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Fix OneDrive Images Showing as Square Icons Instead of Thumbnails
Question details
The user is unable to view photo thumbnails in OneDrive, as image files are displaying as identical generic square icons.
- Product
- OneDrive
- Device & OS
- Windows 10
- Scenario
- Browsing and identifying image files stored in synchronized OneDrive folders.
- Observed behavior
- Images appear as generic square icons instead of actual photo thumbnails, forcing the user to open each file individually to see what it is. Some files display a green check mark in the corner.
Ensure you have a stable internet connection and allow OneDrive enough time to fully sync your folders, as generating thumbnails for a large batch of images can take several minutes.
Enable Windows Thumbnail Previews
Configure File Explorer settings to ensure that Windows is allowed to generate and display thumbnails instead of generic file icons.
Windows has a built-in performance setting that forces all files to show as icons instead of thumbnails. If this setting is accidentally turned on, your OneDrive images will only display as generic square icons regardless of sync status.
Press the Windows key, type 'File Explorer Options' into the search bar, and hit Enter to open the settings dialog.
Click on the 'View' tab at the top of the File Explorer Options window.
Under 'Advanced settings', locate the option that says 'Always show icons, never thumbnails'. Uncheck this box, then click 'Apply' and 'OK'.
Make Images Available Locally via Files On-Demand
Force OneDrive to download the actual image files to your local device so Windows can generate the thumbnail previews.
Reset the OneDrive Application
Resetting OneDrive clears its internal cache and forces the application to rebuild the sync and thumbnail database.
Manage Your Documents Seamlessly Alongside Cloud Storage with WPS Office
While resolving OneDrive file preview issues, you might need an efficient way to handle your daily documents. WPS Office is a highly compatible, free alternative to Microsoft Office that easily handles your Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files without bogging down your system.
- 1. Download and Install: Visit the WPS website to download the free installer and follow the on-screen prompts to set it up on your Windows PC.
- 2. Open Your Files: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files stored in your OneDrive folders.
- 3. Edit and Save: Enjoy full editing capabilities with zero format loss, and easily save your work back to your synced cloud storage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do some of my OneDrive files have a green check mark?
A solid green check mark in a circle indicates that a file is marked as 'Always keep on this device' and is fully downloaded locally. A hollow green check mark means the file was temporarily downloaded to your device but could become online-only if your system needs to free up space.
How long does it take for OneDrive to rebuild the image cache?
The time required depends on your internet connection speed and the total number of images in your folder. For a folder with hundreds of high-resolution photos, it can take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour for all thumbnail previews to fully generate.
Does the 'Files On-Demand' feature prevent image thumbnails from showing?
It can. If 'Files On-Demand' is active and your images are set to online-only (indicated by a cloud icon), Windows may struggle to generate thumbnails because the actual file data isn't on your local hard drive. Downloading the files locally usually resolves this.
