QL-Win

QL-Win/QuickLook

Bring macOS “Quick Look” feature to Windows

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README.md

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  <img src="https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/1687847/82130498-8c3eac80-97d4-11ea-9e88-372ab9c50295.png" width="140" alt="QuickLook Logo">
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# QuickLook

<h3>
  <img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Tarikul-Islam-Anik/Animated-Fluent-Emojis/refs/heads/master/Emojis/Activities/Magic%20Wand.png" width="25" height="25" />
  <i>Instant File Previews, Just Press Space</i>
  <img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Tarikul-Islam-Anik/Animated-Fluent-Emojis/refs/heads/master/Emojis/Activities/Magic%20Wand.png" width="25" height="25" />
</h3>

**The most powerful Quick Look implementation for Windows**

<br>

<p>
  <a href="https://quicklookapp.vercel.app">
    <img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/🌐_Official_Website-Visit_Now-00D9FF?style=for-the-badge&labelColor=000000" alt="Official Website">
  </a>
  <a href="https://github.com/QL-Win/QuickLook/releases">
    <img src="https://img.shields.io/github/v/release/QL-Win/QuickLook?style=for-the-badge&logo=github&color=00C853&labelColor=000000" alt="Release">
  </a>
  <a href="https://github.com/QL-Win/QuickLook/releases">
    <img src="https://img.shields.io/github/downloads/QL-Win/QuickLook/total?style=for-the-badge&logo=github&color=FF6D00&labelColor=000000" alt="Downloads">
  </a>
  <a href="https://github.com/QL-Win/QuickLook/stargazers">
    <img src="https://img.shields.io/github/stars/QL-Win/QuickLook?style=for-the-badge&logo=starship&color=FFD700&labelColor=000000" alt="Stars">
  </a>
  <a href="https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.en.html">
    <img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/License-GPL_v3-blue?style=for-the-badge&logo=opensourceinitiative&color=3DA639&labelColor=000000" alt="License">
  </a>
<a href="https://github.com/QL-Win/QuickLook/actions/workflows/msbuild.yml">
  <img src="https://img.shields.io/github/actions/workflow/status/QL-Win/QuickLook/msbuild.yml?style=for-the-badge&logo=github&label=Build&labelColor=000000" alt="Build Status">
</a>
<a href="https://dotnet.microsoft.com/en-us/download/dotnet/latest/runtime">
  <img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/Platform-Windows-0078D4?style=for-the-badge&logo=windows&labelColor=000000" alt="Platform">
</a>
</p>

<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/QL-Win/QuickLook/refs/heads/master/Build/Assets/Branding/01.png" width="800" alt="QuickLook Preview" style="border-radius: 20px;">

<table>
  <tr>
    <td align="center" width="20%">
      <a href="#-the-problem">
        <img src="https://github.com/Tarikul-Islam-Anik/Animated-Fluent-Emojis/blob/master/Emojis/Objects/Light%20Bulb.png?raw=true" width="30"><br>
        <b>The Problem</b>
      </a>
    </td>
    <td align="center" width="20%">
      <a href="#-superpowers">
        <img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Tarikul-Islam-Anik/Animated-Fluent-Emojis/master/Emojis/Travel%20and%20places/Rocket.png" width="30"><br>
        <b>Superpowers</b>
      </a>
    </td>
    <td align="center" width="20%">
      <a href="#-get-started">
        <img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Tarikul-Islam-Anik/Animated-Fluent-Emojis/master/Emojis/Objects/Package.png" width="30"><br>
        <b>Get Started</b>
      </a>
    </td>
    <td align="center" width="20%">
      <a href="#-extend">
        <img src="https://github.com/Tarikul-Islam-Anik/Animated-Fluent-Emojis/blob/master/Emojis/Activities/Puzzle%20Piece.png?raw=true" width="30"><br>
        <b>Extend</b>
      </a>
    </td>
    <td align="center" width="20%">
      <a href="#-community">
        <img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Tarikul-Islam-Anik/Animated-Fluent-Emojis/master/Emojis/Smilies/Beating%20Heart.png" width="30"><br>
        <b>Community</b>
      </a>
    </td>
  </tr>
</table>

</div>

<br>

---

## 💡 The Problem

### Ever wished Windows had macOS's Quick Look?

You know the drill: you want to peek at a file, so you double-click, wait for an app to launch, view the file, close the app... **exhausting**, right?

macOS users? They just press <kbd>Space</kbd>. Instant preview. **Any file**.

