---
title: "IconsOnly: turning off File Explorer thumbnails and the preview pane"
description: "File Explorer builds a small preview picture for every image and video in a folder. What the tweak changes, when it helps, when it hurts and how to undo it."
url: https://frozentweaks.com/tweaks/disable-explorer-thumbnails
author: Frost LIVE, Founder of Frozen Tweaks
published: 2026-10-08
updated: 2026-10-08
category: "Windows"
source: Frozen Tweaks (https://frozentweaks.com)
---

# IconsOnly: turning off File Explorer thumbnails and the preview pane

**Short answer:** File Explorer builds a small preview picture for every image and video in a folder. IconsOnly set to 1 shows plain icons instead, and the preview pane is switched off. In the registry it sets IconsOnly to 1 under HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced, and 1 more value.

## In the app

- Switch: Disable Explorer Thumbnails (Windows, Pro, Advanced)
- Undo: Yes. Switching it off sets a standard Windows value, which may not be exactly how you had it.
- Catalog row: https://frozentweaks.com/tweaks#t-1072

## What it does

File Explorer builds a small preview picture for every image and video in a folder. IconsOnly set to 1 shows plain icons instead, and the preview pane is switched off.

In the app the switch is called "Disable Explorer Thumbnails", described there as: Prevents thumbnail/preview generation spikes during gaming sessions.

## When it helps

- Folders full of clips and screenshots, which open at once instead of generating previews.

## When it hurts

- You no longer see what a picture or video is without opening it.

## What it writes

Read from the app's source. "Switching it off" is what the app writes when you turn the tweak off again.

Registry values:

| Key | Value | With the tweak | Switching it off |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced` | `IconsOnly` | `1` | 0 |
| `HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced` | `DisablePreviewPane` | `1` | 0 |

Source: Tweaks/explorer_thumb_off.hpp in the app's source, app 2.0.0, checked 2026-10-08.

## The same change by hand

Run in a Command Prompt opened as administrator. Make a restore point first.

```bat
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /v "IconsOnly" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /v "DisablePreviewPane" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
```

Put it back:

```bat
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /v "IconsOnly" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /v "DisablePreviewPane" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
```

See what it is set to now:

```bat
reg query "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /v "IconsOnly"
```

## How to undo it

Switch the tweak off in Frozen Tweaks. It writes IconsOnly back to 0, DisablePreviewPane back to 0.

## Verdict

Convenience against speed. It only matters while a File Explorer window is open.

## Questions

### What does the "Disable Explorer Thumbnails" tweak change in Windows?

In the registry it sets IconsOnly to 1 under HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced, and 1 more value. The full list is in the table on this page, read from the app's source.

### What is the standard value of IconsOnly?

Frozen Tweaks writes 0 when you switch the tweak off, which is the value it treats as the Windows standard. With the tweak on, IconsOnly is 1.

### Is "Disable Explorer Thumbnails" safe to switch on?

Convenience against speed. It only matters while a File Explorer window is open. The main cost: You no longer see what a picture or video is without opening it.

### How do I undo it?

Switch the tweak off in Frozen Tweaks. Switching it off sets a standard Windows value, which may not be exactly how you had it.

### Is "Disable Explorer Thumbnails" free in Frozen Tweaks?

It is part of Frozen Pro and Elite. You can also make the change by hand with the values on this page.

## Related guides

- [Windows 11 Gaming Optimization: What Still Works in 2026](https://frozentweaks.com/guides/windows-11-gaming-optimization)
- [How to Increase FPS on PC: The Complete 2026 Guide](https://frozentweaks.com/guides/how-to-increase-fps-on-pc)

## More tweak explainers

- [Windows Update Medic Service](https://frozentweaks.com/tweaks/disable-windows-update-medic-service)
- [Update Orchestrator (UsoSvc)](https://frozentweaks.com/tweaks/disable-update-orchestrator-service)
- [Windows Game Mode](https://frozentweaks.com/tweaks/windows-game-mode-on-or-off)

---
Written by Frost LIVE, founder of Frozen Tweaks. Canonical version: https://frozentweaks.com/tweaks/disable-explorer-thumbnails