How to Fix PDF Thumbnail Not Showing issue: 4 Ways to Fix it

A thumbnail tells you about the content, which is mostly pictures and videos. Even learning more about the type of file in other formats can help. Images, videos, Excel sheets, documents, and PDFs can Fix PDF Thumbnail Not Showing issue.

We can also change the size of the thumbnail to fit our needs. But it’s a big problem that PDFs don’t have thumbnails. This could have happened for a number of reasons, such as if you turned off the feature or messed up the cache. But if you want to know how to deal with it, read on. Here’s the rest of the guide on how to fix PDF thumbnails that are now loading on Windows.

Fix: PDF Thumbnail Not Showing issue

Use Adobe Acrobat Reader

  1. Enter the default programs by pressing the Windows Key + S.
  2. Pick “App settings by default” from the list.
  3. Choose the default app for each file type.
  4. Find the .pdf file type on the list and double-click it to make it the default.
  5. Change the default app to Adobe Reader.

PDF file view in Preview pane

  1. Download and install Sumatra PDF reader. 
  2. Open File Explorer.
  3. Go to the View tab.
  4. Enable Preview pane from the button on the left.
  5. Navigate to a PDF file and select it.
  6. The preview pane will show a thumbnail of the first page of the file.

Preview files using Adobe Reader

  1. Open Adobe Reader.
  2. Select File > Open now.
  3. Find the directory where your PDF files are. Now, your thumbnails should be made. Don’t open any PDF files or choose any of them.
  4. Close Adobe Reader.
  5. Now, open File Explorer and go to where your PDF files are stored.

Reset Thumbnail Cache

  1. Open the Settings app by searching for it in Windows or by pressing Ctrl + I.
  2. Now, under System, click on the Storage option.
  3. Then choose the option for Temporary files.
  4. Now, uncheck everything except “Thumbnails.”
  5. Then, click the Remove files button at the top to get rid of the thumbnail cache.

Why are thumbnails used?

If someone has a lot of images to look at, thumbnails can help them find the one they want faster because they don’t have to open each file individually. For example, Adobe’s Acrobat Reader lets users switch between pages in a PDF file by showing a series of thumbnails of the pages that can be seen.

When a website has a lot of pictures, like an online store with a picture catalog, thumbnail images are often used instead of larger images to make the page load faster. The user can then choose which pictures they want to see in full size.

Why are PDF Thumbnails Not Showing on PC?

First, let’s talk about why PDF thumbnails might not show up on Windows 11. It could be a random bug that is making the PC act up in different ways. Out of the many problems that can happen, missing thumbnails in PDF files could be one.

Second, the PC might not have let you see thumbnails. When this is the case, you won’t be able to see the thumbnail preview for any file format you have on your computer. The thumbnail cache may have been broken for a long time because it held useless information. If you downloaded the PDF file from the Internet in the wrong way, the file could have been damaged. So, it doesn’t have a thumbnail preview.

Lucas Simonds
Lucas Simonds
Lucas Simonds is a skilled content editor at Bollyinside, specializing in "How to" and "Tips & Tricks" articles focused on Gaming, Software, and Apps. With a genuine passion for video games, he not only writes about them but also actively engages in gaming. His commitment to providing insightful and approachable content has earned him a trusted reputation within the online community.

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