PSD thumbnails not showing, only the icons (Mac)

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
April 2, 2021
5 replies
8571 views

I have various folders of PSD files, and once I open a folder the files inside don't show up as thumbnails when I'm in "icon view" in Finder on my iMac. They show up as general PSD file icons instead, as placeholders. I want to see the thumbails of the images so I can quickly navigate to the one I'm looking for. Instead I can't see them because they don't load. (Sometimes they do, after waiting a few minutes. But even then it's not all of them, it's some.)

I spent HOURS on the phone with Apple support because I figured it was an Apple issue. We updated my OS, started up in safe mode, ran first aid on the disk, cleared various caches, made a new user profile, reinstalled the OS, and tried a bunch of different solutions. Nothing worked and they said Adobe is making changes and discontinuing facets of their software, and as a result this is now a known issue.

Has anyone else experienced this, and what's the trick to getting my photo thumbnails to show up instead of general icons?

A

amvrevo

Participant

I have the same issue on a MacBook Pro M2 - Sonoma 14.7.2
I found a work around by use Preview to open a Photoshop PNG then select all + Copy
The click on the Photoshop file icon and paste onto the generic non icon! Crazy indeed with modern computing!!!
I actually move files to an older MacPro and resave in Photoshop CS6
https://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+make+photoshop+file+icon+mac&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:baae1a86,vid:VVczheg2lG0,st:0

gener7

Community Expert

Still no luck? Bridge CC will show the thumbnails and you can open in Photoshop or manage your PSDs from there. You can see and move files between folders. It is a free download.

gener7

Community Expert

This thread goes over a few more ideas:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop/psd-files-don-t-show-a-thumbnail-view/m-p/10454738

gener7

Community Expert

Check Finder View Options: Cmd j "Show icon preview" should be checked on. Cmd j again to hide View Options.

If that is set correctly, try this:

On the Finder Press Cmd / A slider will appear on the bottom right of the Finder. It controls the size of the Thumbnails.

Now move the slider to the left until the icons are very tiny. There the thumbnails should generate. Move the slider to the right and you should see the thumbnail's pictures.

If still no luck, we can look at Photoshop's File Handling next.

A

AShamrellAuthor

Participant

Thanks for the ideas! The "show icon preview" box is already checked. But when I move the slider to the far left, and the icons get tiny, the thumbnails do not generate. The icons stay there. It's been a few minutes since I've done that, and I still have the window open, and none have turned to thumbnails yet.

I'd love to hear to any more ideas!

happie_97

Community Expert

I remember this happening with Windows computers a few years ago. I've never experienced it on my Mac. The first thing I was going to suggest is checking with Apple to see if it's a setting you'd have to turn on. You've covered that. I can't imagine the issue being Adobe not allowing it to display within your OS. I don't really know what to have you try to display the contents instead of the thumbnail. I will try to research this one unless someone smarter than me answers first.

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