Fix PaperPort 14 Thumbnails Not Loading

Despite my recommendation to clients to use the built-in Scan to PC feature (available on most modern all-in-one printers) with document management through Windows File Explorer, some insist on using PaperPort 14.

PaperPort suffers from a number of issues, one of which is the failure to display scanned document thumbnails on Windows 11. Instead of document thumbnail previews, users only see generic icons with PaperPort performance lagging heavily.

This article outlines the steps I took to resolve this thumbnail issue. That said, I continue to advise against utilizing PaperPort for document management—solely because it is redundant. Learn my simple and effective alternative solution to PaperPort.

 

 

Step 1: Clear Temporary Files

Before proceeding, make sure PaperPort is fully closed. You can do this by restarting your PC or ending the process via Task Manager.

Then, clear out temporary files:

1. Press Windows + R, type %temp%, and press Enter. Select and delete all files in this folder.
2. Press Windows + R again, type C:\Windows\Temp, and press Enter. Select and delete the contents here too.

If some files can’t be deleted, that’s normal—they’re likely in use by active programs. Alternatively you can use these built-in tools:

• Settings: Go to Settings > System > Storage > Temporary files, select what you want to remove, and click Remove files.
• Disk Cleanup: Search for “Disk Cleanup” in the Start menu, select your drive (usually C:), check Temporary files (and optionally Recycle Bin, Windows Update Cleanup, etc.), and run the cleanup.

If some files can’t be deleted, that’s normal—they’re likely in use by active programs.

Automagically Clearing Windows Temporary Files

Using PowerShell and Task Scheduler we can automate the clearing of Windows Temporary files on a PC.

Lets begin by searching for and opening Windows PowerShell ISE copying the code provided into the Script Pane (press Ctrl+R to show pane).

Save this file as AutoCleanup.ps1 (or anything you wish so long as it has a .ps1 file extension) to a desired location on your drive which you don’t plan on changing. If you do relocate this file the following task we will need to be updated accordingly otherwise it will fail to run.

 

 

Now we will want to schedule the execution of that script as a Basic Task within Task Scheduler. Open Task Scheduler and click on “Task Scheduler Library” from the left. This will reveal a number of previously scheduled tasks. Simply right click in a blank spot and select “Create Basic Task…”

1. Name it “PaperPort Cleanup” and set your preferred schedule.
2. For Action, choose Start a Program.
3. In Program/script, type: C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe
4. In Add arguments, type: -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "C:\Path\To\Your\AutoCleanup.ps1" (Make sure to replace the path with where you actually saved the file)

That should do it! Did I mention you could avoid all this by simply using Windows File Explorer?

 

Step 2: Clear Windows Prefetch

1. Press Windows + R, type prefetch, and press Enter.
2. Click Continue if prompted for administrator permission.
3. In the folder that opens (C:\Windows\Prefetch), press Ctrl + A to select all files, then press Delete.

Some files may be locked and can’t be deleted—this is expected. Windows will regenerate necessary prefetch files as needed.

 

PaperPort Utility

If PaperPort crashes or hangs while loading thumbnails, try the built-in utility:

1. Navigate to the PaperPort installation directory typically under C:\Program Files (x86).
2. Launch CheckPPFolders.exe.
3. Select “Search my PaperPort folders for problem files…” and click OK.
4. Review the log and use the Collect Files option to isolate any problematic files

 

Better Alternative PaperPort Solution

Instead of relying on third-party software, consider this streamlined setup:

• Configure your printer to scan directly to your PC as PDF files.
• Use Windows File Explorer to view and manage your documents.
• Adjust the thumbnail size to your preference—no extra software required.

This approach is considerably faster, more stable, and integrates seamlessly with Windows 11.

 

Conclusion

I hope article has helped you resolve the thumbnail display issues within your PaperPort application on Windows. If you have questions, suggestions, or spot any errors, feel free to reach out—I’d love to hear from you.

If you found this article helpful, you can support my work with a tip via the Brave browser or a one-time donation using your credit card.

Let me know if you found any errors within my article or if I may further assist you by answering any additional questions you may have.

 

Editors Note:

• This article was first published on November 11th 2025 and was revised on January 27th, 2026 to include a PowerShell script to automate the clearing of Windows Temporary files.
• The article was revised on February 13th to include a download option to the PowerShell script.