Turn on or off details pane: registry value NoPreviewPaneUserHKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

Policy ID: NoPreviewPane
Scope: User Configuration
Supported on: At least Windows Vista
Source: Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) (version 1.0)
Category: Windows Components › File Explorer › Explorer Frame Pane

Registry

NoPreviewPane

REG_DWORDUser

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer Current key

Enabled value: Depends on the option value
Element: Configure details pane

Options
Item	Stored value
Always hide	1
Always show	2

Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]

; Options (use only one)
; Always hide
"NoPreviewPane"=dword:00000001
; Always show
"NoPreviewPane"=dword:00000002

CMD

:: Options (use only one)

:: Always hide
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer" /v "NoPreviewPane" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
:: Always show
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer" /v "NoPreviewPane" /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f

PowerShell

# Common: create the key
New-Item -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer' -Force | Out-Null

# Options (use only one)
# Always hide
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer' -Name 'NoPreviewPane' -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null
# Always show
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer' -Name 'NoPreviewPane' -PropertyType DWord -Value 2 -Force | Out-Null