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How to Stop OneDrive from Showing Video Images in Photos
Question details
The user wants to prevent OneDrive from automatically indexing uploaded videos or images and displaying them in the Photos area.
- Product
- OneDrive
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Uploading media files to OneDrive without having them automatically categorized and displayed in the Photos tab.
- Observed behavior
- OneDrive automatically indexes the uploaded media and displays the first image or video frame in the Photos area against the user's preference.
Since OneDrive natively indexes supported media files by default, understand that there is no direct setting to toggle this feature off completely. You will need to use file management workarounds to hide these items.
Upload Videos as Compressed Archives
Compressing your media files into a ZIP or RAR archive prevents OneDrive's image recognition from scanning and indexing them in the Photos tab.
OneDrive's media indexing system only recognizes standard video and image file extensions (like .mp4, .jpg, .png). By encapsulating your media inside a compressed archive, OneDrive treats it as a standard data file, keeping it entirely out of the Photos view.
Open File Explorer on your computer and navigate to the folder containing the videos or images you want to upload.
Select the files, right-click them, and choose 'Compress to ZIP file' (on Windows 11) or 'Send to > Compressed (zipped) folder' (on Windows 10).
Drag and drop the newly created ZIP file into your OneDrive folder or upload it via the OneDrive web interface.
Remove Automatically Created Albums
Delete any albums OneDrive has automatically generated from your uploaded videos to clear them from the Photos view.
Organize Your Files Better with WPS Office
If you are frustrated by automatic background behaviors in Microsoft services like OneDrive, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Office, offering intuitive file management and cloud syncing through WPS Cloud without forcing unwanted media indexing.
- 1. Download and Install: Visit the WPS Office website to download the free suite and install it on your device.
- 2. Sign in to WPS Cloud: Create a free account to access WPS Cloud, where you can securely store and manage your files.
- 3. Manage Files Freely: Upload your documents and media. Enjoy a straightforward folder structure without aggressive automatic photo indexing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I completely turn off photo indexing in OneDrive?
Currently, Microsoft does not provide a native toggle to completely disable the automatic indexing of photos and videos in OneDrive. Submitting feedback to OneDrive Support is recommended to request this feature, but wrapping files in a ZIP archive remains the most effective workaround.
Why are my videos showing up in OneDrive Photos?
OneDrive is designed to automatically scan supported media files across all your folders and aggregate their thumbnails into the Photos tab to make viewing easier for users who use OneDrive primarily for personal media backup.
Will deleting an automatic album delete my original files?
No, removing an automatically generated album in OneDrive only deletes the album grouping. The original photos or videos remain untouched and securely stored in their original folders.
Does changing the file extension prevent OneDrive from indexing videos?
Sometimes manually changing a file extension (e.g., from .mp4 to .txt) can trick the indexing system, but this is not recommended as it forces you to rename the file back every time you wish to view the video. Compressing the file into an archive is a much safer and cleaner method.
