Recently, some Windows users have encountered an issue where the Preview Pane in File Explorer becomes unavailable after installing a Windows update. Instead of showing a preview for files such as PDFs, Word documents, Excel files, or images, File Explorer displays a warning or no preview at all.
This issue has affected productivity, especially for users who rely on File Explorer previews to quickly check documents without opening them.
What Caused the File Explorer Preview Issue?
The problem is linked to a recent Windows security update (specifically KB5066835) that changed how File Explorer handles file previews. After the update, certain files—especially those downloaded from the internet—can no longer be previewed directly in File Explorer.
While this change was introduced to improve system security, it has unintentionally disrupted normal file-preview behavior for many users.
How to Fix File Explorer Preview by Uninstalling the Windows Update
If the preview issue started immediately after a Windows update, uninstalling the problematic update is currently the most straightforward workaround.
Step-by-Step Guide to Uninstall the Windows Update
- Click Start and open Settings
- Go to Windows Update
- Select Update history
- Click Uninstall updates
- Look for the most recent Windows update installed, you might not found the specific updates that caused the problem. You’ll have to uninstall them until you found the one with the code KB5066835
- Restart your computer when the uninstall options is cleared and repeat the process until it is complete
After restarting, open File Explorer, enable Preview Pane (press Alt + P), and check whether file previews are working again.
Important Notes Before Uninstalling Updates
- Uninstalling updates may temporarily resolve the issue, but Windows may automatically reinstall the update during the next update cycle.
- Removing security updates can reduce system protection, so this solution should be treated as a short-term workaround.
- It is recommended to pause Windows updates temporarily if you do not want the update to reinstall immediately.
Conclusion
The File Explorer preview issue is not caused by corrupted files or system errors, but by changes introduced in a recent Windows update. Uninstalling the update can restore preview functionality for now, but users should monitor future Windows updates for a permanent fix from Microsoft.
If your workflow heavily depends on File Explorer previews, keeping an eye on update behavior and release notes is essential.