How to Customize the Details Pane of File Explorer in Windows Want to level up your file management in Windows 10? Customizing the Details pane in File Explorer is a quick and powerful way to do just that. By default, it gives you some basic metadata about a selected file— but what if you need more? Before we begin, be sure to subscribe to NinjaOne's IT Video Hub in our YouTube channel for more tech content like this. How to customize the preview details via Registry Editor If you want to change which details, show up for certain file types in File Explorer, you can do that by customizing the Details pane through the Registry Editor. This tool lets you control how Windows works behind the scenes, including what file info appears. Make sure you're signed in as an Administrator, and it’s a good idea to backup your registry or create a system restore point before making any edits. Step 1: Open the Registry Editor To open the Registry Editor, press Windows + R to open the Run box, type regedit, and press Enter. Step 2: Navigate to the key of your desired file type In the Registry Editor, Go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations [.file extension] Replace [.file extension] with the type of file you want to change— like .jpg for images, .docx for Word docs, or .mp3 for music. You can turn on file name extensions and File Explorer to easily see which extension to file uses. You can also enable file name extensions in File Explorer to easily see which extension a file uses. Step 3: Modify the PreviewDetails entry Now, set up PreviewDetails to choose which info shows in the Details pane. On the right side, find and double-click PreviewDetails. In the window that appears, type the metadata you want to see, separated by semicolons. Here's an example... This will show the file’s title, author size, and last modified date. If you don’t see PreviewDetails, right-click on the file type key, hover over New > String Value, name it PreviewDetails, and then double-click it to add your values. Click OK when you’re done. Step 4: Restart File Explorer Finally, close and re-open File Explorer for the changes to take effect. What is the Details Pane? The Details pane in File Explorer shows key information about the selected file, like size, date, modified author, or image dimensions. It appears on the right side and gives you quick access to file details with one click. The info shown depends on the file type. By customizing the Details pane, you can make File Explorer show only the file info that matters to you. Skip the clutter, add the details you actually use and boost your workflow. For more information, check out our official blog post on How to Customize the Details Pane of File Explorer in Windows, linked in the description below.