Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
It’s essential to view a doc or different file in Home windows. However you do not have the correct utility to open the file, otherwise you simply wish to shortly peek at it with out taking the time to launch the total app.
Particular applications known as file viewers can show the contents of many file sorts with out the necessity for the related utility. File Explorer in Home windows affords a preview pane that can show sure sorts of recordsdata. Such file viewers as QuickLook, WinQuickLook, and Cool File Viewer can show paperwork, PDFs, and pictures, and even play audio and video recordsdata. And Microsoft PowerToys incorporates a instrument known as Peek that can allow you to view sure recordsdata.
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Which viewer is greatest on your functions? Beneath, I will run via my 5 favourite choices.
File Explorer Preview Pane
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
In Home windows 10 or 11, open File Explorer. In Home windows 10, click on the View menu after which click on the entry for Preview pane. In Home windows 11, click on the View menu, transfer to Present, after which verify the entry for Preview pane. Click on a file within the Explorer window, and it ought to seem within the Preview pane. File Explorer’s preview helps a wide range of file sorts, together with Microsoft Workplace recordsdata (Phrase, Excel, and PowerPoint), PDFs, and pictures (JPG, PNG, TIF, and so forth.). It’s going to additionally allow you to play audio recordsdata (WAV, MP3, M4A) and movies (MP4).
QuickLook
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
Free on the Microsoft Retailer, QuickLook can show a wide range of totally different recordsdata, together with Microsoft Workplace recordsdata, PDFs, ZIP recordsdata, photographs, audio recordsdata, and movies.
The app is straightforward to make use of. After set up, simply choose the file you want to view and press the spacebar. The file then seems within the QuickLook window. You are capable of resize the window and pin it so it stays seen. You’ll be able to open the file with its related utility or a unique app and share the file with another person. And also you’re in a position so as to add QuickLook to your startup routine, so it is accessible on the get-go.
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The developer even affords a wholesome set of plugins you could set up to assist further recordsdata, such epub ebooks, PostScript recordsdata, Android APK packages, and torrent recordsdata.
WinQuickLook
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
One other file viewer accessible from the Microsoft Retailer, WinQuickLook works very very similar to QuickLook, although it can value you $2.49. The app helps Workplace recordsdata, PDFs, ZIP recordsdata, photographs, audio recordsdata, and movies. Simply choose the file you wish to view in File Explorer and press the spacebar. WinQuickLook shows the file in a resizable window. If vital, you’ll be able to all the time open the file with its related utility or a unique app.
Cool File Viewer
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
Accessible without cost on the Microsoft Retailer, Cool File Viewer works a bit in a different way than QuickLook and WinQuickLook. As an alternative of urgent the spacebar to view a file, you drag it onto the Cool File Viewer window or choose it from a menu. The app helps greater than 450 file sorts, all of that are listed on its Microsoft Retailer web page. However to view most of these recordsdata requires a paid subscription. Shelling out $4.99 a 12 months enables you to view PDFs, webp recordsdata, and extra. Coughing up $19.99 a 12 months will show you how to view Microsoft Workplace recordsdata and extra forms of photographs, audio recordsdata, and movies.
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To make use of Cool File Viewer, open the app after which drag and drop the file you wish to view. Alternatively, click on the Select button and choose the file in File Explorer. From the resizable viewer window, you’ll be able to entry menus and run sure instructions relying on the file kind.
Microsoft PowerToys Peek
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
Lastly, Microsoft affords a file viewer via its free PowerToys utility. Often called Peek, this instrument can show a sure variety of file sorts, together with photographs, net pages, Markdown recordsdata, textual content recordsdata, and developer recordsdata. To get began, obtain and set up PowerToys if you happen to do not have already got it. Open this system and choose the entry for Peek. Right here, you’ll be able to guarantee that Peek is turned on and see or change the activation shortcut (Ctrl Spacebar by default). To view a file in File Explorer, choose it and press Ctrl and the spacebar. You’ll be able to then pin the viewer window and open the file in its related utility.
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Out of all of the file viewers, QuickLook is my favourite and the one I exploit by default because it’s free and helps a wide range of file sorts. WinQuickLook is just like QuickLook in options and file kind assist, but it surely’s not free. Cool File Viewer is probably the most able to the bunch with assist for nearly 500 forms of recordsdata, although it can value you a yearly subscription of $20. Relying in your wants, any of those viewers can come in useful once you simply wish to take a fast have a look at a file with out going via its utility.