QuickLook

Bring macOS “Quick Look” feature to Windows

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View on GitHub

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Files

43,315

A modern file manager that helps users organize their files and folders.

Quick Overview

QuickLook is an open-source file previewer for Windows, similar to the Quick Look feature on macOS. It allows users to quickly preview various file types by pressing the spacebar while selecting a file in File Explorer, providing a fast and convenient way to view file contents without opening them fully.

Pros

Supports a wide range of file formats, including images, videos, text files, PDFs, and more
Lightweight and fast, with minimal impact on system resources
Customizable through plugins, allowing users to add support for additional file types
Integrates seamlessly with Windows File Explorer

Cons

May occasionally encounter compatibility issues with certain file types or Windows versions
Some advanced features may require additional plugins or configuration
Not as deeply integrated into the operating system as the macOS counterpart
Limited customization options for the default user interface

Getting Started

To get started with QuickLook:

Download the latest release from the GitHub releases page.
Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions.
Once installed, select a file in File Explorer and press the spacebar to preview it.
To close the preview, press the spacebar again or hit the Esc key.

For additional plugins and customization options, visit the project's wiki.

Competitor Comparisons

Files

43,315

A modern file manager that helps users organize their files and folders.

Pros of Files

More comprehensive file management features, including multiple tabs, tags, and advanced sorting options
Modern, customizable UI with themes and layout options
Active development with frequent updates and new features

Cons of Files

Larger application size and potentially higher resource usage
Steeper learning curve due to more complex features
May be overkill for users seeking simple quick file previews

Code Comparison

Files (C#):

public static async Task<StorageFolder> GetFolderFromPathAsync(string path)
{
    if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(path))
        return null;
    try
    {
        return await StorageFolder.GetFolderFromPathAsync(path);
    }
    catch (Exception)
    {
        return null;
    }
}

QuickLook (C#):

public static string GetFileDescription(string path)
{
    var info = new FileInfo(path);
    return $"{info.Name} ({info.Length} bytes)";
}

The code snippets demonstrate different approaches:

Files focuses on asynchronous operations and exception handling for folder access
QuickLook emphasizes simplicity in file information retrieval

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README

QuickLook

Instant File Previews, Just Press Space

The most powerful Quick Look implementation for Windows

The Problem

Superpowers

Get Started

Extend

Community

ð¡ The Problem

Ever wished Windows had macOS's Quick Look?

You know the drill: you want to peek at a file, so you double-click, wait for an app to launch, view the file, close the app... exhausting, right?

macOS users? They just press Space. Instant preview. Any file.

Now Windows has it too. ð

QuickLook brings that buttery-smooth, instant-preview experience to Windows. No more waiting. No more opening heavy applications just to peek at a document.

WITHOUT QuickLook:
âââââââââââââââââââ
â 1. Double click â
â 2. Wait...      â
â 3. App loads    â
â 4. View file    â
â 5. Close app    â
âââââââââââââââââââ
   â±ï¸ ~10 seconds

WITH QuickLook:
âââââââââââââââââââ
â 1. Press SPACE  â
â 2. Done! â¨     â
âââââââââââââââââââ
   â¡ ~0.2 seconds

ð Superpowers

What Makes QuickLook Extraordinary

â¡ï¸ Lightning Speed

Instant previews with zero lag

Native performance that feels like magic

Hardware-accelerated rendering

ð¨ Gorgeous Design

Fluent Design System integration

Beautiful on 4K displays

Touch-optimized interface

ð 100+ Formats

Images, videos, documents, code

3D models, archives, fonts

Extensible with plugins

ð¸ Visual Files

ð¼ï¸ Images (JPEG, PNG, GIF, WebP, RAW)
ð¬ Videos (MP4, AVI, MKV, MOV)
ð¨ Photoshop (PSD), Illustrator (AI)
ð 3D Models (OBJ, STL, FBX)
ð Animated GIFs & APNGs

ð Documents

ð PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint
ð Text files with syntax highlighting
ð Markdown with live rendering
ð E-books (EPUB, MOBI)
ð Comics (CBZ, CBR)

ð» Developer Files

ð Python, JavaScript, C++, Rust
ð HTML, CSS, JSON, XML
âï¸ Config files (YAML, TOML, INI)
ð¦ Archives (ZIP, RAR, 7Z, TAR)
ð§ Binary files with hex view

ðµ Media

ðµ Audio (MP3, FLAC, WAV, AAC)
ð¼ Sheet music
ð¨ Fonts (TTF, OTF, WOFF)
ðï¸ Vector graphics (SVG, EPS)
ð¹ Subtitles (SRT, ASS)

ð¯ Works Everywhere

File Explorer

Native integration

Open/Save Dialogs

System-wide support

3rd Party Managers

Total Commander, xplorerÂ²

Cloud Storage

OneDrive, Dropbox ready

ð¦ Get Started

Choose Your Adventure

Microsoft Store

Recommended for most users

â Automatic updates â Sandboxed security â One-click install

_{â ï¸ Limited Open/Save dialog support}

Installer

Full-featured experience

â Complete functionality â Open/Save dialog support â Portable option available

_{ð Get the full power}

Scoop

For command-line lovers

â Easy updates â Reproducible installs â Version management

scoop bucket add extras
scoop install quicklook

_{ð¤ Power user choice}

Nightly

Live on the edge

â Latest features â Bug fixes first â ï¸ May be unstable

_{ð Experimental builds}

ð¤ Not sure which version to choose?

