Previews of Rhino files missing in Windows Explorer

Summary: How to make sure the Rhino thumbnail viewer is registered in Windows

If you do not see preview thumbnails of Rhino .3dm files in Windows Explorer, the follow these steps.

1. Repair your Rhino installation

  1. Click Start → Settings → Apps & features.
  2. For Rhino 7:
    1. Select Rhino 7 and click Modify.
    2. In the installation dialog box, click Repair.
  3. For Rhino 6:
    1. Select Rhino 6 and click Modify.
    2. In the installation dialog box, click Repair.
  4. For Rhino 5:
    1. Select Rhinoceros 5 (64-bit) and click Modify.
    2. In the installation dialog box, click Repair.

If you do not see preview thumbnails of Rhino .3dm files, proceed to step 2.

2. Verify thumbnails are not disabled

  1. Open Explorer.
  2. Click View.
  3. Click Options and then Change folder and search options.
  4. Verify Always show icons, never thumbnails is NOT checked.

Folder Options

If you do not see preview thumbnails of Rhino .3dm files, proceed to step 3.

3. Delete the thumbnail cache

If you are running an older Windows, like Windows 7, you may need to run Windows Disk Cleanup utility.

  1. Run Disk Cleanup.
  2. Click Thumbnails.
  3. Click OK.

Disk Cleanup

If you do not see preview thumbnails of Rhino .3dm files, proceed to step 4.

4. Register the Rhino thumbnail viewer

To register the Rhino thumbnail viewer, you will need to open a Command Prompt as an Administrator.

Windows 8 or 10

To open a Command Prompt as Administrator on Windows 8 or 10:

  1. Access by Power menu by pressing Windows+X
  2. From the menu, select Command Prompt (Admin)

Power Users menu

When you launch the Command Prompt with Admin privileges, you’ll likely see a User Account Control window asking for permission to continue. Go ahead and click Yes.

Windows 7

To open a Command Prompt as Administrator on Windows 7:

  1. Click Start
  2. In the search field, enter CMD.
  3. In the results list, you will see CMD.
  4. Right-click on CMD and from the context menu, select Run as Administrator.

Command Prompt

When you launch the Command Prompt with Admin privileges, you’ll likely see a User Account Control window asking for permission to continue. Go ahead and click Yes.

Register the Rhino Thumbnail Viewer

Rhino 7

If you have Rhino 7 for Windows installed, then run the following command from the Command Prompt window you just opened: 

regsvr32 "C:\Program Files\Rhino 7\System\RhinoHandlers.dll"

Rhino 6

If you have Rhino 6 for Windows installed, then run the following command from the Command Prompt window you just opened: 

regsvr32 "C:\Program Files\Rhino 6\System\RhinoHandlers.dll"

Rhino 5

If you have Rhino 5 for Windows (and you don't have Rhino 6 for Windows installed), then run the following command from the Command Prompt window you just opened: 

regsvr32 "C:\Program Files\Rhinoceros 5 (64-bit)\System\RhinoHandlers.dll"