# Old SKP files not showing in Explorer file and icon preview! **URL:** \ **Category:** Pro\ **Tags:** sketchup\ **Created:** [March 7, 2022, 2:36pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/old-skp-files-not-showing-in-explorer-file-and-icon-preview/191860 "2022-03-07T14:36:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tomsk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Tomsk](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Tomsk)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2022, 2:36pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/old-skp-files-not-showing-in-explorer-file-and-icon-preview/191860/1 "2022-03-07T14:36:52Z")
Apparently there is a KB about it; [Restoring thumbnails for SketchUp files on Windows | SketchUp Help](https://help.sketchup.com/en/sketchup/restoring-thumbnails-sketchup-files-windows#:~:text=If%20thumbnails%20are%20still%20not,Set%20this%20program%20as%20default). with a note saying; _Note: Thumbnails should now show for any newly saved files. If you can’t see a thumbnail for an old file, you can open it and click Save and it should show the thumbnail._ For this issue - the above note is a killer – if there are 200 files in some folders - the users want to see the previews/thumbnail of the file. One (or some) of our users are having this problem after installing a new version of SKP then uninstalling an older version. - now only new files that are placed in the folder are showing a preview. Already tried to clear the thumbnail cache. There must be a better solution. ---
**Author:** ![RLGL](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/rlgl/32/44295_2.png) [@RLGL](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/RLGL)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2022, 3:30pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/old-skp-files-not-showing-in-explorer-file-and-icon-preview/191860/2 "2022-03-07T15:30:32Z")
A search of the forum will produce numerous threads regarding this issue. ---
**Author:** ![Elmtec-Adam](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/elmtec-adam/32/120483_2.png) [@Elmtec-Adam](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Elmtec-Adam)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2022, 3:37pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/old-skp-files-not-showing-in-explorer-file-and-icon-preview/191860/3 "2022-03-07T15:37:38Z")
Try installing Windows Thumbnail Preloader [https://github.com/bruhov/WinThumbsPreloader/releases/download/v1.0.1/WinThumbsPreloader-1.0.1-setup.exe](https://github.com/bruhov/WinThumbsPreloader/releases/download/v1.0.1/WinThumbsPreloader-1.0.1-setup.exe) Then right click on the folder with the 200 missing thumbnails and choose “preload thumbnails recursively” this will rebuild all windows thumbnails in that folder and folders inside of that folder. ---
**Author:** ![Tomsk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Tomsk](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Tomsk)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2022, 2:35pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/old-skp-files-not-showing-in-explorer-file-and-icon-preview/191860/4 "2022-03-10T14:35:49Z")
Thanks. There are a few options. Installing third party tools is not an option in this case (to fix thumbnail issues) Is there an official fix for this known issue? ---
**Author:** ![RLGL](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/rlgl/32/44295_2.png) [@RLGL](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/RLGL)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2022, 2:39pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/old-skp-files-not-showing-in-explorer-file-and-icon-preview/191860/5 "2022-03-10T14:39:37Z")
Your profile indicates you are using 2018. There is are no fixes for that version. If a third-party tool is not an option the only choice is a subscription to the 2022 version. ---
**Author:** ![Tomsk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Tomsk](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Tomsk)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2022, 3:05pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/old-skp-files-not-showing-in-explorer-file-and-icon-preview/191860/6 "2022-03-10T15:05:05Z")
I have upgraded to latest version thanks. Do you have a valid link for information regarding the issue in the original post of this thread? ---
**Author:** ![DaveR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/daver/32/7601_2.png) [@DaveR](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DaveR)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2022, 3:07pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/old-skp-files-not-showing-in-explorer-file-and-icon-preview/191860/7 "2022-03-10T15:07:24Z")
> [@Tomsk](#): > > I have upgraded to latest version thanks. Please edit your profile to reflect that. The correct information helps us help you. Did you install SketchUp 2022 correctly by right clicking on the downloaded installer and choosing Run as administrator? That should install the required .dll file for the thumbnails. ---
**Author:** ![PaulMcAlenan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/paulmcalenan/32/211206_2.png) [@PaulMcAlenan](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/PaulMcAlenan)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2023, 1:14pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/old-skp-files-not-showing-in-explorer-file-and-icon-preview/191860/8 "2023-03-28T13:14:49Z")
I have this issue with the latest 2023. Odd thing is that, whatever I do, the **.skb** files are showing an icon preview. Tried the suggestions. I did have 2022 installed – set the default app to 2022 and voilà ! the icon previews came back – the only thing is that clicking on a file, it opens with 2022 😢 So I reset the default app to 2023 and the same issue came back 😭 So I uninstalled 2022 and repaired 2023 and then uninstalled / re-instaled 2023 and still no icon previews ☹ ---
**Author:** ![PaulMcAlenan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/paulmcalenan/32/211206_2.png) [@PaulMcAlenan](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/PaulMcAlenan)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2023, 3:46pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/old-skp-files-not-showing-in-explorer-file-and-icon-preview/191860/9 "2023-03-28T15:46:38Z")
It was drastic but I was really fed up with this - I reset my PC and everything is as expected… so far ---
**Author:** ![CarlosPeixoto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc29f/32.png) [@CarlosPeixoto](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/CarlosPeixoto)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2026, 5:29pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/old-skp-files-not-showing-in-explorer-file-and-icon-preview/191860/10 "2026-03-30T17:29:16Z")
It didnt work. Arghhhh it is the end of america