How to Fix Windows Explorer Preview Pane for OneDrive Online-Only Files
Question details
The user is unable to preview OneDrive or SharePoint files in the Windows Explorer preview pane when the files are marked as online-only.
- Product
- OneDrive
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Attempting to preview files stored in OneDrive or SharePoint using the Windows Explorer preview pane.
- Observed behavior
- The preview pane fails to display the content of files that are stored online and have not been downloaded locally, indicated by a blue cloud icon.
Ensure you have an active internet connection to download the required files from OneDrive to your local storage, and check that you have enough local disk space available.
Use 'Always keep on this device' Option
Download specific files locally so Windows Explorer can generate previews without taking up space for the entire drive.
Windows Explorer relies on local file data to generate previews. Files marked with a blue cloud icon are online-only and lack this local data. By setting specific files to be kept on your device, you download them locally, enabling the preview feature without disabling Files On-Demand for your whole drive.
Navigate to your OneDrive or SharePoint folder using Windows Explorer.
Find the file with the blue cloud icon that you want to preview in the folder.
Right-click the file and select 'Always keep on this device' from the context menu. A solid green checkmark will appear once it's fully downloaded.
Click the file again. The Windows Explorer preview pane should now successfully display its contents.
Disable OneDrive Files On-Demand
Turn off the Files On-Demand feature to automatically download all files to your PC, ensuring previews work for everything.
Looking for a Seamless Office Suite for Your Cloud Files?
While dealing with OneDrive file previews in Windows Explorer, you might want a lightweight and fully compatible Office alternative that easily integrates with cloud storage. WPS Office provides an all-in-one workspace to view, edit, and manage your documents seamlessly.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free installer.
- 2. Install the software: Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to set up WPS Office on your Windows PC.
- 3. Open your documents: Launch WPS Office and easily open your local or cloud-synced documents directly from the intuitive dashboard.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the blue cloud icon mean in OneDrive?
The blue cloud icon indicates that a file is available online only. It does not take up space on your computer, but it requires an internet connection to open and cannot be previewed in Windows Explorer.
Why is my Windows Explorer preview pane not working for any files?
If the preview pane isn't working for local files either, it might be disabled. You can enable it by clicking the 'View' tab in Windows Explorer and selecting 'Preview pane'.
How can I free up space after downloading a file locally?
Right-click the file in Windows Explorer and select 'Free up space'. This will remove the local copy, return the file to online-only status (blue cloud icon), and stop the preview pane from working for that file.
