The Performance Bottleneck
By default, when you open a folder in Windows 11 containing hundreds of photographs or video files, the File Explorer does not simply display a generic icon. Instead, it aggressively scans every single file, extracts a tiny visual preview of the actual picture or video, and renders it as a miniature “thumbnail.” While this makes it incredibly easy to find a specific photograph, it requires a massive amount of processing power and hard drive speed. If you open a network drive containing 5,000 images, the File Explorer will completely freeze as it desperately tries to generate 5,000 unique thumbnails. You must force Windows to prioritize speed over visual previews.
How to Turn Off Image Thumbnails
You can force Windows to display generic icons via the legacy File Explorer Options.
- Open the File Explorer (press the Windows Key + E).
- Click the three horizontal dots (…) on the far right side of the top toolbar to open the “See more” menu.
- Click on Options at the very bottom of the dropdown list.
- A new “Folder Options” window will appear. Click the View tab at the top.
- In the “Advanced settings” box, look for the very first checkbox labeled “Always show icons, never thumbnails.”
- Check the box (ensure a checkmark appears).
- Click Apply, then click OK.
Instant Folder Loading
The change takes effect instantly. The next time you open a massive folder of photographs, Windows 11 will completely bypass the image rendering engine. Every file will simply display the generic blue “Photos” icon. Because the operating system no longer has to scan the contents of the files, massive folders will load instantly, completely eliminating the painful green loading bar at the top of the window.