How to see RAW and HEIC thumbnails in File Explorer for photographers in 2026

Steps for photographers to get RAW and HEIC thumbnails in Windows File Explorer, what to prepare, which options to check, and mistakes to avoid.

By 2Dex · 2026-10-10

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

Install a thumbnail add-on for Windows, restart File Explorer, switch the folder to a large icon view, and make sure thumbnails are not turned off in Folder Options. SageThumbs 2K is one add-on that adds thumbnails for camera RAW and HEIC/AVIF files.^[1]

Option	RAW and HEIC thumbnails	Personal use	Commercial use
SageThumbs 2K	Adds thumbnails for 363 file types including camera RAW and HEIC/AVIF ^[1]	Free for noncommercial use ^[1]	US$2.99 a month, or US$49 once with 12 months of updates ^[1]
Other codec packs or thumbnail add-ons	Not published	Not published	Not published

What you need before you start

Seeing a small picture of each RAW or HEIC file in File Explorer takes a little preparation. Work through this list first.

A Windows PC you can change. Some add-ons need administrator rights to install. If your work machine is locked down, look for an option that offers a portable version.
The exact file types you shoot. Write down the extensions in your folders, such as RAW files from your camera brand and HEIC files from a phone. Each tool lists the formats it handles, and you want yours on that list.
Your Windows version and chip type. Find out whether you run Windows 11 and whether the processor is x64 or ARM64, since installers differ by chip.
Your kind of use. Personal hobby use and paid client work are often licensed differently. Decide which applies before you install anything.
A test folder. Pick a folder with a handful of RAW and HEIC files, ideally including one file from every camera or phone you use. You will check the result there.
A backup of anything irreplaceable. Thumbnail add-ons should only read your files, but a backup costs nothing and removes worry.

Finally, close any open File Explorer windows so you can restart them cleanly after the install.

Step by step

These steps work the same way whichever thumbnail add-on you pick.

Open your test folder and note the current state. Switch the view to Large icons or Extra large icons from the View menu. If you see generic file icons for RAW or HEIC files, thumbnails are missing for those types.
Check that thumbnails are allowed. Open Folder Options, go to the View tab, and make sure the box that says to always show icons and never thumbnails is not ticked. This setting hides thumbnails for every file type, whatever you install.
Pick a thumbnail add-on. Compare the formats each one lists against your own file extensions. Also read its licence terms for personal or commercial use.
Download from the maker's own page. Choose the installer that matches your chip type, x64 or ARM64. If you cannot install software, look for a portable download.
Install it and restart File Explorer. Signing out and back in, or restarting the PC, also works. Windows keeps old thumbnails in a cache, so the first look may still show plain icons.
Reopen the test folder. Give the thumbnails a moment to draw. Large folders of RAW files take longer than a folder of small JPEGs.
Clear the thumbnail cache if icons stay plain. Use Disk Cleanup and tick thumbnails, then reopen the folder.
Check each camera and phone. Open one file from every source. A new camera model can be missing from an older tool until it updates.
Check where the files live. If your photos sit in a synced cloud folder, confirm that thumbnails appear there too, and that the tool does not pull down files you wanted to keep online only.
Look at colour. Compare a thumbnail against the photo in your editing program. Wide-gamut images can look different in a small preview.

Tools that can do it

Facts are published here for only one tool, so the comparison is short. For any other option, such as a codec pack or another thumbnail add-on, check its own page for the RAW and HEIC formats it names, its Windows version support, its licence and whether it needs administrator rights.

### SageThumbs 2K

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 runs on Windows 11, with separate installers for x64 and ARM64.^[1] You can use a portable zip that needs no admin rights.^[1]

For photographers, a few other behaviours matter. Thumbnails also work in OneDrive and Synology Drive folders, and it never downloads online-only files just to draw a thumbnail.^[1] Images with colour information from wider colour ranges are adjusted so they display with more consistent colours in the preview.^[1] It shows image size and camera details in File Explorer for formats Windows can't read itself.^[1] A damaged or unsafe file cannot crash File Explorer when it is being read for a thumbnail.^[1]

On cost, it is free for personal use that does not involve earning money from it.^[1] 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.^[1] Business installs get a 7-day evaluation with every feature, after which thumbnails and previews stop until a licence key is entered.^[1]

Common mistakes to avoid

Skipping the Folder Options check. If Explorer is set to show icons only, no add-on can bring thumbnails back. Check this setting first.
Judging the result too early. Explorer keeps a thumbnail cache. Restart File Explorer and, if needed, clear the cache before you decide the tool failed.
Installing the wrong build. Match the installer to your chip type. An x64 build on an ARM64 machine, or the reverse, can stop it working.
Ignoring the licence. Free personal terms do not automatically cover paid client work. Read the terms and decide which applies to you before you rely on a tool in a studio.
Testing with only one file. Cameras write RAW files in different ways. Test at least one file from each camera and each phone you use.
Trusting thumbnail colour for editing. A thumbnail is a quick guide for sorting. Judge colour and sharpness in your editing program.
Forgetting synced folders. Check how a tool treats cloud files before pointing it at a folder that holds online-only photos.
Installing several thumbnail tools at once. Two add-ons handling the same format can compete. Remove one before you try another.

Frequently asked questions

Why does File Explorer show plain icons for RAW files?

Windows can't render many file types natively, and camera RAW is one that often needs help. Without an add-on that reads those files, Explorer falls back to a generic icon. First check that thumbnails are not turned off in Folder Options, then install a tool that lists your RAW format.

Does SageThumbs 2K show HEIC thumbnails?

Yes. 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] Install it, restart File Explorer, switch the folder to a large icon view, and check one HEIC file from your phone.

Is SageThumbs 2K free for photographers?

It is free for personal use that does not involve earning money from it.^[1] 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.^[1] Paid client work is commercial use, so read the terms before relying on it.

Can a thumbnail tool be installed without admin rights?

Some tools offer a portable download. SageThumbs 2K lists a portable zip that needs no admin rights.^[1] For any other tool, check its page for a portable option or for the rights its installer asks for before you start on a locked-down work PC.

Will thumbnails download OneDrive photos?

With SageThumbs 2K, thumbnails also work in OneDrive and Synology Drive folders, and it never downloads online-only files just to draw a thumbnail.^[1] For any other tool, check how it treats online-only files before pointing it at a synced photo folder.

It is free for personal, noncommercial use under the PolyForm Noncommercial License 1.0.0. ^[1]

Try SageThumbs 2K

Sources

SageThumbs 2K's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)