OneDrive File Issues

How to Fix OneDrive Ignoring Google Takeout Photos or Showing Placeholders

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is unable to successfully upload photos exported from Google Takeout to OneDrive, as the upload process ignores some files and displays generic mountain placeholders for others.

Product: Microsoft OneDrive, Google Takeout
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Migrating a large batch of photos from Google Photos to Microsoft OneDrive using Google Takeout.
Observed behavior: OneDrive fails to upload certain files and displays mountain-image placeholders for some uploaded JPG files, while also downloading unnecessary JSON files alongside the photos.

Before you start

Ensure that you have completely extracted the Google Takeout ZIP archive to a local folder on your computer, as attempting to upload files directly from a compressed folder can trigger sync failures.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the OneDrive Desktop Client for Bulk Uploads

Uploading thousands of files through a web browser is prone to timeouts. Using the desktop sync client via File Explorer provides a more stable upload process.

Web browsers often struggle with massive bulk uploads, which can cause OneDrive to skip files or fail to generate thumbnails, resulting in the mountain-image placeholders. The desktop client handles background syncing much more reliably.

Open File Explorer

Press Windows Key + E to open File Explorer and navigate to your local OneDrive folder located on the left-hand navigation pane.

Copy Extracted Photos

Locate the extracted Google Takeout folder containing your JPG files, select the photos you want to transfer, and copy them.

Paste into OneDrive

Paste the copied photos into a designated folder within your local OneDrive directory. Leave your computer powered on and connected to the internet while the blue sync icons turn into green checkmarks.

Sync Time: Depending on your internet connection speed and the size of the 1,000+ photos, the background synchronization process may take several hours to complete.

Solution 2

Filter Out Unnecessary JSON Files

Google Takeout includes JSON metadata files that are not needed for storing or viewing your photos in OneDrive.

Solution 3

Test an Alternative Browser or Private Window

If you must use the web version of OneDrive, browser extensions or corrupted cache data might be interfering with the upload process.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Manage Your Documents Effortlessly with WPS Office

While resolving your cloud photo storage issues with OneDrive, consider switching to WPS Office for a seamless, lightweight document management experience. It offers robust cloud integration and perfect compatibility with major document formats.

1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the Free Download button.
2. Install the Software: Run the downloaded executable file and follow the on-screen prompts to install WPS Office on your computer.
3. Sign In for Cloud Access: Launch WPS Office and sign in with your account to unlock 1GB of free WPS Cloud storage for your documents.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Office formats (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)Integrated WPS Cloud for reliable and safe document syncingLightweight software architecture that runs smoothly on any deviceFree to use with a highly familiar, easy-to-navigate interface

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Google Takeout include JSON files with my photos?

Google Takeout exports JSON files alongside your images to preserve metadata such as location coordinates, dates, and album information. These files are not required to view the images on your computer or OneDrive, and you can safely separate them before uploading your photos.

Why do my uploaded photos show as mountain placeholders in OneDrive?

The mountain icon is a generic placeholder that appears when OneDrive fails to generate a proper image thumbnail. This usually happens if the web upload was interrupted, the file format is unsupported, or the sync process is still pending in the background.

Is there a limit to how many files I can upload to OneDrive at once?

While OneDrive supports large storage capacities, attempting to upload thousands of files simultaneously via a web browser can cause the session to time out. For massive transfers like a 1,000-photo Google Takeout export, Microsoft recommends using the OneDrive desktop sync client instead.

Document & File Issues