**Now Windows has it too.** 🎉

QuickLook brings that buttery-smooth, instant-preview experience to Windows. No more waiting. No more opening heavy applications just to peek at a document.

</td>
<td width="40%">

```
WITHOUT QuickLook:
┌─────────────────┐
│ 1. Double click │
│ 2. Wait...      │
│ 3. App loads    │
│ 4. View file    │
│ 5. Close app    │
└─────────────────┘
   ⏱️ ~10 seconds

WITH QuickLook:
┌─────────────────┐
│ 1. Press SPACE  │
│ 2. Done! ✨     │
└─────────────────┘
   ⚡ ~0.2 seconds
```

</td>
</tr>
</table>

<br>

---

## 🚀 Superpowers

### What Makes QuickLook Extraordinary

</div>

### ⚡️ **Lightning Speed**

**Instant previews** with zero lag

Native performance that feels like magic

Hardware-accelerated rendering

</td>
<td align="center" width="33%">

### 🎨 **Gorgeous Design**

**Fluent Design System** integration

Beautiful on 4K displays

Touch-optimized interface

</td>
<td align="center" width="33%">

### 🌈 **100+ Formats**

Images, videos, documents, code

**3D models**, archives, fonts

Extensible with plugins

</td>
</tr>
</table>

<br>

<table align="center"  >
<tr>
<td width="50%">

#### 📸 **Visual Files**
- 🖼️ Images (JPEG, PNG, GIF, WebP, RAW)
- 🎬 Videos (MP4, AVI, MKV, MOV)
- 🎨 Photoshop (PSD), Illustrator (AI)
- 📐 3D Models (OBJ, STL, FBX)
- 🎭 Animated GIFs & APNGs

#### 📄 **Documents**
- 📝 PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint
- 📋 Text files with syntax highlighting
- 📊 Markdown with live rendering
- 📜 E-books (EPUB, MOBI)
- 📑 Comics (CBZ, CBR)

</td>
<td width="50%">

#### 💻 **Developer Files**
- 🐍 Python, JavaScript, C++, Rust
- 🌐 HTML, CSS, JSON, XML
- ⚙️ Config files (YAML, TOML, INI)
- 📦 Archives (ZIP, RAR, 7Z, TAR)
- 🔧 Binary files with hex view

#### 🎵 **Media**
- 🎵 Audio (MP3, FLAC, WAV, AAC)
- 🎼 Sheet music
- 🎨 Fonts (TTF, OTF, WOFF)
- 🖌️ Vector graphics (SVG, EPS)
- 📹 Subtitles (SRT, ASS)

