change windows search results default thumbnails size?

Question

Windows 10 search results always display my images in middle sized thumbnails.

And usual folder settings to set default looks are greyed out as inaccessible.

Is there no way to change the default thumb size for win 10 search results?

Answer 1

To set Search results for Pictures to Extra Large icons, do the following:

1. Copy and paste the following into Notepad or another text editor, then save it to your Desktop with any name but with a .reg extension:

   Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
   
   [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell\{4dcafe13-e6a7-4c28-be02-ca8c2126280d}]
   @="Pictures.SearchResults" 
   "Mode"=dword:00000001
   "IconSize"=dword:00000100
   "LogicalViewMode"=dword:00000003
   

2. With all Explorer windows closeed, clear any saved Search Results views by copying and pasiing the following code into a PowerShell console and press Enter to execute:

   (gci 'HKCU:\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags' -s | ? PSChildName -eq '{4dcafe13-e6a7-4c28-be02-ca8c2126280d}') | Remove-Item -Force
   

   Close the console window after running the code.

3. On the Desktop, right-click the .reg file you createed earlier, select Merge, and aceept the confirmation dialogs.

4. Sign out and log back in or restart. (Doesn't always seem necessary -- but when in doubt..)

5. Open a Pictures folder and perform a test search.

As an alternative to creating and merging a .reg file, you can perform the registry mod with PowerShell as well:

$KeyPath = 'HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell\{4dcafe13-e6a7-4c28-be02-ca8c2126280d}'
[PSCustomObject]@{
    '(Default)'     = 'Pictures.SearchResults'
    LogicalViewMode = 3
    Mode            = 1
    IconSize        = 256
} | Set-ItemProperty -Path (mkdir $KeyPath -Force).PSPath

If you opt for this, copy and run this block after running the earlier code to clear existing views.

Answer 2

As mentioned in the comments, WinSetView makes it easy to set up your default folder view preferences, including defaults for search results. @KeithMiller is acknowledged in the manual for "for documenting the FolderTypes approach to setting default views". @Owyn provided excellent feedback that led to several improvements to the app.