Windows 10 Image Thumbnails Flash then Disappear in Explorer

Anonymous
2017-12-05T17:15:02+00:00

I'm running Windows 10 Pro, Version 1703. Basically, whenever I open a folder, the image thumbnails will flash then disappear, and I've maid sure my "Always show Icons, Not Thumbnails" is unchecked. I have no idea what the problem is, as that was the only solution I could seem to find. Thank you!

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Files, folders, and storage

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Anonymous
2018-01-01T13:46:04+00:00

I just learned that if you deactivate the OneDrive "save space and download files as you use them" feature (i.e. leave all OneDrive files on your PC) then the thumbnail problem is fixed.  In addition, the Photos app now shows these files (which it did not do before, even though the files were locally "always" stored on the PC).

There is clearly a bug in the change to OneDrive -- don't get me wrong, the selective sync feature is nice, but it is affecting the thumbnail process somehow.


Moderator's note:

You can disable OneDrive Files On-Demand feature using these steps:

  1. Right click OneDrive icon on taskbar, select Settings.
  2. In Settings tab, under Files On-Demand, uncheck Save space and download files as you use them option.
  3. Click OK.

Note: Microsoft has updated the information in this reply, to benefit users facing this issue.


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  1. Anonymous
    2018-02-18T03:18:20+00:00

    Hi Marcus,

    Based on the information that you've provided, you were also having an issue with the thumbnails from all of your drives. This can be related to a system conflict caused by broken or corrupted files. To isolate your concern, we'd like to ask the following:

    • Which build version of Windows is on your computer? To check, click Start, type winver, and press Enter. For example, 14393.1066.
    • Have you made any recent changes prior to the issue?

    In the meantime, we recommend that you check and install the latest updates. To check for updates now, select the Start button, and then go to Settings > Update & security > Windows Update, and select Check for updates. If Windows Update says your device is up to date, you have all the updates that are currently available.

    We'll be looking forward to your response.

    Hello and thanks for the quick reply,

    My windows versions are all up to date as far as I can tell.  The machine i am on is an Alienware laptop with V1709 16299.248 is a i7 with 16gb ram and geforce gfx. My intranet NAS (cube pc) is the same version and with a celeron 1900 and 16gb ram.  The pcs are all on 1tb intranet via a switch and dsl router. I can access the machines via either explorer or teamspeak. Each time i reboot either of them the thumbnail cache is lost and has to be rebuilt which takes a lot of time. I have also tried the more advanced fix with setting the security options on the explorer folder that used to work but no longer fix it since some win updates back (policy = deny delete etc) and since it no longer works i removed that policy.  

    It is definitely a thumbnail cache problem since it always gets refreshed/rebuilt. And no the machine names, drive letters and drive letter names never change.

    Any tips, however advanced, are very welcome.

    Thanks and regards

    Marcus

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  2. Anonymous
    2018-02-17T04:02:23+00:00

    Hi Marcus,

    Based on the information that you've provided, you were also having an issue with the thumbnails from all of your drives. This can be related to a system conflict caused by broken or corrupted files. To isolate your concern, we'd like to ask the following:

    • Which build version of Windows is on your computer? To check, click Start, type winver, and press Enter. For example, 14393.1066.
    • Have you made any recent changes prior to the issue?

    In the meantime, we recommend that you check and install the latest updates. To check for updates now, select the Start button, and then go to Settings > Update & security > Windows Update, and select Check for updates. If Windows Update says your device is up to date, you have all the updates that are currently available.

    We'll be looking forward to your response.

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  3. Anonymous
    2018-02-16T00:31:30+00:00

    I'm constantly losing all thumbnails from all my drives and I have 12 drives and thousands of pictures so it is *REALLY* frustrating. 

    For me this is not an OneDrive issue.

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  4. Anonymous
    2018-02-10T21:34:02+00:00

    I'm having this issue too

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