To help you identify Microsoft Word documents or templates before you open them, Word can save a preview image with a document file.

How to Set Preview Images in Microsoft Word

In Word 2016, 2013, and 2010, the saved image is no longer called the preview image but rather is referred to as a thumbnail.

Instructions in this article apply to Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2019, Word 2016, Word 2013, and Word 2010.

  • In Word, open the document you want to save as a thumbnail.
  • Press F12. Or, select File > Save As > Browse.
  • In the Save As dialog box, go to the folder where you want to store the file, change the name of the document, then select the Save Thumbnail check box.
  • Select Save to save the document with a preview image.

Save All Word Files With Thumbnails

If you want all documents you save in Word to automatically include a preview or thumbnail image, change the default setting.

In Word, open the document you want to save as a thumbnail.

Press F12. Or, select File > Save As > Browse.

In the Save As dialog box, go to the folder where you want to store the file, change the name of the document, then select the Save Thumbnail check box.

Select Save to save the document with a preview image.

This feature is no longer present in Word 2019 or Word for Microsoft 365.

For Word 2016, 2013, and 2010

  • Go to the File tab.
  • Select Info.
  • In the Properties section, select Advanced Properties.
  • Go to the Summary tab.
  • Select the Save Thumbnails for All Word Documents check box.
  • Select OK.

Go to the File tab.

Select Info. 

In the Properties section, select Advanced Properties.

Go to the Summary tab. 

Select the Save Thumbnails for All Word Documents check box.

Select OK.

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