ICloud Photos Downloaded To PC Don't Show Images ?

I know how to download my ICloud photos to my pc.

However, once they are there, no matter what "view" I use for the folder, all I see is a blue icon with the picture number under it. The icon does not show me the picture image. Yes if I click on an image the picture will show up but that's a useless impossible way to view all my thousands of pictures. I had a round about tedious procedure that would work when I had windows 10 but that same procedure does not work on windows 11. My photos are useless if I can't save them and see them. Might have to switch to google or something else.