Hide or Show File Icon on Thumbnail in Windows 10

By Achilles Hill | Last Updated May 22, 2025

In Windows 10, File Explorer displays thumbnails for files and folders to provide a visual preview. By default, these thumbnails include a small file type icon overlay, indicating the associated application (e.g., Word, PDF, or image viewer).

If you prefer a cleaner look without these icons—or want them back—you can easily toggle this setting.

Steps to hide or show file icon on thumbnail in Windows 10:

Step 1: Open Folder Options (i.e. File Explorer Options).

Step 2: Choose View, find the option-- Display file icon on thumbnails in the Advanced settings. To hide file icons on thumbnails, uncheck this box. To show file icons on thumbnails, check this box.

Step 3: Click OK to apply the change.

What Does "Display File Icon on Thumbnails" Mean in Windows 10?

When you browse through File Explorer in Windows 10 and view your files in thumbnail mode (like Large or Extra Large Icons), you’ll often see two things:

1. A preview thumbnail of the file's content (especially for images, videos, and documents).

2. A small file type icon (such as a Word, PDF, or photo viewer icon) displayed on top of or in the corner of the thumbnail.

For Example:

A .jpg image might show a thumbnail preview of the photo, but also a small image viewer icon in the corner.

A .docx file might show a preview of the first page, along with a Microsoft Word icon on it.

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