One of the many useful features on macOS is Quick Look, which lets you preview a file without needing to open it just by pressing the spacebar. This can be very handy when you need to view files, such as documents or photos, and do not want to open each one individually. While Windows does not have this functionality, there are a few tools that you can use to get a similar experience.

Option 1: Using the QuickLook app from the Microsoft Store

Microsoft Store offers a third-party app named QuickLook, which functions similarly to the macOS feature. It lets you preview many file types, including Word docs, PDFs, JPGs, PNGs, and even compressed files. You can check out the entire list of supported files on the GitHub page of the app.

  1. Search for the QuickLook app in the Microsoft Store and download it from there.
  1. Once QuickLook is installed, open File Explorer, click on the file you want to preview, and hit the spacebar. A preview should appear as a pop-up on your screen, and you can even copy things like text from it directly without opening the file.
  1. By default, QuickLook should automatically be added to your Startup apps, so it will launch on its own whenever you turn on your PC. To check this, right-click on the taskbar and select 'Task Manager' or use the Ctrl + Shift + Esc shortcut to launch it.
  1. When the Task Manager appears, click on the 'Startup Apps' tab on the left.
  1. On the 'Startup apps' tab, scroll down on the right side and check whether QuickLook is enabled. If it is not, right-click on it and select 'Enable'.
Note: When using QuickLook to preview files like PDFs in Windows, you can scroll up and down to switch between different pages. Pressing and holding the Ctrl key while scrolling will even let you zoom in and out of documents. Scrolling up and down will also let you change the volume level when previewing audio files.

Option 2: Using the Peek Tool in Microsoft PowerToys

Microsoft PowerToys offers several tools and utilities that enhance the Windows user experience by expanding the capability and functionality of the OS. Peek is one such utility that lets you preview files by pressing a customizable shortcut key.

  1. Search for and install the Microsoft PowerToys application from the Microsoft Store.
  1. Once PowerToys is installed, launch it from the Start menu with admin privileges.
  1. You will find all the utilities that PowerToys offers on the left. Scroll down and click on the Peek utility.
  1. Then click on the 'Enable Peek' toggle on the right to turn on the utility.
  1. The shortcut keys you need to use to preview files using Peek will be displayed here. You can change them by clicking the pencil icon next to them. Just make sure your shortcut keys start with the Windows, Shift, Alt, or Ctrl keys.
Note: You can reset your shortcut keys at any time by clicking the pencil icon again and then clicking the 'Reset' button.
  1. Once you've set your shortcut keys, open File Explorer and select a file by clicking on it. Then press the shortcut keys to see a preview of the file. Pressing the same shortcut keys will let you close the preview.

Things to know

  • You can also enable the 'Preview Pane' from the Folder options in Windows File Explorer to get a preview of a file or folder by clicking on it. The preview will appear on the right in a separate pane that you can resize as you like but this does not provide detailed information about the file.
  • While the QuickLook app lets you preview many types of files, you can further expand that functionality with plugins that will let you preview additional files, like APK and CAD files.
  • PowerToys Peek also lets you preview multiple files by selecting them at the same time using the Ctrl or Shift key.
  • Another app you can use to get the QuickLook feature on Windows is the Seer app, which works in the same way as the Quick Look app. However, it only offers a seven-day free trial, so if you like it, you will have to get the paid version. The Pro version also unlocks additional features, such as additional file format support, third-party integration, and regular updates.