file explorer not showing thumbnails for onedrive folder

Anonymous
2018-05-21T19:58:48+00:00

Many of my images have no thumbnail in my users one drive folder, even for files that are downloaded to my pc.

Full path C:\Users\myuser\OneDrive\Pictures\Camera Roll

How can I fix this? There was a time when thumbnails always worked for this folder, but I can't remember when this stopped working, it's been a couple/few weeks perhaps.

Also, why are some of the images near the end only available online. In my one drive settings this entire folder is set to sync.

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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments No comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2018-07-13T10:17:06+00:00

I had the same issue and to fix it I went into the settings of the One Drive app and disabled (untick) the Files On Demand service then hit OK. Then after a restart of the PC all thumbnails within my One Drive folders had returned.

No I idea why this works but it did for me and hopefully will do for you also.

Was this answer helpful?

100+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments No comments

80 additional answers

Sort by: Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2018-12-15T23:29:21+00:00

    After spending loads of time trying to resolve this thumbnail issue for myself, none of the usual suggestions worked. I tried everything! 

    This is how I solved the no thumbnail issue and hopefully it will help someone else.

    My OneDrive space is full. I suspect this is possibly what initially caused the thumbnail loading problems. What I didn't realize is that my Windows Desktop folder location was set as C:/Users/MyUserName/OneDrive/Desktop. My desktop was where all of my image folders were.  So all of my images/folders that weren't loading thumbnails were in that OneDrive folder!  I then changed the default desktop folder location to C:/Desktop. Initially I dragged and dropped my image folders from the old OneDrive folder to the new desktop location . Still no thumbnails! I then tried simply copying and pasting the entire image folder to the desktop. BOOM all thumbnails are now loaded! So I just selected all of the rest my image folders that had previously been in the OneDrive folder and copied and pasted them.  They are all loading correctly now. 

    Short Explanation: For me this was all done on the Desktop because that's where all of my image folders were. IF your OneDrive folder containing your images is another location I suspect this will work the same. Try copying the image folder from the OneDrive folder location and pasting (not drag and drop! ) it into a different non OneDrive location and see if the thumbnails load.

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments
  2. Anonymous
    2019-01-15T21:01:07+00:00

    That's a very accurate description of the problem. If anyone at MS gets serious about fixing this problem, pay close attention to Kerry's post.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  3. Anonymous
    2019-01-15T21:04:09+00:00

    FYI it also affects the Photos app. In the People view some people's thumbnails are black, but if you open the person's picture view all the pictures are fine. And in the automatically generated slideshows most of the images are just a black screen.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  4. Anonymous
    2019-01-30T03:36:39+00:00

    For me, going to the OneDrive Folder on my PC and then selecting the View tab and then, unchecking File name extensions box, fully and immediately restored the thumbnails to my OneDrive Folder. YMMV

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments