File explorer displaying all files in KB instead of MB or GB after using Windows Media Creation Tool

Understanding and Resolving File Size Display Issues in Windows File Explorer Post Media Creation Tool Use

Introduction

Many Windows users rely on the Windows Media Creation Tool to download official ISO files for Windows installation or upgrade purposes. Occasionally, after completing a download, users may notice an unusual change in how file sizes are displayed within Windows File Explorer. Instead of seeing sizes in megabytes (MB) or gigabytes (GB), the files are shown solely in kilobytes (KB). This can be confusing and raises questions about the cause and potential solutions.

What Is Causing the File Size Display Anomaly?

This behavior typically occurs when files are in a ‘placeholder’ or ‘partial download’ state, often as a result of the download process being interrupted or incomplete. When Windows encounters such partial files, it may display their sizes as KB, reflecting their actual size rather than the expected full size in MB or GB.

In the context of using the Windows Media Creation Tool, a few scenarios may trigger this:

• Incomplete or interrupted download: If the download didn’t complete successfully, the ISO file might be in an incomplete state.
• File system or Explorer display glitch: Sometimes, Windows Explorer may temporarily display inaccurate file sizes due to a refresh issue or small cache hiccup.
• Temporary files or placeholder files: Certain download managers or processes create placeholder files, leading to abnormal display sizes.

How to Troubleshoot and Fix This Issue

1. Verify the Download Status

First, ensure the download completed successfully. Check the progress in the Media Creation Tool window or the download directory. If the ISO file size appears smaller than expected (the official Windows 11 ISO is several GBs), the download may have been interrupted.

1. Refresh File Explorer

2. Press F5 or click on the refresh icon to update the view.

3. Close and reopen File Explorer to see if the sizes update correctly.

4. Check the File Properties

5. Right-click the affected ISO file and select Properties.

6. Review the Size and Size on disk fields. If these are large (matching the expected ISO size), but File Explorer still shows KB, it might be a display issue.

7. Use Alternative Tools to Verify File Size

8. Use the command prompt:

   • Open Command Prompt and navigate to the download directory.
   • Type dir yourfilename.iso and press Enter.