In this guide, we will show you the various methods to fix the issue of Pixel video thumbnails not being shown on a Windows PC. When it comes to smartphone photography, then there’s hardly an iota of doubt that the offering from the Silicon Valley giant is the best in this domain. While the likes of the S series from Samsung do boast of some impressive individual capabilities, but when it comes to the overall package, it’s the Pixel that stands out from the crowd. And this is the reason why it has become the go-to choice for photographers.
Once they have captured the perfect shot, they usually transfer the pictures to their PC to carry out a few additional tweaks via third-party software like Adobe. However, all this is proving to be a tough nut to crack. The reason for the same is quite surprising as well- the thumbnails of the video are not being shown in the File Explorer! As a result of which, it has become extremely difficult to identify the video/photo from among the plethora of media files present on their device.
Henceforth they are left with no choice but to manually open each media file, view its content, and then deal with it accordingly, which undoubtedly is quite a tedious and effort-taking task, not to mention the fact that it wouldn’t even be a viable and feasible option for many. With that said, we managed to find out the root cause of this issue and more importantly, how could you rectify it. So without further ado, let’s check it out.
Fix Pixel Video Thumbnails not showing on Windows
The reason why you are facing this issue is due to the fact that the High-Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) codec is missing from your Windows PC. So to rectify it, you just have to install the codecs, which could be done via three different methods. Each of them has its own set of perks and drawbacks, so go through them once and then try out the one that is in sync with your requirements.
Via Microsoft Store [Free]
Well, it couldn’t have gotten any better than this! A free codec from the official Microsoft Store that will help you get the job done. However, there are rumors doing the rounds that this free version might get discontinued sooner rather than later. So grab it before it’s too late.
DOWNLOAD: HEVC Codec Microsoft Store [FREE]
Via Microsoft Store [Paid]
This is the same version of the codec available in the Microsoft Store but is paid. Since the free version is reportedly soon going away, you might have no choice but to opt for this paid one [if you are willing to stick with the official route].
DOWNLOAD: HEVC Codec Microsoft Store [PAID]
Via Third-Party Site [Free]
If you are not willing to shell out any bucks and the free version from the Microsoft Store is no longer working, then you’ll have no choice but to take the help of a third-party website. In this regard, we are using UpToDown, but you are free to use any one of your choice [just make sure it is a safe and secure one].
DOWNLOAD: HEVC Codec UpToDown [FREE]
Using Media Player [Free]
You can also use a third-party media player like VLC as it comes built-in with the HEVC Codec and from my personal usage experience over the last decade, VLC is much better than the default Windows Media Player. Still, don’t take my word and try it out yourself. If it meets your requirements, then only switch to VLC.
DOWNLOAD: VLC Media Player
Moreover, if you interact with the HEVC files on a regular basis, then it is recommended that you make VLC the default media player, or else you’ll have to right-click on the file and select Open With every time, which will lead to unnecessary time and effort wastage.
That’s it. These are the various methods that should help you fix the issue of Pixel video thumbnails not being shown on a Windows PC. If you have any queries concerning the aforementioned steps, do let us know in the comments. We will get back to you with a solution at the earliest.
