Only PNG Thumbnail previews in folder explorer not showing

[tangaloo]

Hi,

Recently, all my PNG files have started to no longer preview in file explorer (folders, desktop, etc)

Since I work with image formats often, this is a huge deterrence for me and I really would like to figure this out.

JPEG and other image formats still show in thumbnail previews, which seems odd.

I have tried the following already:

-Unchecking/checking all options related to thumbnails in Folder Options
-Disk Cleanup to delete thumbnail cache
-manually delete my thumbnail db cache files thru c/users/etc

Is there anything else I can try? Thanks so much in advance.

 

[Colif]

I wonder if indexing? https://www.tekrevue.com/tip/how-to-solve-windows-search-issues-index-rebuild/ - might just be a broken link.

not sure if 1st answer here would help - https://superuser.com/questions/201250/cant-see-png-previews-in-windows-7

Did you have explorer closed when you deleted the DB? https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-files-winpc/cant-preview-png-files-in-explorer/60dfc90d-b7ef-40fe-85b4-68351f8e936d?auth=1

 

[tangaloo]

Thanks for the help!

I tried deleting the cachce again with explorer closed, but it still didn't work.

The "open with Windows Photos" solution didn't work as well - but I noticed that if i manually did the Open With > Photos > Choose as Default when opening a PNG, it now starts showing the preview thumbnail...for just that image.

The rest of the PNGs dont work still.. so not sure whats going on here still :/

I wonder if indexing? https://www.tekrevue.com/tip/how-to-solve-windows-search-issues-index-rebuild/ - might just be a broken link.

not sure if 1st answer here would help - https://superuser.com/questions/201250/cant-see-png-previews-in-windows-7

Did you have explorer closed when you deleted the DB? https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-files-winpc/cant-preview-png-files-in-explorer/60dfc90d-b7ef-40fe-85b4-68351f8e936d?auth=1

 

[Colif]

try settings/apps/default apps
click "choose default application by type
see what PNG is linked to, set it to photos if it isn't already.

I don't know if that will help, figured it might just be the app wasn't the default app for file type.

 

[tangaloo]

Yeah photos has always been the default, tried it and still doesnt work unfortunately

 

[Colif]

unlikely this will help but worth a try:

right click start button
choose powershell (admin)
type SFC /scannow and press enter
once its completed, copy/paste this command into same window:
Repair-WindowsImage -Online -RestoreHealth and press enter
SFC fixes system files, 2bd command cleans image files, re run SFC if it failed to fix all files and restart PC


Try making a new user and see if same thing happens to it. Make it admin so it has same access as normal user - https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/help/4026923/windows-create-a-local-user-or-administrator-account-in-windows-10

 

[tangaloo]

Didnt work

Also - some of my windows apps dont have thumbnails anymore - such as Skype, Spotify, Windows Photo Viewer itself... I cant figure out what could have caused this.

 

[Colif]

try a anti virus/malware scan

 

[tangaloo]

Tried AVG and Malwarebytes but didnt solve the issue I even reinstalled Windows10

 

[Colif]

A fresh install should have fixed it? Something funny going on here.

Are these PNG files on a different hdd? if so, try moving them to c and see if it makes any difference, run chkdsk on the drive as well.

 

[tangaloo]

Theyre on the same HDD (the thumbnails dnot work on C or D) Checked Disk but all seemed fine

 

[Colif]

what program are they associated with? Might be a bug in it, another angle to look at.

what view are you using in File exploder?

How much free space on drive ( it seems lack of space can cause this)

its very odd for it to survive a fresh install. Did you use same user name/email address for the user? I know we made a new user before but that was on previous install, it could be the account is grabbing settings off your roaming profile. via sync accounts (it shows in settings/accounts/Sync your settings,)