How to Fix Corrupted Images Uploaded to a SharePoint Document Library
Question details
Users are experiencing issues where uploaded images in a SharePoint Document Library appear corrupted and cannot be previewed or downloaded.
- Product
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Uploading image files into a SharePoint Document Library via drag-and-drop or the manual upload button.
- Observed behavior
- The uploaded images display broken icons in the library, appear corrupted when clicked, and are inaccessible for preview or download.
Verify that the original image file opens correctly on your local computer to rule out local file corruption before attempting to troubleshoot the SharePoint upload process.
Test Alternative Browsers and Upload Methods
Browser cache issues or specific browser-version bugs can sometimes cause file corruption during the upload process.
SharePoint relies heavily on web browser capabilities for file transfers. Sometimes, an outdated browser cache or a temporary glitch in Chrome or Edge can interrupt the data stream, resulting in a corrupted image file on the server.
If you are currently using Google Chrome, open Microsoft Edge (or vice versa) and navigate to your SharePoint Document Library.
Instead of dragging and dropping the file, click the 'Upload' > 'Files' button on the top command bar of the SharePoint library.
If the manual upload button fails, try dragging the image file directly from Windows File Explorer into the SharePoint folder area in the new browser.
Check Microsoft 365 Service Health and Request Admin Support
If multiple users experience the same issue across different browsers, it might be a tenant-wide Microsoft 365 service incident.
Manage and Create Documents Effortlessly with WPS Office
If you are experiencing ongoing synchronization or file upload issues with Microsoft 365 services like SharePoint, consider WPS Office as a lightweight, robust, and free alternative. It offers high compatibility with Microsoft Office formats and allows seamless local or cloud document management.
- 1. Download and Install: Get the free WPS Office suite from the official website and install it on your computer in minutes.
- 2. Sign In for Cloud Access: Create or log in to your WPS account to activate free WPS Cloud storage for your documents.
- 3. Upload and Manage Files: Use the WPS Workspace to drag and drop your documents and images, ensuring reliable file synchronization.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my images show a broken icon after uploading to SharePoint?
A broken icon typically indicates that the image file was corrupted during the upload process, is in a format unsupported by SharePoint's preview generator, or is experiencing a synchronization delay with the Microsoft 365 servers.
Does the image format affect SharePoint previews?
Yes, SharePoint natively supports and generates previews for standard web formats like PNG, JPG, JPEG, and GIF. If you upload a specialized format (like TIFF, PSD, or RAW), it may not preview correctly and might appear broken in the browser, even if the file is intact.
Can file size limits cause upload corruption in SharePoint?
While SharePoint allows for very large files, extremely large image files might time out during upload on a slow or unstable network connection. This interruption can lead to an incomplete or corrupted file being saved to the library.
