrobat PDFMaker Office COM Addin" that was causing this problem for me.

Answer 4

Cris,

I *do* have FoxIt, so I figured your solution would do the trick for me! But unfortunately, I don't have that COM add-in to disable. I followed your instructions, but the only COM add-ins I have are:

* Inquire

* Microsoft Data Streamer for Excel

* Microsoft Power Map for Excel

* Microsoft Power Pivot for Excel

* and Microsoft Power View for Excel

Back to the drawing board for me...

Hi Ken,

This is a print screen of mine if it helps -see below.

Also, try to reinstall or repair Office 365, after the COM Add-ins is disabled or if it is not there

FYI, these are my "Folder Options" settings in windows explorer.

Answer 5

This was the easiest fix in compare to other instructions such as changing the resigtry key,... - thank you.