File preview clocked on WebDAV location after 25H2

Question

File preview clocked on WebDAV location after 25H2

john Cubbage 0

Since installing the 25H2 update to Windows 11, the preview for all file types files is not working when using a WebDAV location. I have tried adding the server to trusted locations in internet options and there is no option to "UNBLOCK" like there is in the properties of files stored on local or network drives.

I just get the following message "The file you are attempting to preview could harm your computer. If you trust the file and the source you received it from, open it to view its contents"

The WebDAV is used as a cloud service for a client for internal documents across their organization and they rely on the preview functionality for quick document recognition in their workflow. I am fine if this is in the name of security but how can I disable it for a specific location?

and if that is not possible then the only alternative is to disable the security update outright which is not productive at all, if that is even possible.

1 answer

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Answer 1

Hendrix-V 5,065 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hi john Cubbage,

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Q&A Forum! Apologies for any inconvenience you are experiencing.

The behavior you're describing appears to be tied to enhanced security changes introduced in Windows 11 25H2. This update tightens how File Explorer handles previews for files from potentially unsafe locations, including remote sources like WebDAV.

Unfortunately, you can't directly "unblock" remote WebDAV files like local ones, but you can configure Windows to treat your specific WebDAV server as a trusted intranet location.

Here is how to configure the settings, please kindly follow and check if the issue is fixed:

1 - Open Internet Options (Win + R then type inetcpl.cpl and press Enter)

Go to Security tab > Local Intranet > Sites > Advance.
If your WebDAV uses HTTPS, uncheck Require server verification (https:) for all sites in this zone.
In the "Add this website to the zone" field, enter your WebDAV server's address then click Add.
Click Close > OK to save.

After these steps, remap your WebDAV location or restart File Explorer then check again.

2 - If previews involve Office documents (e.g., Word, Excel), add an extra layer for those apps:

Open an Office app (e.g., Word) > File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Trusted Locations.
Click Add new location then enter the WebDAV path.
Check Allow Trusted Locations on my network and Subfolders of this location are also trusted.
Click OK and restart the app.

3 - If the above methods did not work, you can consider editing Registry to disable zone tagging

Disclaimer: Modifying the Windows Registry can cause serious problems if not done correctly. It is recommended that you back up the registry and your data before making any changes. Proceed with caution and only make changes if you are confident in what you are doing. Microsoft is not responsible for any issues that may arise from improper modifications to the registry.

Open Registry Editor (Win + R and type regedit then press Enter).
Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Attachments (Create the Attachments key if it doesn’t exist.)
Add a DWORD (32-bit) value named: SaveZoneInformation
Set its value to 2
Restart your PC to apply changes.

I look forward to receiving your update. Let me know which solution works for you or if your problem persists and you need further assistance, feel free to ask me by clicking "Add Comment". Thanks for your effort.

If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have additional questions about this answer, please click "Comment".

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Hendrix-V 5,065 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-10-18T02:13:40.0966667+00:00

Hello,

This is Hendrix and I'm just checking in to see if my proposed solutions worked for you. If the issue still persists, let me know in the "Comment" section so I can give you further assistance. Please feel free to post back any further updates on this issue.
john Cubbage 0 Reputation points

2025-10-21T16:58:47.44+00:00

the primary documents are typically PDFs. so part 2 Is not generally in play. I had already tried part 1 and it seems to have no impact on the problem. I believe that is specific to WebDAV locations, because I have used part 1 on standard SMB shares and they work properly.

I will contact the client later and try option 3 but the fact that you cannot include or exclude specific locations for file preview is a failure in my opinion. I love how something that is working and considered a feature is disabled without any warning or instruction to users and then when it is asked about the answer in the case is use some registry setting to just disable a chunk of the entire system's security instead of disabling it in one specific location or when data is sourced from a specific IP address. (yes I know it could potentially be faked but that is beyond the scope of this issue / question).
Hendrix-V 5,065 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-10-22T03:33:47.8933333+00:00
Dear john Cubbage,

Thank you for sharing the details of your experience. I completely understand how disruptive this change can be, especially when your workflow relies on quick document previews for efficiency. It’s frustrating when a feature that worked seamlessly before suddenly stops functioning without clear guidance.

With the Windows 11 25H2 update, Microsoft introduced stricter security measures. Files accessed via WebDAV are now treated as coming from the Internet Zone, which triggers the warning you’re seeing. Unlike SMB network shares, WebDAV paths don’t offer the same trust level, and unfortunately, there’s no built-in option to whitelist a specific WebDAV location for previews.

If option 1 and 2 cannot resolve the issue, please consider my 3rd method. And there's a workaround which is to map the WebDAV location as a network drive, this will make Windows treat it like a trusted network share, restoring the preview functionality.

Please try these steps to proceed:

1 - Open Command Prompt (Run as Administrator).

2 - Use the following command:

net use Z: https://webdav.example.com/path /user:YourUsername YourPassword

Replace Z: with the drive letter you want to assign.

Replace https://webdav.example.com/path with your WebDAV URL.

Replace YourUsername and YourPassword with your credentials.

3 - Press Enter. If successful, the WebDAV location will appear as a mapped drive under This PC.

4 - Access files via the mapped drive (e.g., Z:) instead of the original WebDAV UNC path. Previews should now work as expected.

If you want the drive to reconnect automatically after reboot, add the /persistent:yes parameter:

net use Z: https://webdav.example.com/path /user:YourUsername YourPassword /persistent:yes

I look forward to receiving your update. Let me know which solution works for you or if your problem persists and you need further assistance, feel free to ask me by clicking "Add Comment". Thanks for your effort.
Hendrix-V 5,065 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-10-24T03:10:20.85+00:00

Hi,

I just wanted to follow up and check if the information I provided was helpful. If you have any further questions or updates regarding this issue, please feel free to let me know in the Comments section. I'd be happy to assist you.

If you found my response helpful, kindly consider accepting it so others with similar concerns can benefit from the information as well.

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File preview clocked on WebDAV location after 25H2

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