Forum Discussion
Win11 25H2 File Explorer preview pane displays bitmap images incompletely
The system version is Windows 11 25H2 (Build 26220.9022). Since the update on August 1, 2026, the File Explorer preview pane has been unable to fully display bitmap images. Regardless of whether the image is in landscape or portrait orientation, a gray gap appears at approximately the bottom 2/3 to 3/4 of the preview area.
The position of this gap remains fixed relative to the screen and is independent of the image’s aspect ratio. The images open normally in other applications; this issue occurs exclusively in File Explorer’s preview pane, causing inconvenience when viewing images on a daily basis. I would like to confirm whether other users are experiencing the same problem.
1 Reply
Because the bitmap opens correctly elsewhere and the gray band stays fixed in the preview area, the file itself is probably intact; the failure is limited to File Explorer’s preview rendering on that Insider build. I cannot confirm from Microsoft’s published information that this is a documented issue for build 26220.9022. Install the newest build offered for your current Insider channel, restart, and test local BMP files. Toggle the preview pane off and on with Alt+P, then clear the thumbnail cache under Settings > System > Storage > Temporary files and restart Explorer. If the problem remains, run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth followed by sfc /scannow in an elevated terminal. Also test at 100 percent display scaling to separate a rendering/scaling issue. Finally, submit a Feedback Hub report under Files, Folders, and Online Storage > File Explorer, attach the screenshot, and use Recreate my problem so Microsoft receives diagnostic traces.
