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It’s one of those muscle memory breakdowns that happens every time I switch from Mac to PC: I highlight a file or image, hit the space bar, and nothing happens. While MacOS users have long enjoyed the convenience of Quick Look, Windows users have been forced to double-click and wait for a heavy program to launch to see if they’ve found the right document.
Enter PowerToys Peek. This small, official utility from Microsoft finally eliminates that frustration. It brings lightning-fast file previews to Windows with a simple shortcut.
A problem with the current implementation
Open and closed fatigue
The “open and close” cycle affects my productivity in Windows. When I’m deep into a project, I usually have a folder full of files with names like Final_v1, Final_v2_edit, and Actual_final. On the Mac, I just press Spacebar, see what’s in there, and move on. It’s seamless.
But when switching to Windows, it’s not so problem-free. Without a quick review, I was forced to switch to this mode: double-click the file, wait a few seconds for such a heavy program. Microsoft Photos or a slow PDF reader realize it’s a bad decision for half a second to begin with, and then look for Xi to shut it down.
By the time I’ve done this three or four times, I’ve completely lost the flow. You don’t realize how draining it is until you find a way to stop it.
What exactly is PowerToys Peek?
Official from Microsoft
I usually stay away from third-party hacks that promise to fix Windows. They are usually swollen, scaly, or shadowy. But PowerToys Peek is different because it’s part of Microsoft’s own open source package. It feels like the Pro version of Windows that should have shipped from the factory.
At its core, Peek is a light-fast, system-level previewer. Once you’ve installed it, you just highlight the file in File Explorer and hit the shortcut (I’ve changed mine to the Space bar, obviously), and a clean, high-quality window immediately pops up showing what’s inside.
What I love is that it doesn’t just show a blurry thumbnail. Whether it’s a giant 4K photo, a complex PDF, or even a large Markdown file, Peek delivers instantly. Although I would like to have better animations when opening or closing a file using Peek.
It uses the system’s native preview engines to give you a snapshot without running a full-blown application.
Several configuration options
Play with the PowerToys settings
Microsoft didn’t just offer Peek in PowerToys and call it a day. It is packed with a number of customization options. For example, I can select any key combination to activate it in File Explorer.
I also spent some time playing with window behavior. I realized that I didn’t want the preview window to jump all over the place, so I used the pin function.
Now, if I resize the Peek window to a specific location on my second monitor, it stays there. This is perfect for when I’m dealing with a large folder of photos.
The Source Code settings were a surprise win for me, as I sometimes look at the code. I can turn on Text Wrap (important for long lines of code) and even Minimap like in VS Code.
Explore other File Explorer add-ons
There are more
While Peek is the headline act for me, PowerToys could quietly improve the rest of File Explorer.
The recently introduced New+ is an interesting addition. It integrates with the context menu and allows you to create custom templates.
For example, I have a Notes.md file, an Assets subfolder, and a special “Project Starter” folder with Draft.docx. Instead of creating them manually, I just right-click, click New+, and select my template.
It instantly clones the entire folder structure. It’s one of those things you don’t need until you save five minutes every time you start a new project.
You can even access the Thumbnail Preview and make many changes to enhance your File Explorer experience.
Finally, if you’re a fan of the built-in Preview Pane (which you toggle with Alt + P), PowerToys powers it up. Adds support for Markdown files. Sometimes, you don’t even need to use Peek; I just click on the file and the code looks nicely formatted in the sidebar.
It’s the little things like templates, thumbnails, and smarter previews in Peek that transform File Explorer from a basic file browser into a serious productivity hub.
Improve File Explorer
Whether you’re new to macOS or a longtime Windows power user, adding Peek to File Explorer can instantly improve your workflow. Of course, going forward, I’d like to see a native implementation of File Explorer with smooth animations.
If you’re tired of endless cycles of opening and closing programs just to find the right image or document, PowerToys is a mandatory download. It’s small, it’s official, and once you change this shortcut to the Space bar, you’ll never look at a file the same way again.