</td>
</tr>
</table>

<br>

### 🎯 **Works Everywhere**

**File Explorer**

Native integration

</td>
<td align="center" width="25%">

**Open/Save Dialogs**

System-wide support

</td>
<td align="center" width="25%">

**3rd Party Managers**

Total Commander, xplorer²

</td>
<td align="center" width="25%">

**Cloud Storage**

OneDrive, Dropbox ready

</td>
</tr>
</table>

</div>

<br>

---

## 📦 Get Started

### Choose Your Adventure

<br>

### **Microsoft Store**

**Recommended for most users**

✅ Automatic updates
✅ Sandboxed security
✅ One-click install

<br>

<sub>⚠️ Limited Open/Save dialog support</sub>

</td>
<td align="center" width="25%">

### **Installer**

**Full-featured experience**

✅ Complete functionality
✅ Open/Save dialog support
✅ Portable option available

<br>

<sub>💎 Get the full power</sub>

</td>
<td align="center" width="25%">

### **Scoop**

**For command-line lovers**

✅ Easy updates
✅ Reproducible installs
✅ Version management

<br>

```powershell
scoop bucket add extras
scoop install quicklook
```

<sub>🤓 Power user choice</sub>

</td>
<td align="center" width="25%">

### **Nightly**

**Live on the edge**

✅ Latest features
✅ Bug fixes first
⚠️ May be unstable

<br>

<sub>🌙 Experimental builds</sub>

</td>
</tr>
</table>

<br>

<details>
<summary><b>🤔 Not sure which version to choose?</b></summary>

<br>

| Feature | Store | Installer | Scoop | Nightly |
|---------|-------|-----------|-------|---------|
| Auto-updates | ✅ | ⚠️ | ✅ | ⚠️ |
| Open/Save dialogs | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Portable mode | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Stability | ✅✅✅ | ✅✅✅ | ✅✅✅ | ✅✅ |

📖 [Read the full comparison](https://github.com/QL-Win/QuickLook/wiki/Differences-Between-Distributions)

</details>

</div>

<br>

### ⚡ Quick Start in 10 Seconds

```
Step 1️⃣  Install QuickLook
         ↓
Step 2️⃣  It runs automatically
         ↓
Step 3️⃣  Select any file
         ↓
Step 4️⃣  Press SPACE
         ↓
Step 5️⃣  🎉 Magic happens!
```

</td>
<td width="50%">

**💡 Pro Tips:**
- QuickLook lives in your system tray
- Works with **any file** in File Explorer
- Use arrow keys to preview multiple files
- Press `Esc` or `Space` again to close
- Drag files directly from the preview!

</td>
</tr>
</table>

<br>

---

## ⌨️ Master the Shortcuts

### Your New Superpowers

<br>

### 🎮 **Basic Controls**

| Key | Action |
|-----|--------|
| <kbd>Space</kbd> | Toggle preview |
| <kbd>Esc</kbd> <kbd>Space</kbd> | Close window |
| <kbd>Enter</kbd> | Open file |
| <kbd>↑</kbd> <kbd>↓</kbd> | Next/Previous |

</td>
<td align="center" width="33%">

### 🔍 **Navigation**

| Key | Action |
|-----|--------|
| <kbd>←</kbd> <kbd>→</kbd> | Navigate files |
| <kbd>Mouse Click</kbd> | Select file |
| <kbd>Page Up</kbd> <kbd>Down</kbd> | Scroll content |
| <kbd>Home</kbd> <kbd>End</kbd> | Jump to start/end |

</td>
<td align="center" width="33%">

### 🎨 **Advanced**

| Key | Action |
|-----|--------|
| <kbd>Wheel</kbd> | Zoom (images) |
| <kbd>Ctrl</kbd>+<kbd>Wheel</kbd> | Zoom (PDFs) |
| <kbd>L-Click Drag</kbd> | Rotate 3D |
| <kbd>M-Click Drag</kbd> | Pan 3D |

</td>
</tr>
</table>

<br>

> **💡 Pro Tip:** You can navigate files using arrow keys even when the preview window isn't focused!

</div>

<br>

---

## 🧩 Extend

### Supercharge QuickLook with Plugins

*Transform QuickLook into a universal file viewer*

<br>

<table align="center">
<tr>
<td align="center" width="50%">

### **OfficeViewer**

Preview **Word, Excel & PowerPoint** files

**No Microsoft Office required!**

<br>

```
✅ Native Office formats
✅ Standalone viewer
✅ Fast rendering
```

</td>
<td align="center" width="50%">

### **PdfViewer-Native**

Enhanced PDF viewing with **WebView2**

Modern, fast, feature-rich

<br>

```
✅ Smooth scrolling
✅ Search & annotations
✅ Hardware acceleration
```

</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" width="50%">

### **PostScriptViewer**

Preview `.ps` and `.eps` files

Perfect for designers

<br>

```
✅ Vector rendering
✅ High quality output
✅ Professional formats
```

</td>
<td align="center" width="50%">

### **CADImport**

View CAD files natively

`.dwg`, `.dxf`, `.plt`, `.cgm`

<br>

```
✅ Engineering drawings
✅ Architecture files
✅ Technical diagrams
```

</td>
</tr>
</table>

<br>

### 📦 How to Install or Upgrade Plugins

**1️⃣ Download**

Get the `.qlplugin` file

</td>
<td width="33%" align="center">

**2️⃣ Install**

Ensure QuickLook is currently running, select the file and press `Spacebar`.

