If Windows 10 shows generic icons instead of picture previews, restore thumbnails in this order: switch the folder to Medium, Large or Extra large icons; clear Always show icons, never thumbnails in Folder Options; enable Show thumbnails instead of icons in Performance Options; then rebuild the thumbnail cache with Disk Cleanup. These changes are reversible and do not delete your original photos or videos.
For OneDrive files, the item must be available to Windows when Explorer creates the preview. Mark an online-only file Always keep on this device if necessary. OneDrive also states that PDFs and images larger than 100 MB do not get previews or thumbnails.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
What missing thumbnails usually mean
A thumbnail is a small preview that File Explorer generates from a supported image or video. A plain file icon means Explorer is not displaying that preview; it does not, by itself, indicate that the file is damaged. The cause can be as narrow as the current folder view, as broad as a system visual-effect setting, or specific to a file type, cloud location or file size.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minutePC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Windows 10 uses two separate thumbnail switches. Folder Options can suppress thumbnails in Explorer, while Performance Options can suppress them across Windows. Both must allow thumbnails. The folder also has to use an icon size that can show previews: Medium, Large or Extra large. List, Details and Small icons are not equivalent thumbnail views.
First, identify whether the problem is local or system-wide
Open a folder containing several ordinary image files and compare it with another folder. Try a known JPG, PNG, GIF or BMP alongside the file that fails. This quick comparison tells you which branch to follow:
- Every image in every folder is an icon: check both thumbnail settings, then rebuild the cache.
- Only one folder is affected: its view or folder-level option is the likely cause.
- Only OneDrive items fail: check cloud availability and the OneDrive size limitation.
- Only one format or a few files fail: a missing handler, unsupported format, unusual encoding or file-specific problem is more likely than a global Explorer setting.
Do not assume every video codec or image format must produce a preview. Windows 10 does not provide one universal thumbnail handler for every format.
Restore thumbnails with the least disruptive checks
1. Choose a thumbnail-capable icon size
- Open the affected folder in File Explorer.
- Select View on the ribbon.
- Choose Medium icons, Large icons or Extra large icons.
If you were using List, Details or Small icons, Explorer may be working normally; those layouts do not show the same image previews. Check several files after changing the view. Explorer may take a moment to generate previews for a large folder.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Rank #2
2. Turn off “Always show icons, never thumbnails”
- In File Explorer, select View.
- Choose Options, then Change folder and search options.
- Open the View tab.
- Clear Always show icons, never thumbnails.
- Select Apply, then OK.
This is a Folder Options setting. It can affect the current folder and the way Explorer applies folder views. Return to a Medium or Large icon view after applying it. If thumbnails appear in one folder but not another, repeat the check while that folder is open.
3. Enable “Show thumbnails instead of icons” in Performance Options
- Open Advanced system settings. You can search for that phrase from the Windows 10 taskbar.
- In the Advanced tab, under Performance, select Settings.
- Open the Visual Effects tab.
- Enable Show thumbnails instead of icons.
- Select Apply, then OK on each dialog.
This system-level option is separate from Folder Options. If it was disabled, changing only the folder checkbox will not restore previews everywhere. Reopen the test folder and select Large icons to force Explorer to request the previews again.
Rebuild the Windows 10 thumbnail cache
Explorer stores generated previews in a thumbnail cache. A damaged or stale cache can leave blank icons even after both display settings are correct. Windows 10’s built-in Disk Cleanup utility can remove that cached data. Windows then regenerates previews as you browse folders again.
- Search Windows for Disk Cleanup and open the utility.
- When prompted, select the Windows drive, normally C:, and choose OK.
- In the list of files to delete, select Thumbnails. Leave other categories unselected unless you specifically intend to remove them.
- Select OK, then confirm Delete Files.
- Open a folder in File Explorer, switch to Medium, Large or Extra large icons, and wait while Windows recreates the previews.
Disk Cleanup removes preview data, not the source photos or videos. The first visit to a large folder may be slower because each thumbnail must be generated again. If the cache rebuild fixes some files but not others, continue with the format, location and OneDrive checks rather than repeatedly deleting the cache.
