SharePoint Document Issues

Fix SharePoint Gallery View Not Showing OneDrive Image Previews

WPS Content Manager Sep 30, 2026 868 views

Question details

Users need to display image previews correctly in a SharePoint list Gallery View when linking to images stored in OneDrive for Business.

How to Fix SharePoint Gallery View Not Showing OneDrive Image Previews

Product: SharePoint Online
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Configuring a SharePoint list's Gallery View to showcase images hosted externally on OneDrive for Business.
Observed behavior: The Gallery View only displays file names instead of image thumbnails when using a Hyperlink column, despite the images appearing correctly in the standard list view.

Before you start

Before modifying your list configuration, verify that all users accessing the SharePoint list have the appropriate read permissions for the specific OneDrive for Business folder where the images are stored.

Solution 1Recommended

Use an Image Column Instead of a Hyperlink Column

SharePoint Gallery View formats image previews much more reliably when using a dedicated Image column rather than a generic Hyperlink column.

By default, SharePoint's Gallery View Card Designer expects image data to be formatted through specific column types. Hyperlink columns often fail to render the image payload in gallery cards.

Add a new Image column

Navigate to your SharePoint list, click on 'Add column' at the end of your headers, and select 'Image' as the column type.

Update list items

Edit your existing list items to upload or link the OneDrive for Business image URL directly into this newly created Image column.

Format current view

Switch to your Gallery View, click on the view options dropdown menu in the top right, and select 'Format current view'.

Map the preview image

In the Card Designer settings, ensure the 'Preview image' property is specifically mapped to your new Image column, then save your changes.

Use an Image Column Instead of a Hyperlink Column

URL Path Verification: Ensure the URL points directly to the actual image file on the OneDrive for Business site, not to a web preview wrapper or sharing link page.

Solution 2

Correct Advanced JSON Formatting Paths

If you are using customized JSON to format your gallery view, the image source might be referencing the wrong file path variable.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do images show up in the SharePoint standard list view but fail in the Gallery View?

Standard list views and Gallery views use different rendering mechanisms. The Gallery View's Card Designer often struggles to parse image URLs stored in generic Hyperlink columns, requiring a dedicated Image column to generate the preview thumbnail reliably.

Can I use external web images in a SharePoint Image column?

Yes, you can link to images hosted on external platforms like OneDrive for Business or other SharePoint sites. However, you must ensure that anyone viewing the SharePoint list also has the necessary permissions to access the source location of the image.

How do I find the internal column name for my JSON formatting?

To find the internal name, go to List Settings, click on the column name, and look at the URL in your browser's address bar. The internal name is the text that appears at the very end of the URL after 'Field='.

Document & File Issues