Firstly, a while back I installed PowerToys on my Windows 10 laptop because my basic (non-Adobe extortionist program) PDFGear was not showing me previews in my preview pane. This has been working well for the most part with occational restarts.
Now on my fresh Windows 11 desktop, to duplicate, I downloaded PowerTows, selected "File Explorer add-ons", changed the Portable Document Format (.pdf) from off to on witrh no joy. A little new to Win 11, but changed folder to show the "Details pane". That was cool and does show a very small pdf file (I have no idea if it would without PowerToys because I've never seen it before). The thumbnail is too small to be useful for quickly getting info off the file without opening it and I found no way to expand to image. I have read all the online help. I found how to change from "Details" to "Preview" and the same file does not show. Just the normal statement "This file can't be previewed".
I restarted the computer. No change.
I closed PowerToys and reopened as Administrator, deselected .pdf and reselected it. No change.
I restarted the computer, opened as administrator, deselectged and reselected .pdf. No change.
Everytime changing .pdf on and off (even before opening as Admin.) all the desktop icons reset.
I noted that the PowerToys app was listed as "PowerToys (preview)", so I thought "Shit, this isn't the real program, just a preview" so I uninstalled it.
I then went to the Microsoft store at apps.microsoft.com and downloaded PowerToys from the "Install" link at the top (no mention of any preview)
When installed (now) it still says "(preview)" after the title. WTF?
I tried everything again but it will NOT preview my .pdf files!
✔️ Expected Behavior
That I could preview .pdf files in my folder's preview pane so I don't have to open the application just for a quick view (like works on my Windows 10 laptop). My simple pdf program obviously not supported by windows without this fix. Why wouldn't Windows automatically preview ALL .pdf extensions?
❌ Actual Behavior
Nothing happened. PowerToys File explorer add-ons had no effect on being able to preview .pdf files.
LAST MINUTE While writing, to get the version prior to sending, I noticed an option to ALWAYS run as administrator.
I selected that and tried pdf off and on again. I noticed a pdf preview showing but selected another and no preview.
I turned the pdf option (all this from beginning in "File explorer add-ons") OFF and low & behold I now see .pdf previews!
I can only conclude that when running as admin., I never checked with the .pdf off to see the previews.
I am beginning to think that the File explorer add-ons is NOT the preview solution that PowerToys was giving me and in fact was interfering with it. OMG what a waste of time! I would like to get feedback anyway to understand what module is allowing me to view the .pdfs in the preview pane
Other Software
To handle my .pdf files, I use a free but very effective (and responsive to problems) PDFGear, v. 2.1.8
Jay-o-Way
commented
2 weeks ago
Microsoft PowerToys version
v0.84.1
Installation method
Microsoft Store
Running as admin
None
Area(s) with issue?
File Explorer: Preview Pane
Steps to reproduce
Firstly, a while back I installed PowerToys on my Windows 10 laptop because my basic (non-Adobe extortionist program) PDFGear was not showing me previews in my preview pane. This has been working well for the most part with occational restarts. Now on my fresh Windows 11 desktop, to duplicate, I downloaded PowerTows, selected "File Explorer add-ons", changed the Portable Document Format (.pdf) from off to on witrh no joy. A little new to Win 11, but changed folder to show the "Details pane". That was cool and does show a very small pdf file (I have no idea if it would without PowerToys because I've never seen it before). The thumbnail is too small to be useful for quickly getting info off the file without opening it and I found no way to expand to image. I have read all the online help. I found how to change from "Details" to "Preview" and the same file does not show. Just the normal statement "This file can't be previewed". I restarted the computer. No change. I closed PowerToys and reopened as Administrator, deselected .pdf and reselected it. No change. I restarted the computer, opened as administrator, deselectged and reselected .pdf. No change. Everytime changing .pdf on and off (even before opening as Admin.) all the desktop icons reset. I noted that the PowerToys app was listed as "PowerToys (preview)", so I thought "Shit, this isn't the real program, just a preview" so I uninstalled it. I then went to the Microsoft store at apps.microsoft.com and downloaded PowerToys from the "Install" link at the top (no mention of any preview) When installed (now) it still says "(preview)" after the title. WTF? I tried everything again but it will NOT preview my .pdf files!
✔️ Expected Behavior
That I could preview .pdf files in my folder's preview pane so I don't have to open the application just for a quick view (like works on my Windows 10 laptop). My simple pdf program obviously not supported by windows without this fix. Why wouldn't Windows automatically preview ALL .pdf extensions?
❌ Actual Behavior
Nothing happened. PowerToys File explorer add-ons had no effect on being able to preview .pdf files.
LAST MINUTE While writing, to get the version prior to sending, I noticed an option to ALWAYS run as administrator.
I selected that and tried pdf off and on again. I noticed a pdf preview showing but selected another and no preview.
I turned the pdf option (all this from beginning in "File explorer add-ons") OFF and low & behold I now see .pdf previews!
I can only conclude that when running as admin., I never checked with the .pdf off to see the previews. I am beginning to think that the File explorer add-ons is NOT the preview solution that PowerToys was giving me and in fact was interfering with it. OMG what a waste of time! I would like to get feedback anyway to understand what module is allowing me to view the .pdfs in the preview pane
Other Software
To handle my .pdf files, I use a free but very effective (and responsive to problems) PDFGear, v. 2.1.8