OneDrive File Issues

Fix OneDrive Pictures Displaying as Mountain Icons

Maira Mehtab Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users are experiencing an issue where image thumbnails inside OneDrive shared folders display as generic mountain placeholder icons instead of actual picture previews.

Product: Microsoft OneDrive
Device & OS: iOS and Android
Scenario: Viewing image files within shared folders using the OneDrive mobile application.
Observed behavior: The application fails to load the image previews, instead showing a mountain icon for all affected image files.

Before you start

Ensure your mobile device has a strong and stable internet connection, as loading high-resolution image thumbnails from cloud shared folders requires adequate bandwidth.

Solution 1Recommended

Update the OneDrive App and Report to Microsoft

Since this is a known bug affecting shared folders on mobile platforms, the best course of action is to update the application and report your specific details for the service fix.

The Microsoft development team has identified this as a known OneDrive issue specifically impacting shared folders on iOS and Android devices. It is a bug with thumbnail generation rather than data loss.

Update the App

Open the Apple App Store on iOS or the Google Play Store on Android. Search for 'OneDrive' and tap the 'Update' button to install the latest version.

Capture the Error

Take a screenshot of the specific shared folder on your mobile device where the images are displaying as mountain icons.

Contact Microsoft Support

Open the OneDrive app, navigate to Settings, and select 'Help & Feedback'. Submit your screenshot, device model, operating system version, and the name of the affected folder to the support team.

Wait for Service Fix

Because this is an acknowledged backend and app issue, a complete resolution will be deployed automatically in a future OneDrive service update.

OneNote vs OneDrive: This specific mountain icon error has been confirmed as a OneDrive bug. If you use OneNote, it is not responsible for this shared folder thumbnail issue.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my OneDrive images show a mountain icon?

The mountain icon is a default placeholder used by OneDrive. It appears when the app encounters a sync error or a known bug preventing it from downloading and displaying the actual image thumbnail, particularly in shared folders on mobile devices.

Are my actual photos lost or corrupted if they show as mountains?

No, your original image files are secure on the cloud. The mountain icon only indicates a temporary issue with loading the thumbnail preview in the mobile app, not data loss or corruption.

Is this thumbnail bug caused by OneNote?

No. Microsoft developers have identified this specifically as a OneDrive application issue affecting shared folders on iOS and Android. It does not stem from OneNote.

Document & File Issues