Fix thumbnails for OneDrive files
Make an online-only file available locally
- In File Explorer, open the OneDrive folder containing the item.
- Right-click the file or folder with no preview.
- Select Always keep on this device.
- Wait for OneDrive to finish downloading it. A solid green check indicates that the item is available locally.
- Return to a Medium, Large or Extra large icon view and allow Explorer time to generate the preview.
An online-only placeholder may not contain enough local data for Explorer to create a thumbnail. Making the item available on the device separates a cloud-availability problem from a display-setting problem. If the download fails, resolve the OneDrive sync issue first; changing Explorer settings cannot preview content that is not accessible.
Check the OneDrive size limitation
Microsoft states that OneDrive provides no previews or thumbnails for PDFs or images larger than 100 MB. A file in that category can remain an icon even when Windows thumbnail settings are correct and the file is fully synchronized. Test a smaller image in the same OneDrive folder before treating the behavior as an Explorer failure.
Rank #4
Use the symptom to choose the next remedy
| Symptom | Most likely scope | Next action | What changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Icons appear in List, Details or Small view | Folder layout | Choose Medium, Large or Extra large icons | Folder display only; immediately reversible |
| All folders show icons after a settings change | Folder or system thumbnail switch | Clear the Folder Options checkbox and enable the Performance Options checkbox | Folder-level and system-wide display behavior |
| Previews were present, then disappeared broadly | Cached preview data | Run Disk Cleanup and select Thumbnails | Deletes regenerable cache files, not originals |
| Only OneDrive online-only files fail | Cloud availability | Use Always keep on this device | Downloads a local copy for Explorer to read |
| Only PDFs or images above 100 MB in OneDrive fail | OneDrive limitation | Use another way to inspect the file or a smaller supported copy | Settings cannot override the stated size restriction |
| One format or location fails while JPG and PNG work | Handler, encoding, location or file-specific issue | Compare another file of the same type and location | Narrows the fault before system-wide changes |
Escalate when the settings and cache do not help
Microsoft’s File Explorer troubleshooting sequence recommends broader maintenance after the display checks and cache cleanup. Use it in this order so that you can tell which action changed the result.
Install available Windows updates, then restart
Open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, select Check for updates, install applicable updates and restart Windows. A restart closes stale Explorer processes and reloads shell components. If the computer is managed by an organization, updates may be controlled by its administrator.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Run the System Maintenance troubleshooter
Open Control Panel, search for Troubleshooting, choose View all, and run System Maintenance if it is available in your Windows 10 installation. Follow the prompts, allow the tool to apply the changes it recommends, and restart before testing thumbnails again. The exact troubleshooter list can vary by Windows 10 build.
Best Value
Check for missing or corrupted system files
Corrupted Windows components can interfere with Explorer’s preview handlers. Open Command Prompt as an administrator and run the built-in System File Checker command sfc /scannow. Wait for verification to finish, follow any repair message it reports, restart Windows and test a known local JPG or PNG. Do not interrupt the scan. If it reports that repairs could not be completed, use Microsoft’s current component-repair guidance rather than deleting system files manually.
Record what still fails
Before making further changes, note the Windows 10 edition and build, whether the file is local or in OneDrive, its extension and size, and whether another file of the same type previews. This record prevents repeated cache resets and gives useful evidence if you need supported servicing or migration assistance.
Windows 10 support status and what it means
Microsoft says, “Support for Windows 10 has ended on October 14, 2025.” After that date, Microsoft no longer provides free software updates through Windows Update, technical assistance or security fixes for Windows 10. The thumbnail procedures above still use Windows 10’s built-in controls, but a persistent Explorer fault should be documented with its symptoms, build number and troubleshooting results before you consider migration or another supported servicing option.
Quick Recap
As an optional shortcut after trying the manual steps, Outbyte PC Repair can look for common Windows problems, adjust selected settings, clear temporary and cache files, and provide an app-crash log. It complements an antivirus rather than replacing one; results vary, and no tool repairs every crash. It runs on Windows 11, 10, 8 and 7 with a free trial by category of at least two days, followed by a paid subscription.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
