Page 1 of 1

Cannot Create Preview Image

Posted: 20 Oct 2026 23:00
by RRbitwise
Running XYplorer: 28.40.0400 (64-bit)
Windows 11 Pro Version 25H2 Build 26200.9711
Display scaling: 125%

For some PDFs, hovering the mouse over a PDF file name results in nice little preview pop-up. For other PDFs, hovering the mouse over that pdf file name results in the pop-up "Cannot create preview image".

An example PDF that successfully produces the preview: XYplorerHelp_V27.00.0700.pdf
An example PDF that fails: XYplorerHelp_V26_20_0200.pdf

The PDF viewer installed on the system is Foxit PDF Editor, Version 2026.2.1.39815
Foxit is the default PDF application on the system.

I have attached:
- The "XYplorer Various Information" data
- The metadata shown by Foxit for the two example PDFs I mentioned

Let me know what other diagnostic data you would like.

Thanks for the help.

Re: Cannot Create Preview Image

Posted: 23 Oct 2026 09:41
by printersolved
Not the dev, but a quick way to narrow this down: XYplorer's PDF hover previews come from the PDF thumbnail/preview handler registered in Windows (here, Foxit's), so the question is whether the handler or XY fails on that file.

1. Open the failing folder in Windows Explorer with thumbnails (Large icons) and the Preview pane on. If Explorer also shows a generic icon or a blank preview for `XYplorerHelp_V26_20_0200.pdf`, Foxit's handler can't render that file and XY can only report it.
2. Compare the two files' PDF versions/producers in Foxit's Document Properties. Older files saved with object streams or a different encryption flag are a classic case where a vendor's thumbnail handler fails but the full viewer opens them fine.
3. In Foxit: Preferences → General (or the installer's "Modify" option) has a setting for Windows Explorer thumbnails / preview handler. Toggle it off and on (or repair the install) to re-register the x64 handler. A 64-bit XY needs the 64-bit handler registered.
4. To test the handler theory, temporarily install another PDF preview handler (e.g. PDF-XChange's free shell extensions or SumatraPDF's previewer). If the "Cannot create preview image" message goes away for that file, it was Foxit's handler.

If Explorer previews the file fine and only XY fails, then it's worth the dev seeing your Various Information plus the failing PDF.