Taskbar thumbnail previews in Windows 11 provide a quick way to view open windows without switching between them. When these previews stop appearing, navigation slows down and multitasking becomes less efficient. Addressing this issue requires checking system settings, adjusting registry values, and sometimes applying workarounds for recent Windows updates.

Restart File Explorer to Restore Taskbar Thumbnails

Restarting File Explorer resets key user interface elements, including the taskbar and its thumbnail previews. This method resolves glitches that prevent thumbnails from showing up.

Step 1: Right-click the Windows logo button and select Task Manager.

Step 2: In Task Manager, find Windows Explorer in the list of processes.

Step 3: Select Windows Explorer and click the Restart button in the lower right corner. The taskbar and desktop will briefly disappear and reload, often restoring thumbnail previews.

Check Visual Effects Settings for Thumbnail Preview Options

Windows 11 controls thumbnail previews through visual effects settings. If these options are disabled, taskbar thumbnails will not appear. Adjusting these settings ensures that previews are enabled for your account.

Step 1: Press Win + X and select System.

Step 2: On the System > About page, click Advanced system settings.

Step 3: In the System Properties window, go to the Advanced tab and click Settings under Performance.

Step 4: Under the Visual Effects tab, make sure both Save taskbar thumbnail previews and Show thumbnails instead of icons are checked.

Step 5: Click Apply and then OK to confirm your changes.

These settings must be enabled for thumbnail previews to work. If you’re using a local account and the previews work on other profiles but not yours, this step is especially important.

Modify Registry Settings to Enable Taskbar Thumbnails

Incorrect or missing registry values can block thumbnail previews. Editing the registry can restore these previews, but always back up your registry before making changes.

Step 1: Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.

Step 2: Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced.

Step 3: In the right panel, look for DisablePreviewWindow. If it exists, right-click and delete it to remove any block on previews.

Step 4: Next, go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Taskband.

Step 5: Find the NumThumbnails value. Double-click it, select Hexadecimal, and set the value data to 10 (which equals 16 in decimal, allowing up to 16 thumbnails).

Step 6: Restart your computer to apply these changes and check if taskbar thumbnails are restored.

Configure Group Policy to Allow Taskbar Thumbnail Previews

On Windows 11 Pro editions, Group Policy can override user settings and disable taskbar thumbnails. Ensuring the correct policy is set can restore previews if they are missing due to administrative restrictions.

Step 1: Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter to open the Local Group Policy Editor.

Step 2: Go to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar.

Step 3: Find Turn off taskbar thumbnails in the right panel. Double-click it to open its settings.

Step 4: Set the policy to Not Configured or Disabled to allow thumbnail previews.

Step 5: Click Apply and OK, then restart your PC to confirm the change.

Sometimes, taskbar thumbnail previews stop working only for a specific user account or after a recent Windows update. If previews work on other accounts but not your main one, the user profile may be corrupted. Creating a new local account and transferring your data can resolve profile-specific problems. For recent update-related bugs, check Windows Update for patches, and consider providing feedback to Microsoft via the Feedback Hub if the issue persists after updates.

If you use third-party customization tools (like ExplorerPatcher, Winaero Tweaker, or taskbar-moving utilities), disable them temporarily to see if they affect thumbnail behavior. Some users report that moving the taskbar to the top or using registry hacks can break previews, especially after major Windows 11 updates.

Run System File Checker and DISM for System Corruption

Corrupted system files can interfere with taskbar functionality. Running System File Checker (sfc /scannow) and the Deployment Imaging Service and Management Tool (DISM /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth) can repair these files.

Step 1: Open Command Prompt as administrator by searching cmd, right-clicking it, and choosing Run as administrator.

Step 2: Enter the following command and press Enter:

DISM /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth

Step 3: After DISM completes, run:

SFC /scannow

Step 4: Restart your computer. This process repairs corrupted system files that may block thumbnail previews.

Try Workarounds for Known Windows 11 Bugs

Recent Windows 11 updates (such as 23H2 and 24H2 builds) have introduced bugs where taskbar thumbnails intermittently fail to appear or cannot be clicked. If standard fixes do not work, try these temporary workarounds:

  • Click the taskbar icon again to prompt the preview to show.
  • Switch to a different window, then return and hover again.
  • Use a utility like RefreshTaskbarThumbnails to force-refresh previews if they become blank or disappear after minimizing windows.
  • Check for updates regularly, as Microsoft is actively investigating and releasing hotfixes for these bugs.

Fixing missing taskbar thumbnail previews in Windows 11 usually requires reviewing system settings, registry values, and group policy. If the issue persists after these steps, keep your system updated and watch for new patches, as some problems are linked to recent Windows updates and may require official fixes.