Add the Ability to View Thumbnails of PSD Files in Windows Explorer

If you work with Adobe Photoshop, even half as much as you say you do.. I’m sure by now you may have noticed that you are unable to view  thumbnails of PSD files in Windows Explorer. For some unknown reason, Adobe has decided it’s best to just remove this particular functionality for Photoshop users. How amazingly thoughtful of them.

So, if you’re like me and decide you don’t want to have to open a Photoshop, or the Adobe browser, everytime you want to view a thumbnail of a PSD file.. read on.

Here’s a quick, and easy, method of  adding the ability to view thumbnails of .psd files without opening (or heck, even installing!) Adobe Photoshop.

  1. First, you need to download the necessary PSD Thumbnail Shell DLL file.
  2. UnZip the psdthumbnaildll.zip file you just downloaded, and copy that file to C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Shell\ (if it doesn’t exist yet, create it).
  3. Download and run this registry file. It will add the necessary changes to your registry to allow the Shell to access the new Adobe DLL.
  4. Restart your system.
  5. …
  6. PSD THUMBNAILS!

Post Info

Written by adminPosted in InterestingTags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , August 14, 200917 comments

  • http://www.techandtonic.com Ian

    does this work in win 7? Ive been wanting this forever!

  • http://webmercial.org Chase

    Hey, what’s up Ian! How are things?

    This tip works great on Windows 7. Which btw, totally rules, as I’m sure you know. I run it on all of my personal systems at the moment. Although, I still have to keep an XP machine around for several development programs that don’t support Vista/Win7.

    You also have to restart your system after adding the registry changes, which I just added to the list of steps above.

  • Ryan

    Any chance this works with the 64 bit Windows 7?
    Thanks

  • http://www.ardfry.com David Blake

    We have developed a solution for 64 bit Windows 7.

    http://www.ardfry.com/psd-codec/

  • Miguel Berard – PC4USA

    Here’s the link to resolve issues with inability to view thumbnails in Windows Explorer ….mostly in Win 7 :

    http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/11738-thumbnail-previews-enable-disable.html

    Very simple to resolve….enjoy :)

    BTW….I liked your site very much….and the HUMOR….just fabulous :)

  • http://www.watermelonstudios.co.uk/blog/add-thumbnails-to-photoshop-files/ Add thumbnails to Photoshop files | Watermelon Studios

    [...] [Very thankful for the guys at Cha2e.com from who I learned this hack. Original post here] [...]

  • http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/photoshop-help/30335-psd-thumbnails-problem.html#post269684 psd thumbnails problem – RetouchPRO

    [...] Originally Posted by sylvia1065 Thanks for the answer, OlBaldy. I just tried it but it still didn't work, maybe because I use a portable version of CS5? Thanks again, Sylvia You almost there: http://www.cha2e.com/add-the-ability…dows-explorer/ [...]

  • NaN

    Tested and working on Windows 7 32-bit using Photoshop CS5. Considering the .dll file comes from Photoshop 7, it makes sense to always save .psd files using maximum compatibility.

  • http://www.digishoptalk.com/boards/scrap-talk-65/viewing-psd-thumbnails-windows-7-a-260489/#post2683802 Viewing PSD thumbnails in Windows 7? – DigiShopTalk Forums

    [...] this figured out! Thanks! I used this post to get them on my Vista, works on Windows 7 too Add the Ability to View Thumbnails of PSD Files in Windows Explorer | Chase You do need to install the registry file but there is also one that goes into your program files [...]

  • Paul W

    When I tried to unzip the first file, psdthumbnaildll.zip I was prompted for a psssword. What gives here?

  • Jeremy

    I can’t get this to work with windows 7 64 bit.

  • Kennith

    I can’t figure out the registry part, it would be awesome if someone could explain that part to me…

  • http://www.codemyconcept.com/ CodeMyConcept

    A very instructive article

    Thank you very much!

  • Rebelmaree

    try download this file and access was denied wont let me install it

  • Ryryryry

    The thumbnails are showing when I go to open/save a file, but not in Windows Explorer. Weird.

  • Jcimagination

    Is there any solution for vectors (.eps and.AI) as well?

  • Diancok

    not work

© 2012 Chase Ideas LLC. All Rights Reserved.