QuickLook Paddy Xu

Use this command to install QuickLook:

winget install --id=QL-Win.QuickLook -e

Bring macOS “Quick Look” feature to Windows

QuickLook is a software tool designed to bring the macOS "Quick Look" feature to Windows. This application allows users to preview files directly from the file explorer or context menu, replicating the seamless preview functionality of macOS on Windows.

Key Features:

Seamless Integration: QuickLook integrates effortlessly with Windows, enabling quick previews without disrupting your workflow.
File Type Support: It supports a wide range of file types, including images, documents, and media files, ensuring versatile utility across different use cases.
Customizable Shortcuts: Users can assign custom keyboard shortcuts for quick access to the preview function, enhancing productivity.
Performance Optimization: Designed with efficiency in mind, QuickLook provides fast and fluid previews, minimizing resource usage without compromising speed.

Audience & Benefit: Ideal for Windows users who appreciate the macOS "Quick Look" feature or seek a streamlined file preview solution. By incorporating this tool into their workflow, users can enhance productivity by quickly accessing file content without opening applications, saving time and improving efficiency.

Available as open-source software, QuickLook can be installed via winget, making it accessible to a broad audience looking for a lightweight and efficient file preview solution.

Background

One of the few features I missed from macOS is Quick Look. It allows users to peek into a file content in lightning speed by just pressing the Space key. Windows, on the other hand, does not have this handy feature ... until now!

I am aware that several alternatives are already available on the Internet (e.g. WinQuickLook and Seer). Despite these options, I still decided to craft another one by myself, because they are either not being actively developed, lack of variety, or ask for some :dollar:.

Usage

Download/Installation

Get it from one of the following sources:

Microsoft Store (Windows 10 users only, no preview in open/save-dialogs available)

Installer or portable archive of the stable version from GitHub Release

Nightly builds from AppVeyor

Note: Don't forget to check out the plugins for previewing office-files, epubs, fonts and more!

Typical usecase

Run QuickLook.exe (only necessary if autostart is disabled)

Select any file or folder (on the Desktop, in a File Explorer window, in an Open or Save-File dialogue, doesn't matter)

Press Spacebar

Enjoy the preview and interact with it

Preview next file by clicking on it or using arrow-keys (arrow-keys move selection in the background if the preview window is not in focus)

When you're done close it by either hitting Spacebar again, pressing Esc or clicking the ⨉ button

Hotkeys and buttons

Spacebar Show/Hide the preview window

Esc Hide the preview window

Enter Open/Execute current file

Mouse ↑ ↓ ← → Preview another file

Mouse Wheel Zoom in/out (images)

Ctrl+Mouse Wheel Zoom in/out (PDFs)

Wheel Increase/decrease volume

Thanks to

Many open-source projects and their contributors

Our UI designers @OiCkilL (“Fluent” user interface since v0.3), @QubitsDev (app-icon v0.3-v3.6.9) and Donno (app-icon since v3.6.10)

Our contributers who

teach QuickLook to speak your language
send pull requests, report bugs or give suggestions

... and you 😊

QuickLook Paddy Xu

README

QuickLook

Background

Highlights

Usage

Download/Installation

Typical usecase

Hotkeys and buttons

Supported file types, file manager integration, etc.

Translations

Thanks to

Licenses