The Preview pane in File Explorer helps us preview several file types. So, finding it just displaying some random text and no preview of the desired PDF file can be a bit problematic. A Network ...

If PDF Thumbnail and Preview are not showing up in File Explorer, then worry not as you can use PowerToys to preview PDF files, add Thumbnail Previews to PDF Files in Explorer.

Normally, when I view an Explorer folder, I have the PDF files on “view large icons” (as it then gives me a preview of what the first page of the file looks like). But Windows 8 wiped all of that.

Figure A Open File Explorer. Select a common type of file, such as PDF or image. Click the View tab and select Preview Pane. The file is displayed in the Preview Pane (Figure B). Figure B Now ...