2Dex Plain comparisons of image and design tools

Best Windows thumbnail extensions in 2026

Compare Icaros, QuickLook, XnView MP, PowerToys, Seer and SageThumbs 2K for thumbnails and previews in Windows File Explorer.

By 2Dex ·

2Dex is published by the makers of SageThumbs 2K, RēDesign and VectorMagik, which are compared here alongside other tools.

Some options add pictures to File Explorer, some open a preview window, and some are larger apps. SageThumbs 2K adds Explorer thumbnails for 363 file types. [1] Match the tool to the files you handle.

OptionMain jobStated licence or cost
IcarosVideo thumbnails and properties in Explorer [2]not published
QuickLookSpace-bar previews [3]not published
XnView MPImage viewer and batch tools [4]Described as free [4]
Microsoft PowerToysOver 30 Windows utilities [5]MIT license [6]
SeerQuick preview of large files [7]not published
SageThumbs 2KExplorer thumbnails for 363 file types [1]Free personal use; commercial US$2.99 a month or US$49 once [8] [9]

How to read this list

All six options aim to help you see what a file contains without opening it. They differ in where that happens. Some add pictures to File Explorer itself, some open a quick preview window, and some are larger apps that also manage files.

The tools differ in file types, in licence terms and in how much extra they do. Where a source gives no detail on a point, this page says less rather than guessing. Check the project page for anything you rely on, such as a file format you use daily.

Icaros: video thumbnails and properties in Explorer

Icaros can provide Windows Explorer thumbnails for essentially any video media format supported by FFmpeg. [2] Icaros is described as a collection of lightweight, high-quality Windows Shell Extensions. [10]

It lets you change the default cache location. [11] Its shell extensions have no dependencies. [12] It works on Windows Vista, 7, 8/8.1, 10 and 11. [13]

QuickLook: press Space to preview a file

QuickLook provides instant file previews by pressing Space. [3] It supports more than 100 file formats. [14]

Images listed are JPEG, PNG, GIF, WebP and RAW. [15] Videos listed are MP4, AVI, MKV and MOV. [16] It uses hardware-accelerated rendering. [17]

XnView MP: image viewer with batch tools

XnView is a free image viewer, photo management and image resizer software. [4] It supports Windows 10 and Windows 11. [18] It includes batch conversion tools. [19]

It can compare up to four images side by side. [20] It supports more than 500 image formats. [21] Its page lists support for Windows, macOS and Linux. [22]

Microsoft PowerToys: a broad set of Windows utilities

PowerToys includes over 30 utilities to help you customize and optimize your Windows experience. [5] It is licensed under the MIT license. [6]

The application logs basic diagnostic data (telemetry). [23] Check its current utility list for the preview and thumbnail features you need.

Seer: quick preview for large files

Seer has built-in support for PDFs, images, code, video, archives, Markdown and plugins. [24]

It stays responsive with very large text files, large PDFs and large archives. [7]

SageThumbs 2K: Explorer thumbnails for many file types

SageThumbs 2K is made by the team that publishes this site. It adds File Explorer thumbnails for 363 file types that Windows can't render natively, including camera RAW, Photoshop PSD, HEIC/AVIF, and video. [1] It pulls an embedded preview directly out of design and CAD files such as Photoshop, Affinity, AutoCAD DWG, and CorelDRAW with no rendering needed. [25]

Thumbnails also work in OneDrive and Synology Drive folders, and it never downloads online-only files just to draw a thumbnail. [26] A QuickLook-style instant previewer is on by default unless another Space-bar previewer is present. [27] From the right-click menu you can convert images, resize them, rotate or flip them losslessly, and combine images into a PDF or CBZ. [28]

It is free for personal, noncommercial use under the PolyForm Noncommercial License 1.0.0. [8] Commercial use needs a per-installation licence: US$2.99 a month, or US$49 once for a perpetual licence with 12 months of updates. [9] It runs on Windows 11, with separate installers for x64 and ARM64. [29]

How to choose

If you work with video files, Icaros lists Explorer thumbnails for formats FFmpeg supports. [2]

If you want a Space-bar preview that covers fonts and 3D models as well as images, videos, documents, code and archives, QuickLook lists them. [30] Seer offers built-in preview for PDFs, images, code, video and archives. [24]

If you want an image viewer that opens more than 500 image formats, XnView MP lists that. [21]

If you want one install that covers many Windows tweaks, PowerToys includes over 30 utilities. [5]

If your files are camera RAW, PSD, HEIC or design files and you want pictures in Explorer, SageThumbs 2K covers 363 types. [1] If you use it for paid work, note the commercial licence. [9]

Frequently asked questions

Which Windows versions does Icaros support?

