You can use the macOS Finder's Copy command to copy and paste files. But here's how to use the same command to copy file icons into Preview.

In Windows 10 and 11, you can enable it by opening File Explorer, clicking the View menu, and selecting Preview pane. Once enabled, you can click a file to see its contents displayed in the pane.

If you are not able to see Preview Pane or the File preview is missing or not working in Windows 11/10, then follow these tips to preview files again.

2. In the Preview menu, click File, then select Export as PDF… Quick tip: You can also convert JPG files to HEIC, JPEG-2000, OpenEXR, PNG, or TIFF in Preview.

The Preview Pane add-on offers a way to view more types of files without having to open them. Learn how to use this helpful tool.