IT Engineer

Question

PDF preview on file explorer stopped with the most recent security update (kb5066835)

Answer 1

You know what, you are not alone actually :D

This is a known problem that has affected several users after recent updates, and it's typically related to a compatibility or corruption issue with the PDF preview handler.

Let's try a few troubleshooting steps to resolve this:

Rebuild the Windows Search Index (Most Common Fix): This is often the quickest solution. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Searching Windows > Advanced Indexing Options. Click "Advanced" and then, under the "Troubleshooting" section, click "Rebuild." Confirm the action. This process may take some time, but it frequently resolves preview pane issues after an update.

Re-register the PDF Preview Handler: This resets the component responsible for generating the preview. Press Win + R, type cmd, and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open an Administrator Command Prompt. Copy and paste the following command, then press Enter: regsvr32 "%ProgramFiles%\Windows Photo Viewer\PhotoAcq.dll" You will need to restart your computer for this change to take effect.

Run the Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter: The preview functionality can sometimes be tied to the Microsoft Store app ecosystem. Navigate to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters. Find "Windows Store Apps" and run the troubleshooter.

I would recommend trying these steps in order. The index rebuild is the most likely to resolve the problem without affecting other system components.

I hope one of these solutions restores your PDF preview functionality. If this guidance helps fix the issue, please feel free to mark this response as "Accepted" 🙂

Answer 2

The solution is to uninstall the update KB5066835, as this has been confirmed to fix the issue. Alternatively, for a temporary fix.