Microsoft PowerToys ‘Peek’ tool makes file previews instant on Windows

Quickly checking files in File Explorer just got easier, thanks to a PowerToys utility called Peek. Designed for Windows 10 and 11, this tool lets users preview images and other files without fully opening them in separate programs.

Instead of double-clicking and waiting for apps to load, Peek shows a lightweight pop-up window directly from File Explorer. You can trigger it with a simple keyboard shortcut, “Ctrl + Space” by default.

Once open, users can scroll through multiple files using the arrow keys, making it especially useful when comparing or reviewing content.

Peek is part of the PowerToys suite, a free collection of productivity tools built by Microsoft. While PowerToys was originally aimed at advanced users, features like Peek are helpful for anyone who works with lots of files and wants to speed things up.

To try it, users need to install PowerToys, enable the Peek module, and use the shortcut while browsing files. The utility supports various file types, including images, PDFs, and text documents.

For people who manage content regularly—like journalists, editors, or designers—Peek can streamline repetitive tasks and reduce interruptions during work.