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Forum Discussion
"This file can't be previewed" Error Message
This morning I started receiving the error message "This file can't be previewed" when I try to view pictures saved in my dropbox account. These are all uploaded by me and span a couple years worth o...
This article - https://help.dropbox.com/files-folders/file-types-that-preview- solved my "the file can't be previewed" problem.
Specifically, this:
To preview files on Dropbox using Chrome, make sure that Chrome is not set to Block third-party cookies and site data. You can adjust this setting on Chrome's Content settings page under Cookies.
No problem now viewing on Chrome or Firefox via PC or Mac.
Phew.
Dropbox was working fine (since the beginning of time for me) in terms of pictures having a thumbnail preview option when scrolling through folders. Now, all of a sudden (and with my team members experiencing the same issue), SOME, not all, pictures are not able to be previewed. Instead, they say, "This file can't be previewed." I have checked the file extensions and naming structures of the files with no obvious red flags. One file that does have a preview can have the same kind of file name and same file extension as another file that doesn't have a preview. I have tried using Chrome (our main browser), safari, firefox, and Maxthon; all with same results. I have also tried using Chrome in "Incognito" mode. All to no avail.
Most of the pictures do have previews. Some do not. Help!
Joe Valley
Yes, this problem is infuriating. The quality of the service has clearly dropped over the period of months that I've used dropbox. I used to be able to preview videos on it, but now it's not possible at all. If things don't change, it may be time to start looking elsewhere, because paying for service which degrades isn't very good.
I cannot preview even .jpg images at sometimes.
- Rich
Super User II
Refer to the File preview errors section on the following help article.
This article - https://help.dropbox.com/files-folders/file-types-that-preview- solved my "the file can't be previewed" problem.
Specifically, this:
To preview files on Dropbox using Chrome, make sure that Chrome is not set to Block third-party cookies and site data. You can adjust this setting on Chrome's Content settings page under Cookies.
No problem now viewing on Chrome or Firefox via PC or Mac.
Phew.
- We discovered here at our company that image file previews that will not show with the message “this item cannot be previewed “ is a result of any preview thumbnail that is horizontal as all the same group of pics that work are vertical when viewing what preview would look like on Mac or PC. I have not seen this problem posted anywhere yet. I tried multiple browsers with same result. On a side note same issue in Google Drive with Chrone or IE11. I hope Dropbox will take a look at this and hope maybe it will at least explain to others why some previews will not work while others will when all things equal like size of file and file type are within the given requirements to be able to generate previews.
