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      I cannot preview documents when selecting them in Windows File Explorer

      Enabling the preview pane and fixing a previewer error message for Word, Excel and Powerpoint documents

      Enable the Preview Pane

      Windows 10

      Windows 11

      Resolving "This file can't be previewed because of an error in Microsoft Word/Excel previewer"

      File preview is disabled because of the Protected Files feature in Microsoft Office. To resolve, add the location of the file or files as a trusted location:

      1. Open any Word document
      2. Select File (top left) > Options (bottom right) > Trust Center (bottom left of Options dialog box)
      3. Select the Trust Center Settings... button on the right side of Options dialog box
      4. Select Trusted Locations (2nd down on left menu)
      5. Select the Add new location... button (bottom right of Trust Center dialog box)
      6. Select Browse and navigate to where the top parent folder of where the files are stored.
        1. If it located in a SharePoint library, navigate to St Albans Diocese and select the whole library
      7.  Check the box Subfolders of this location are also trusted
      8. Select OK x3