</td>
<td width="33%" align="center">

**3️⃣ Restart**

Click on the `Install` button, then restart QuickLook.

</td>
</tr>
</table>

### 📦 How to Remove Plugins

**1️⃣ Quit**

Quit QuickLook.

</td>
<td width="33%" align="center">

**2️⃣ Navigate**

Navigate to the [Data location](https://github.com/QL-Win/QuickLook/wiki/Differences-Between-Distributions#user-data-location).

</td>
<td width="33%" align="center">

**3️⃣ Remove**

You should find several folders. Remove the one you do not want to use.

</td>
</tr>
</table>

<br>

</div>

<br>

---

## 💖 Community

### Join Thousands of Happy Users

<br>

### **QQ Group**

Join our Chinese community

**371388501**

<br>

</td>
<td align="center" width="33%">

### **Translate**

Help QuickLook speak your language

Make it accessible

<br>

</td>
<td align="center" width="33%">

### **Star Us**

Show your support

It means a lot!

<br>

</td>
</tr>
</table>

<br>

### 👨‍💻 For Developers

Interested in contributing? Check out our development resources:

</div>

<br>

---

## 🙏 Credits

### Built with Love by Amazing People

<br>

**Design Team**

[@OiCkilL](https://twitter.com/OiCkilL)
[@QubitsDev](https://twitter.com/qubitsdev)
[@Donno](https://github.com/Donnnno)
[@Shomnipotence](https://github.com/Shomnipotence)

*Fluent UI & Icons*

</td>
<td align="center" width="25%">

**Contributors**

[Our Amazing Team](https://github.com/QL-Win/QuickLook/graphs/contributors)

*Code, translations & ideas*

</td>
<td align="center" width="25%">

**Open Source**

[Libraries We Use](https://github.com/QL-Win/QuickLook/wiki/On-the-Shoulders-of-Giants)

*Standing on giants*

</td>
<td align="center" width="25%">

**You!**

Every User Matters

*Thank you for using QuickLook*

</td>
</tr>
</table>

</div>

<br>

---

## 📜 License

<br>

**QuickLook is free and open source under [GPL-3.0](https://opensource.org/licenses/GPL-3.0)**

*Free software, free forever. No ads, no tracking, no premium tiers.*

<br>

**Need commercial licensing?** Contact us for sublicensing options.

</div>

<br>

---

<br>

## ⭐ Like QuickLook? Star the repo!

**Your support keeps this project alive and improving**

<br>

<sub>Note: The official website content may be inaccurate or out of date. To help maintain the site, please submit a PR to <a href="https://github.com/adnan-bhaldar/QuickLook-Website">QuickLook Website Repository</a></sub>

<br>

<sub>Made with ❤️ by the QuickLook community</sub>

<br>

<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Tarikul-Islam-Anik/Animated-Fluent-Emojis/master/Emojis/Travel%20and%20places/Rocket.png" width="25">
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Tarikul-Islam-Anik/Animated-Fluent-Emojis/master/Emojis/Smilies/Beating%20Heart.png" width="25">
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Tarikul-Islam-Anik/Animated-Fluent-Emojis/master/Emojis/Smilies/Star-Struck.png" width="25">
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Tarikul-Islam-Anik/Animated-Fluent-Emojis/refs/heads/master/Emojis/Travel%20and%20places/Star.png" width="25">

</div>

Repository info

Default branch: master
Latest version: 4.5.0
Created: 2017-04-12
Last activity: 2026-10-14
License: GPL-3.0
Open issues: 212
Watchers: 239

Topics

quicklook

Contributors

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798 contributions

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