OneDrive File Issues

How to Fix OneDrive Mobile App Thumbnails Missing on iOS and Android

Maira Mehtab Sep 20, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users are experiencing an issue where thumbnail previews for photos and videos fail to load in the OneDrive mobile application.

Product: Microsoft OneDrive Mobile App
Device & OS: iOS and Android
Scenario: Browsing photos and videos within the OneDrive mobile app, particularly files that have been shared by other users.
Observed behavior: Thumbnails do not appear for shared photos and videos in the mobile app, though the affected files can still be successfully viewed and downloaded when accessing OneDrive via a web browser.

Before you start

Ensure your OneDrive mobile app is updated to the latest version and verify your internet connection is stable, as weak connections can prevent image previews from loading.

Solution 1Recommended

Access Shared Files via OneDrive Web Browser

Since there is currently no official fix for the mobile app bug, accessing your files through a web browser is the most reliable workaround to view and download your items.

User reports indicate that while the mobile app fails to generate thumbnails for shared items, the web version of OneDrive functions perfectly. Using your mobile browser allows you to bypass the app's display glitch.

Open your mobile browser

Launch Safari on your iOS device or Google Chrome on your Android device.

Log into OneDrive on the web

Navigate to the official OneDrive website (onedrive.live.com) and sign in with your Microsoft account credentials.

Navigate to shared files

Tap on the menu icon and select the 'Shared' tab to locate the photos and videos that are missing thumbnails in the app.

View and download items

Tap on the files to view them normally. You can use the download button to save the photos or videos directly to your device's local storage.

Full File Integrity: The missing thumbnails issue is strictly a display bug in the mobile app. Your files are not corrupted and remain safely stored in the cloud.

Solution 2

Clear the OneDrive App Cache

Clearing the app cache can sometimes force the application to regenerate missing thumbnails and fix local display glitches.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do OneDrive thumbnails disappear specifically for shared files?

This is often caused by server-side synchronization bugs or indexing delays within the mobile app's architecture, which sometimes handles shared directories differently than your personal root folders.

Will clearing the app cache delete my OneDrive files?

No. Clearing the app cache only removes temporary display data used to speed up the app. Your actual photos, videos, and documents are securely stored in the cloud and will remain untouched.

Can I still download files if their thumbnails are missing in the app?

Yes. Even if the thumbnails do not appear, the underlying file data is intact. If the app's download feature fails, you can safely log into the web version of OneDrive on your browser to download the items.

Is there a permanent fix for the missing thumbnails issue?

As of current user reports, there is no official permanent fix from Microsoft for this specific mobile app bug. Users are advised to use the web browser workaround until an app update patches the issue.

Document & File Issues