Feature	Store	Installer	Scoop	Nightly
Auto-updates	â	â ï¸	â	â ï¸
Open/Save dialogs	â	â	â	â
Portable mode	â	â	â	â
Stability	âââ	âââ	âââ	ââ

ð Read the full comparison

â¡ Quick Start in 10 Seconds

Step 1ï¸â£  Install QuickLook
         â
Step 2ï¸â£  It runs automatically
         â
Step 3ï¸â£  Select any file
         â
Step 4ï¸â£  Press SPACE
         â
Step 5ï¸â£  ð Magic happens!

ð¡ Pro Tips:

QuickLook lives in your system tray
Works with any file in File Explorer
Use arrow keys to preview multiple files
Press Esc or Space again to close
Drag files directly from the preview!

â¨ï¸ Master the Shortcuts

Your New Superpowers

ð® Basic Controls

Key	Action
`Space`	Toggle preview
`Esc` `Space`	Close window
`Enter`	Open file
`â` `â`	Next/Previous

ð Navigation

Key	Action
`â` `â`	Navigate files
`Mouse Click`	Select file
`Page Up` `Down`	Scroll content
`Home` `End`	Jump to start/end

ð¨ Advanced

Key	Action
`Wheel`	Zoom (images)
`Ctrl`+`Wheel`	Zoom (PDFs)
`L-Click Drag`	Rotate 3D
`M-Click Drag`	Pan 3D

ð¡ Pro Tip: You can navigate files using arrow keys even when the preview window isn't focused!

ð§© Extend

Supercharge QuickLook with Plugins

Transform QuickLook into a universal file viewer

OfficeViewer

Preview Word, Excel & PowerPoint files

No Microsoft Office required!

â Native Office formats
â Standalone viewer
â Fast rendering

PdfViewer-Native

Enhanced PDF viewing with WebView2

Modern, fast, feature-rich

â Smooth scrolling
â Search & annotations
â Hardware acceleration

PostScriptViewer

Preview .ps and .eps files

Perfect for designers

â Vector rendering
â High quality output
â Professional formats

CADImport

View CAD files natively

.dwg, .dxf, .plt, .cgm

â Engineering drawings
â Architecture files
â Technical diagrams

ð¦ How to Install or Upgrade Plugins

1ï¸â£ Download

Get the .qlplugin file

2ï¸â£ Install

Ensure QuickLook is currently running, select the file and press Spacebar.

3ï¸â£ Restart

Click on the Install button, then restart QuickLook.

ð¦ How to Remove Plugins

1ï¸â£ Quit

Quit QuickLook.

2ï¸â£ Navigate

Navigate to the Data location.

3ï¸â£ Remove

You should find several folders. Remove the one you do not want to use.

ð Community

Join Thousands of Happy Users

QQ Group

Join our Chinese community

371388501

Translate

Help QuickLook speak your language

Make it accessible

Star Us

Show your support

It means a lot!

ð¨âð» For Developers

Interested in contributing? Check out our development resources:

ð Credits

Built with Love by Amazing People

Design Team

@OiCkilL @QubitsDev @Donno @Shomnipotence

Fluent UI & Icons

Contributors

Our Amazing Team

Code, translations & ideas

Open Source

Libraries We Use

Standing on giants

You!

Every User Matters

Thank you for using QuickLook

ð License

QuickLook is free and open source under GPL-3.0

Free software, free forever. No ads, no tracking, no premium tiers.

Need commercial licensing? Contact us for sublicensing options.

â Like QuickLook? Star the repo!

Your support keeps this project alive and improving

_{Note: The official website content may be inaccurate or out of date. To help maintain the site, please submit a PR to QuickLook Website Repository}

_{Made with â¤ï¸ by the QuickLook community}

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Files

43,315

A modern file manager that helps users organize their files and folders.

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Introducing Visual Copilot: A new AI model to turn Figma designs to high quality code using your components.

Try Visual Copilot

QuickLook

Top Related Projects

Files

Quick Overview

Pros

Cons

Getting Started

Competitor Comparisons

Files

Pros of Files

Cons of Files

Code Comparison

Convert designs to code with AI

README

QuickLook

Instant File Previews, Just Press Space

ð¡ The Problem

Ever wished Windows had macOS's Quick Look?

ð Superpowers

What Makes QuickLook Extraordinary

â¡ï¸ Lightning Speed

ð¨ Gorgeous Design

ð 100+ Formats

ð¸ Visual Files

ð Documents

ð» Developer Files

ðµ Media

ð¯ Works Everywhere

ð¦ Get Started

Choose Your Adventure

Microsoft Store

Installer

Scoop

Nightly

â¡ Quick Start in 10 Seconds

â¨ï¸ Master the Shortcuts

Your New Superpowers

ð® Basic Controls

ð Navigation

ð¨ Advanced

ð§© Extend

Supercharge QuickLook with Plugins

OfficeViewer

PdfViewer-Native

PostScriptViewer

CADImport

ð¦ How to Install or Upgrade Plugins

ð¦ How to Remove Plugins

ð Community

Join Thousands of Happy Users

QQ Group

Translate

Star Us

ð¨âð» For Developers

ð Credits

Built with Love by Amazing People

ð License

â­ Like QuickLook? Star the repo!

Top Related Projects

Files

Convert designs to code with AI

ð¡ The Problem

ð Superpowers

â¡ï¸ Lightning Speed

ð¨ Gorgeous Design

ð 100+ Formats

ð¸ Visual Files

ð Documents

ð» Developer Files

ðµ Media

ð¯ Works Everywhere

ð¦ Get Started

â¡ Quick Start in 10 Seconds

â¨ï¸ Master the Shortcuts

ð® Basic Controls

ð Navigation

ð¨ Advanced

ð§© Extend

ð¦ How to Install or Upgrade Plugins

ð¦ How to Remove Plugins

ð Community

ð¨âð» For Developers

ð Credits

ð License

â Like QuickLook? Star the repo!