Sometimes, you must strain through numerous files to search for the one you need, which can waste a lot of time when the files differ. Windows File Explorer has a built-in tool that lets you preview files without initiating the whole application. To make viewing even more manageable, Windows has some other neat tricks. Four ways to view files in Windows without using their applications are as follows.
Use the Preview pane in File Explorer.
This allows you to view the file’s contents in the panel on the right side of the screen. This is especially useful for quickly reviewing images and documents when unsure of a file name. The preview pane is not allowed by default in Windows 10 and 11. You can enable it by opening File Explorer, clicking the View menu, and selecting the Preview Pane option.
Once permission is granted, click on the file to view its contents in a pane. During our testing, the preview pane flourishingly displayed Office files, PDFs, and images in PNG, JPG, JPEG, and TIF formats. It also worked with audio files like M4A, MP3, WAV, and videos in MP4 format.
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Try PowerToys peek
To improve your Windows experience, Microsoft PowerToys offers many handy tools, and Peek is one of its standout features. Peek lets you quickly view files without opening the full applications, all with a simple shortcut. It supports various files. This tool is invaluable for those who often need to sift through many files and want to open them just for a glance.
You can download PowerToys from the Microsoft Store since it’s not pre-installed on Windows. Once installed, launch the PowerToys app.
Scroll to the bottom of the left panel, click “Peek,” and toggle the “Enable Pack” option to turn it on. To use Peek, choose a file and press Ctrl + Space to preview it immediately. Arrow keys are used to navigate other files in the same index. To preview many choosing files, select them, press Ctrl + Space, and use the arrow keys to navigate through them.
Install QuickLook
If you’ve worked on a Mac, you’re familiar with the QuickLook factor, which permits you to preview any file with just one press of the spacebar. It works for documents, images, and even videos. It’s very fast—much quicker than opening the file—and you can quickly jump between files using the arrow keys.
This feature isn’t built into Windows, but the PowerTools feature mentioned earlier offers something similar. If you’re looking for functionality close to Mac’s QuickLook, you can download a third-party app called QuickLook from the Microsoft Store.
After installing, it will appear in the system tray. To use it, go to your desired folder, click on any file, and press the Spacebar. You’ll instantly get a preview of the file. The arrow keys are used to jump between the files. The preview will be updated immediately.
It supports previewing various types of files, including PNG and APNG. It also supports previewing GIF, BMP, PSD, JPG, and raw image files. It contributes to media files like MKV, M2TS, MP4, OGG, MP3, and M4A. You can even preview squash files such as ZIP, TAR, and 7Z, which isn’t possible on Mac. This aspect is great for all kinds of text editing and is particularly great for markdown rendering.
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Use WinQuickLook
The WinQuickLook app is used to bring Mac’s QuickLook feature to Windows.It works like the QuickLook app, but with a slight difference: it costs $2.49. After running in the system tray, open File Explorer, select a text file, and press the spacebar. A new window will pop up displaying the file’s content, which is the preview provided by WinQuickLook.
The preview window’s title bar displays the file size, name, and type. The preview window’s title bar is used, and you can also select text in the preview and copy it to your clipboard. However, there is no editing option. If you want to make changes, you can click on the option in the top left corner of the preview window to open the file in its specific application for editing.
Access files with ease on Windows
The mentioned features and apps make accessing files easier without opening the apps. Take a look at some useful File Explorer features on Windows that you might have missed, especially when managing your files more efficiently. Check out the ultimate guide for File Explorer on Windows 11 to explore these features further.