File Explorer preview pane not working on Windows 11? Fixes

By Saadat Rafiq · 2 min read · 8 steps · Published 6 October 2026

Device

Windows

Shown on

Windows 11 Enterprise 25H2 (build 26200.9457), Microsoft Cloud PC

App

Preview

Real screenshots

5 of 8 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

3 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Turn on the preview pane

   In File Explorer, click View in the top bar and choose Preview pane.

   Done

2. 

   Select one file

   Click a single file. Its content appears on the right; our test.txt shows its line Test page. With several files or a folder selected, the pane stays empty.

   Done

3. "The file you are attempting to preview could harm your computer"

   This message means the file was downloaded or came from another computer. Microsoft turned off previews for such files with the Windows security updates from 14 October 2025, to protect against attacks through the preview.

   Done

4. Unblock a file you trust

   Right-click the file, choose Properties and tick Unblock on the General tab, then click OK. Microsoft says the change may only work after you sign out and in again. Do this only for files from a source you trust.

   Done

5. 

   Open Folder Options

   Click the three dots in the File Explorer bar, to the right of View, and choose Options.

   Done

6. 

   Check the preview handlers

   In Folder Options, open the View tab. Under Advanced settings, Show preview handlers in preview pane must be ticked. Click OK.

   Done

7. 

   Preview pane or Details pane

   The View menu has a dot in front of the pane that is shown. Details pane and Preview pane share the same space, so choosing one hides the other. Ours had Details pane on.

   Done

8. Install updates and restart

   If only some file types fail, such as PDFs, the app that should preview them may be missing its preview part. Install Windows updates and the latest version of that app, then restart.

   Done

About this guide

The preview pane shows the content of the selected file on the right side of File Explorer. When it stays empty, it is usually switched off, replaced by the Details pane, blocked for downloaded files, or the preview handlers are switched off.

The screenshots are our own, taken on Windows 11 Enterprise 25H2 (build 26200.9457) running as a Microsoft Cloud PC, a Windows PC that runs in the cloud. The Settings app is the same on Home and Pro PCs; where the Cloud PC shows something different, the step says so.

Good to know

A Preview anyway button that skips the warning for a single file was tested with Windows Insiders in 2026, according to Windows Latest. It was not on our Cloud PC on 6 Oct 2026.

Network shares are blocked the same way. Microsoft describes adding the share to Trusted sites in Internet Options, but that relaxes security for every file there.

Seeing file endings helps here: how to show hidden files and file extensions on Windows 11.

In short: View, Preview pane, select one file. Downloaded file blocked: Properties, Unblock, then sign in again. Folder Options, View: Show preview handlers in preview pane.