Explorer preview stops working after the first time you click on a PDF file in Windows 11

[MirandaP]

I have a fairly new installation of Windows 11. My Dropbox is set to Online, so that it downloads the files as needed, and I am seeing the following strange behaviour:

• Open Explorer with Preview Pane turned on, Details view.
• Navigate to a folder on my Dropbox.
• Click on a PDF that has the 'cloud' symbol. The preview appears in the Preview pane and the 'cloud' symbol changes to the 'green tick' symbol. I notice that the previewer is Microsoft Edge.
• Click on another PDF - the same happens, I see the preview.
• Click on the first PDF again - NO PREVIEW. The preview pane is blank.

If I right-click and download a PDF first, I cannot preview it at all. If I copy the file to a local folder I can preview it fine; I notice that the local previews do not say Microsoft Edge.

So, Windows 11 can't preview downloaded PDFs in Dropbox folders???

[anasperincheeri]

Hello, I'm experiencing issues with PDF files and some png & jpeg which can't use the preview option.  

[Nancy]

Hi @anasperincheeri! Thanks for reporting this. 

Are you having the exact same issue as described by the previous user? 

What’s the app version and syncing status of your Dropbox app at the moment?

[NW7US]

I have tried all REG fixes, choosing apps, to get my files to preview in the preview pane in File Explorer, in Windows 11.  No matter what I have tried, no preview is ever made.  If I preview a file from Dropbox, copied to a non-Dropbox local folder, the preview works nicely.  However, this is NOT a solution - I *must* have the preview feature IN a Dropbox folder.  I have made sure that the files are stored locally.  Even if I quite Dropbox on my local machine, the preview never works.  This needs to be solved or Dropbox is no longer viable, so what am I paying for?  I can use all sorts of other cloud storage competitor applications without this problem.  I need a solution!

[Jay]

Hi @NW7US, thanks for bringing this to our attention.

Have you already been in contact with the support team for them to investigate this matter in more detail?

This will help me to assist further!

[NW7US]

Not yet.  Will do so now.