How to Fix Word Documents Not Previewing in Explorer

Quick Tips

• If you can’t preview Word files in Explorer, first make sure the preview option is active.
• Adjusting your Microsoft Word Trust Center settings may also fix this issue.
• You can also try adjusting Windows settings or running a System File Checker scan.

Windows Explorer has a helpful “Preview” pane on the right side that should show you little previews of any files before you open them, including Word documents. However, it doesn’t always work as intended, and you may specifically have an issue with Word documents not previewing in Explorer when you select them. This guide shows how to fix that and related preview problems.

Word Documents Not Previewing in Explorer Fix 1. Enable Previews

If Explorer doesn’t preview Word files, it might simply be that you have inadvertently disabled the “Preview” feature. You can turn it on and off quite easily via the Explorer settings menu. Here’s how:

Step 1. Use the “Windows” and “E” shortcut to open Explorer or access it via your Start menu. Then click the three dots menu button and select “Options.”

Step 2. Go to the “View” tab and scroll down. Look for the setting labeled “Show preview handlers in preview pane” and make sure the box next to it is checked. Apply your changes and press “OK” to continue.

Fix 2. Adjust Your Trust Center Settings

If previews for other programs and file types are showing, but you specifically can’t preview Word files in Explorer, it might be an issue with your Word Trust Center settings.

Step 1. Open Microsoft Word and click on “File,” then “Options.”

Step 2. Click on “Trust Center” and then “Trust Center Settings.”

Step 3. Go to “Protected View” and uncheck all the boxes in the “Protected View” section. Note, however, that this could expose your device to possible security threats if you download dangerous or corrupted files. Click “OK” to save your changes and check if Word files are previewing.

Fix 3. Adjust Windows Settings

There are also some Windows system settings you can change to fix the issue of Word documents not previewing in Explorer.

Step 1. Open the Settings by pressing “Windows” and “I” together or clicking the Settings icon in the Start menu.

Step 2. Go to “Apps” then click on “Default apps.”

Step 3. Type in the extension for the file type that isn’t previewing. In this case, it’s likely .doc or .docx. Make sure that Word is selected as the default app for that file type. If it isn’t, click to change it.

Fix 4. Try a System File Checker Scan

There might be some corruption in your system’s files that can cause random issues like problems with the Explorer preview pane. You can find and fix these issues with an SFC scan.

Step 1. Click the search icon and type “CMD” into the box. Then click “Run as administrator” for the Command Prompt.

Step 2. Enter this command: “SFC /scannow” A scan should then run, and if Windows finds any issues, it can repair them automatically. You’ll likely need to restart your device afterwards to check if the problem is fixed.

Fix 5. Update Your Graphics Drivers

Lastly, there may be an issue with your graphics card drivers being out of date, which could make features like the Explorer Preview pane less responsive and reliable. Update your drivers as follows:

Step 1. Open the “Device Manager” by searching for it in the Start menu and clicking the corresponding icon.

Step 2. Go down the list and find the “Display adapters” section. Click to expand it, then find your graphics driver.

Step 3. Right-click the driver and select “Update driver,” followed by “Search automatically for drivers.” Then follow any on-screen prompts to install drivers and restart your machine.