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![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(38.4, 13%, 13%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EPG%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
.png thumbnail previews have stopped working. I've tried all the suggestions online like unchecking boxes etc etc and I've even tried rebuilding the icon cache. Some program icons have also stopped being visible in the icon tray when they are running (Whatapps desktop app and Notepad)
Any help is appreciated. I use image files everyday and not being able to see .png thumbnail previews has frustratingly extended my workflow.
Many thanks. Patrick.
The culprit might be Google Drive sync client.
Please download and png_fix.reg (from my OneDrive). Run the file and click Yes to confirm.
Log off/login back or restart Windows for the native thumbnail handler to reload.
If required, refresh the Thumbnail cache using Disk Cleanup (cleanmgr.exe)
Other methods to clear the thumbnail cache:
Ramesh, you are a star! That's fixed it - let's hope it lasts. I am very grateful for your help and to Randy also. Blessings to you sir and very many thanks.
You're most welcome, Patrick. If the same issue repeats, the Google Drive sync client might be re-adding the key during a software update.
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(182.40000000000003, 64%, 27%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3ES%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Hi @remesh would you mind sharing the file, I am having the same issue and NOTHING has worked....but your link is expired. :(
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(54.400000000000006, 59%, 15%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3ELE%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Can't download the fix file. And when Google Drive updated itself I lost PNG previw again.
What are Google doing? Other files preview, but all PNG files stopped previewing :-(
I found out how to fix it the last time, but know I can't make things work again :-(
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(240, 77%, 33%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EAC%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
I tried several of these solutions plus those offerd by ChatGPT. Nothing worked. I uninstalled OneDrive and everything returned to normal. Who knew MS had managed to corrupt its own data and the simple solution was to end it?
Tried a few of the "solutions." Issue got worse. Now I cannot see .pngs or .jpgs. I vccot work if I cannot see tell what assetts I'm working with.
@Alex Colvin What are the solutions you tried?
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(160, 91%, 25%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3ERB%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Hi,
Thanks, Patrick. To create the folders in the Registry, right-click on pngfile, choose New > Key, name it shellex, then right-click shellex, create another key named {e357fccd-a995-4576-b01f-234630154e96}, click that key, double-click (Default) on the right, and set its value to {E3F2BAC0-DA47-11CE-990E-00AA006CABC9}. Close Registry Editor and restart your PC. Since "Choose another app" only works per file and some icons are missing, this registry fix should help restore system thumbnail handling. Let me know after the restart.
Best regards,
Hi Randy,
Alas, it hasn't worked. I'm convinced this is the result of a recent Windows 11 update. I also lost the shortcut to emojis (Windows key + Period (.)) Can't get that back either despite trying many different things.
But losing png previews is a serous pain in the butt as I edit images everyday. I've had to increase my workflow by copying and converting all png's created to jpegs just to be able to know what I'm looking at.
Would AI created png's downloaded from AI Image Creators cause any potential issues? I'm clutching at straws now.
Many thanks,
Patrick.
@Patrick: What about other PNGs, for example, created using Paint? Do they preview correctly?
Hi Ramesh, I just tried with Paint but it has the same result - no thumbnail preiview. Doesn't seem to matter where the PNG's are created - Photoshop, Paint, Online AI Image Generator - they all preview as a white sheet with corner turned down. :-(
Hi Patrick,
Please download FileTypeDiag and run it.
Generate the .PNG association log using that tool.
Share that log file on OneDrive or GoFile.io and post the link here.
Thanks Ramesh, below is the "PNG File Type Diag" link to Google Drive - I hope you can access that?
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LsWBmYT76hJhWVJ9kB3gl7d-jWCSgHx-/view?usp=drive_link
Hi Patrick,
Can you please share it for public access? To do so, uncheck the "Restricted" option in Google Drive file sharing settings.
