Mac Basics: How To Preview Files

If you want to see the contents of a file before opening it in an app or importing it into a document, you can use many different methods in macOS. You can use Finder icons, Gallery View, the Finder window preview area, or Quick Look.

Comments: 4 Responses to “Mac Basics: How To Preview Files”

I notice in Quick Look in slideshow view, if I use my arrow keys on the keyboard the photos are in backward order; If I start on pic01.jpg, then hit right arrow, I'll go to last photo, say pic20.jpg, then pic19.jpg, etc. Back before Catalina it worked the opposite. Can you comment on that? Thanks so much!

Keith: Do you mean Gallery View in the Finder? You don't need to use Quick Look if you are already in Gallery View. Otherwise, look at the order at the bottom of Gallery View. Maybe you have View, Sort By set to something other than name?

Recently every time I open a JPEG file in preview it shows nothing but a gray screen. PDF's appear fine. Any suggestions?

John: Any JPEG? How about other file types? Does it still happen after a restart? Does it happen in happen in Quick Look too?

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