OneDrive File Issues

Fix OneDrive Folder Downloads Showing Images as TXT Files

Guest Writer Oct 9, 2026 868 views

Question details

Users need to restore picture formats when images downloaded from a shared OneDrive folder are converted into TXT files within the compressed ZIP archive.

How to Fix OneDrive Folder Downloads Containing TXT Files Instead of Images

Product: Microsoft OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Downloading a shared OneDrive folder containing pictures, which the system automatically compresses into a ZIP archive.
Observed behavior: After extracting the downloaded ZIP file, the image files are incorrectly displayed with .txt extensions instead of their original .jpg or .png image formats.

Before you start

Verify that you have the correct permissions to download files from the shared OneDrive folder and ensure file extensions are visible in your computer's file explorer settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Manually Rename File Extensions After Extraction

This is the most direct method to restore your images if the download process incorrectly altered their file extensions.

Sometimes, the OneDrive ZIP compression process alters file metadata, causing browsers to assign incorrect extensions to images. If the file sizes match the expected images, renaming the extensions will restore their functionality.

Extract the ZIP archive

Right-click the downloaded ZIP file on your computer and select 'Extract All...' to unpack the contents into a standard folder.

Show file extensions

Open the extracted folder. In Windows File Explorer, go to the 'View' tab and check the box for 'File name extensions'. On a Mac, go to Finder Preferences > Advanced and select 'Show all filename extensions'.

Verify file contents

Look at the file size of the TXT files. If they are several megabytes, they are likely image files containing image data rather than plain text.

Rename the extensions

Right-click a TXT file, choose 'Rename', and change the '.txt' portion to '.jpg' or '.png'. Press Enter and confirm the prompt that warns you about changing file extensions.

Manually Rename File Extensions After Extraction

Caution Before Renaming: Do not rename a file unless you are reasonably sure its contents are actual image data. Changing extensions on legitimate text files will make them unreadable.

Solution 2

Download Files Individually or Use Another Browser

Bypassing the bulk ZIP compression or using a different browser can prevent the extension error from occurring during the download.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does OneDrive compress folders into a ZIP file when downloading?

OneDrive automatically compresses multiple files or entire folders into a single ZIP archive to minimize the overall download size and speed up the transfer process over the internet.

Will changing a file extension from TXT to JPG corrupt the image?

No, if the file was originally an image and simply had its extension incorrectly altered during the download process, renaming it back to .jpg or .png will simply tell your operating system to open it with an image viewer, restoring its normal functionality.

Can I disable the automatic zipping feature in OneDrive?

Currently, OneDrive does not offer an option to disable automatic zipping when downloading multiple files or folders. To bypass the ZIP process entirely, you must download each file individually.

Document & File Issues