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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.Thanks, we'll check that out. We are using TIFF files...so that shouldn't be an issue. Perhaps, file size is our issue. I'll look into it.
Thanks to the user that posted success about changing the chrome settings to not block 3rd party cookies and site data. Thanks also for the user who posted a link to dropbox help article about files not displaying. I am still having problems viewing picture thumbnails. Preview just isn't working. I have checked that the files are not too big according to their file type. I have checked to see if files are corrupt. I have set my Chrome to not block 3rd party cookies. I am using .tiff files. The files are only 12 MB each (so size isn't an issue). What could it be?
