How to Disable Acrobat 2020 Windows Explorer Thumbnail Preview Handler
Question details
The user needs to learn how to remove or disable the Windows Explorer thumbnail preview handler during or after installing Adobe Acrobat 2020 Classic Track.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat 2020 / Reader 2020
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Managing deployment configurations to prevent PDF thumbnails from automatically generating and displaying in Windows Explorer.
- Observed behavior
- The Adobe Acrobat installation includes a thumbnail preview handler by default, which the user wishes to remove via configuration or command line.
Ensure you have administrator privileges on your Windows machine to execute MSI commands, and always test these commands in a controlled environment before deploying them network-wide.
Remove the Thumbnail Preview Handler via Command Prompt
Use the Windows Installer executable (MsiExec.exe) to modify the Adobe installation and strip out the preview handler feature.
If configuring the initial installer properties fails to disable the Windows Explorer thumbnail preview handler, you can manually remove the feature post-installation.
This method utilizes specific Product Codes for the Acrobat 2020 Classic Track and Reader 2020 Classic Track. Ensure you select the exact command that corresponds to your installed product.
Click the Start menu, type 'cmd', right-click on 'Command Prompt' in the search results, and select 'Run as administrator'.
If you are running Adobe Acrobat 2020 Classic Track, type the following command and press Enter: MsiExec.exe /i {AC76BA86-1033-FFFF-7760-0E1401753200} REMOVE=ThumbnailPreviewHandler /qb
If you are running Adobe Reader 2020 Classic Track instead, type this command and press Enter: MsiExec.exe /i {AC76BA86-7AD7-FFFF-7B44-AE1401753200} REMOVE=ThumbnailPreviewHandler /qb
To guarantee the visual changes take effect immediately, open Task Manager, locate 'Windows Explorer' under the Processes tab, right-click it, and click 'Restart'.
Looking for a Lightweight PDF and Office Solution?
Enterprise Adobe installations can often leave unwanted background handlers and bloat on your system. WPS Office offers a completely free, fast, and lightweight alternative for viewing and editing PDF files, along with robust document tools that never clutter your Windows Explorer.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free installation package.
- 2. Install the Software: Run the installer and follow the quick setup wizard to install WPS Office on your computer.
- 3. Set as Default PDF Reader: Right-click any PDF file, select 'Open with', choose WPS Office, and check 'Always use this app to open .pdf files'.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Adobe Acrobat install a thumbnail preview handler?
Adobe Acrobat installs this handler by default so users can see a graphical preview of the first page of a PDF directly within Windows Explorer, replacing the standard generic PDF file icon.
Can I disable PDF thumbnails directly in Windows Settings?
Yes. You can open File Explorer Options, navigate to the View tab, and check 'Always show icons, never thumbnails'. However, this setting globally disables thumbnails for all file types (like images and videos), not just PDFs.
Will removing the Thumbnail Preview Handler affect my ability to open PDFs?
No. Removing the thumbnail handler only stops Windows Explorer from rendering visual page previews for PDF files. You will still be able to open, read, and edit PDFs normally in your chosen PDF reader.