Yes. Its page says Icaros works on Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8/8.1, Windows 10 and Windows 11. [13] Icaros 3.0.3 and earlier versions work partially on Windows XP, with thumbnails only. [31]

Is SageThumbs 2K free?

It is free for personal, noncommercial use under the PolyForm Noncommercial License 1.0.0. [8] Commercial use needs a per-installation licence at US$2.99 a month, or US$49 once for a perpetual licence with 12 months of updates. [9]

Which Windows tool previews files when you press Space?

QuickLook provides instant file previews by pressing Space. [3] SageThumbs 2K also includes a QuickLook-style instant previewer, on by default unless another Space-bar previewer is present. [27]

Can a Windows thumbnail tool show HEIC and RAW files in Explorer?

SageThumbs 2K adds File Explorer thumbnails for 363 file types that Windows can't render natively, including camera RAW, Photoshop PSD, HEIC/AVIF, and video. [1] For other tools, check the format list on the project page first.

Is Microsoft PowerToys a thumbnail extension?

Its page describes it as over 30 utilities to help you customize and optimize your Windows experience. [5] The facts here do not list thumbnail features, so check its current utility list for the file types you need.

It is free for personal, noncommercial use under the PolyForm Noncommercial License 1.0.0. [8]

Try SageThumbs 2K

Sources

  1. SageThumbs 2K's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  2. Icaros, github.com/Xanashi/Icaros, read 2026-10-07
  3. QuickLook, github.com/QL-Win/QuickLook, read 2026-10-07
  4. XnView MP, xnview.com/en/xnviewmp, read 2026-10-07
  5. Microsoft PowerToys, github.com/microsoft/PowerToys, read 2026-10-07
  6. Microsoft PowerToys, github.com/microsoft/PowerToys, read 2026-10-07
  7. Seer, 1218.io, read 2026-10-07
  8. SageThumbs 2K's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  9. SageThumbs 2K's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  10. Icaros, github.com/Xanashi/Icaros, read 2026-10-07
  11. Icaros, github.com/Xanashi/Icaros, read 2026-10-07
  12. Icaros, github.com/Xanashi/Icaros, read 2026-10-07
  13. Icaros, github.com/Xanashi/Icaros, read 2026-10-07
  14. QuickLook, github.com/QL-Win/QuickLook, read 2026-10-07
  15. QuickLook, github.com/QL-Win/QuickLook, read 2026-10-07
  16. QuickLook, github.com/QL-Win/QuickLook, read 2026-10-07
  17. QuickLook, github.com/QL-Win/QuickLook, read 2026-10-07
  18. XnView MP, xnview.com/en/xnviewmp, read 2026-10-07
  19. XnView MP, xnview.com/en/xnviewmp, read 2026-10-07
  20. XnView MP, xnview.com/en/xnviewmp, read 2026-10-07
  21. XnView MP, xnview.com/en/xnviewmp, read 2026-10-07
  22. XnView MP, xnview.com/en/xnviewmp, read 2026-10-07
  23. Microsoft PowerToys, github.com/microsoft/PowerToys, read 2026-10-07
  24. Seer, 1218.io, read 2026-10-07
  25. SageThumbs 2K's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  26. SageThumbs 2K's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  27. SageThumbs 2K's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  28. SageThumbs 2K's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  29. SageThumbs 2K's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  30. QuickLook, github.com/QL-Win/QuickLook, read 2026-10-07
  31. Icaros, github.com/Xanashi/Icaros, read 2026-10-07

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