Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
It’s essential to view a doc or different file in Home windows. However you do not have the precise software to open the file, otherwise you simply need to shortly peek at it with out taking the time to launch the complete app.
Particular applications referred to as file viewers can show the contents of many file sorts with out the necessity for the related software. File Explorer in Home windows provides 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 software referred to as Peek that can allow you to view sure recordsdata.
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Which viewer is finest to your functions? Beneath, I am going to run by means of 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 test 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 quite a lot 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 quite a lot of completely different recordsdata, together with Microsoft Workplace recordsdata, PDFs, ZIP recordsdata, photos, 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 in a position to resize the window and pin it so it stays seen. You may open the file with its related software or a special app and share the file with another person. And also you’re ready so as to add QuickLook to your startup routine, so it is obtainable on the get-go.
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The developer even provides a wholesome set of plugins which you can set up to help extra 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 like QuickLook, although it would value you $2.49. The app helps Workplace recordsdata, PDFs, ZIP recordsdata, photos, audio recordsdata, and movies. Simply choose the file you need to view in File Explorer and press the spacebar. WinQuickLook shows the file in a resizable window. If essential, you may all the time open the file with its related software or a special app.
Cool File Viewer
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
Out there at no cost on the Microsoft Retailer, Cool File Viewer works a bit otherwise 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 permits you to view PDFs, webp recordsdata, and extra. Coughing up $19.99 a 12 months will assist you to view Microsoft Workplace recordsdata and extra sorts of photos, 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 need to view. Alternatively, click on the Select button and choose the file in File Explorer. From the resizable viewer window, you may entry menus and run sure instructions relying on the file kind.
Microsoft PowerToys Peek
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Lastly, Microsoft provides a file viewer by means of its free PowerToys utility. Referred to as Peek, this software can show a sure variety of file sorts, together with photos, net pages, Markdown recordsdata, textual content recordsdata, and developer recordsdata. To get began, obtain and set up PowerToys when you do not have already got it. Open this system and choose the entry for Peek. Right here, you may ensure 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 may then pin the viewer window and open the file in its related software.
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Out of all of the file viewers, QuickLook is my favourite and the one I take advantage of by default because it’s free and helps quite a lot of file sorts. WinQuickLook is just like QuickLook in options and file kind help, however it’s not free. Cool File Viewer is probably the most able to the bunch with help for nearly 500 sorts of recordsdata, although it would value you a yearly subscription of $20. Relying in your wants, any of those viewers can turn out to be useful whenever you simply need to take a fast take a look at a file with out going by means of its software.