how to change win 11 image folders to win 10 image folders

Question

Classic Win 10 images folders showed most of the image inside. Win 11 image folders hide most of the image inside. How can I change my image folders back to classic win 10 appearance?

Please make answer SIMPLE. I do NOT know programing, windows, or scripting. I point and click and hope for the best.

Answer 1

It sounds like you're referring to folder thumbnails.

Windows 10 provides a multi-picture folder thumbnail. Windows 11 provides a single, half-covered folder thumbnail. There is no option to get the Windows 10 style folder thumbnails in Windows 11.

I've written some free tools that provide an alternative folder thumbnail display, but not the Windows 10 style:

FolderThumbNailFix will change the Windows 11 folder thumbnail from half-covered to full size. Note that this fix must be reapplied after any major Windows update and should only be used on personally owned computers (i.e. not your employer's computer).

The Folder Options tool within Right-Click Tools will let you set large folder thumbnails that can be a single image, 2 landscape, 2 portrait, or 4 up.

Note: I do NOT work for Microsoft. I just write some free software and sometimes answer questions here.

Answer 2

Hi angelique lovelin,

If you're referring to the picture preview shown on the folder icon itself, Windows 11 uses a different folder design than Windows 10. While there isn't a built-in setting to restore the exact Windows 10 folder appearance, you can try refreshing the folder thumbnails to see if larger previews return. The original thread indicates that more information is needed to determine whether the concern is the folder icon preview or the image thumbnails inside the folder.

As a quick check, please try:

1. Open the folder that contains your pictures.
2. Click View and select Large icons or Extra large icons.
3. Verify whether your photos display as thumbnails inside the folder.

If the issue is specifically the folder icon appearance, please let us know whether:

• The picture files open normally and show thumbnails inside the folder, or
• Only the folder icon itself looks different from Windows 10.

A screenshot would also help clarify exactly which view you're referring to so the most appropriate guidance can be provided.

I hope this helps point us in the right direction. Let me know if you need further assistance, feel free to ask me by clicking "Add Comment" or "Add Answer" if you cannot add comment so your response will be visible. Thanks for your effort.

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Answer 3

Hi Angelique.

Please provide more information on your requirements.

Do you mean you want to change the icon shown on the image folder, or are you unable to see the image file thumbnails when you open the Image folder?