Windows Explorer Thumbnails won't display S3 jpegs - what gives?
Problem: When I use my computer to browse the SD card or Internal memory in my S3 my computer displays icons instead of thumbnails for the jpgs. This makes it a pain to find the image I am looking for.
Info: I have two Windows 7 64 bit computers that I have tried to connect my Verizon S3 to. I experienced the same problem on both computers.
Procedure: When I first connect the cable to my computer's usb and the S3's USB I get some information in the S3's notification tray:
Connect as: Media Device (MTP). This is the option that is selected. I could also change that to Camera (PTP). I have tried switching to PTP and that does not help.
Then the AutoPlay window on my computer pops up and I select 'Open device to view files'.
From the Windows Explorer window I can either browse 'Card' or 'Phone'. I select 'Card' then 'DCIM' and in there I can see lots of .jpg files that I took with my old phone (Original Droid Incredible) that I recently put in this folder. Each jpg is represented by the same icon that looks like a sunny day at the lake or something.
Why can't I see the thumbnails?@!
I have also made sure I have the thumbnail setting turned on in Control Panel and in Windows Explorer.
I have tried moving the slider up and down to resize the icons. (You know, that slider that goes from 'Extra large icons', 'Large Icons', 'Medium Icons'......all the way to 'Content'?)
Someone please please tell me how to get the thumbnails working. This is really annoying.
Thanks!!!!!
Last edited by work4crown; July 10th, 2012 at 03:04 PM.
The Following User Says Thank You to work4crown For This Useful Post:
I have the same problem. I Googled it and found nothing. Somehow when you are connected to the phone, it doesn't show you images. what I did find out is that if your copy your files to your computer, you are then able to see the images.
Did anyone ever find a solution for this? Kies sucks IMO and all that's missing from using explorer effectively is thumbnails. There isn't much info on this problem but it seems to affect everyone.
Same problem here - can't see thumbnails. Preview Pane in Windows Explorer doesn't work either.
Additional problem - can't drag directly from the card to open applications; I have to copy the file to the PC first.
Most annoying.
I thought this was an Android 4 feature/bug but other users with ICS (e.g. Nexus phone) are reporting that it is working fine.
I do wonder though as with Mass Storage in Gingerbread it all worked fine on all platforms, and now this MTP/PTP stuff is just annoying, confusing, and doesn't work on Mac either. MOST ANNOYING I SAY
Thank you Thank you! I thought I was going insane! Have had a tech support friend looking at it for me because I was doing something wrong.
Would love to know if there will be a solution to the problem as I use my phone for uploading photos for work and having to go through all the pics I take individually is starting to drive me insane. I'll just have to go back to using my other phone or my actual camera instead! lol
This is a limitation of Windows and/or the MTP protocol. Mass Storage mode works, but that's not an option on most new Android devices (inc the S3) it seems.
I am having the same issue and it's driving me batty as well. I figured if I posted here that maybe I would hear about the solution. You would think it would just be a software driver or setting or something simple. Just silliness!
i know this isn't a fix, but I use dropbox and also installed it on my pc, so all I have to do is open my dropbox on the pc and my pics are there ready to edit or download. Might work until there is a fix
I have it set to auto upload. you can do this with either data or wifi, or set to both. It can eat up data if you take a lot of pics. But it's very nice to not even think about uploading, it just does it in the background.
Last edited by hbryder; August 21st, 2012 at 06:30 PM.
Reason: needed to add to post
Think this is a windows issue or an issue with the connection format. you know how windows has different types of windows like media windows and disk windows etc, they all do different things and display differently.
Same issue here. With my previous phone (HTC Desire Z) I had to select a setting to "Mount as disk drive" or similar. Haven't found an equivalent on the S3, it just linked up without fuss, but I can't see the thumbnails.
Hi , i use Airdroid and it shows all thumbs. Its a nice app and it is helpfull to get around this issue (witch sucks). Another issue that is annoying in my oppinion is the fact that u cant install apps and run them from sd card. These 2 issues with the sd-card is totally ruining the otherwise nice experience with the S3
Bthe easiest thing to do is just copy the folder containing the pics to your pc then they will thumbnail as normal.
I don't see why that's so difficult.
The problem isn't solved by this. I have a Droid 4 and copying the pics to a local folder and showing thumbnails only shows the thumbnail for a small percentage of the pics. The rest of the pics are icons and when double-clicking the icon to open in Photo Viewer, I get "Windows Photo Viewer can't open this picture because the file appears to be damaged, corrupted, or is too large."
Device(s): Samsung Galaxy S III on Verizon Wireless
Previous:
Motorola Droid 1,
LG Revolution 4G
Motorola Droi
Carrier: Not Provided
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I never had any issues with my Motorola Phones or an LG Revolution. Funny part is that when I remove the Micro SD Card and put it into my laptop it shows thumbnails.
I don't understand why people still seem confused in this thread.
The reason is Windows Explorer does not support thumbnails on devices that connect as a multimedia device (MTP originally for MP3 devices I think). This is different then what a USB thumb drive, external hard drive, or memory card reader do - they are "Mass Storage" devices. There is also PTP protocol that makes the phone act like a camera, that doesn't do thumbnails either.
Some Android phones connect as Multimedia devices. Some Mass Storage. Some give you the option. Our S3 are MTP or PTP only. No Mass Storage. No thumbnails.
You have to use something other than Windows Explorer or hope this is different in Windows 8.
Guys...I've found it !! happened to me also and I was fed up with it. worked on GB now on ICS no more.... I installed several apps but this one really worked :
USB switcher from ZATTA, there you can switch between USB mode and MTP. Now I can see all of my pictures again when connecting my sgs2 to my pc. This apps simply changes the USB mode somewhere in adb....brilliant !!!
IT WORKS ON SGS2 - (stock but rooted with siyah kernel) https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=in.zatta.USB_switch&hl=nl
Last edited by biep; October 15th, 2012 at 06:44 AM.
I know the answer to this. MTP protocol says that the filesystem and such is on the source device (The phone in this case) so Windows cannot manipulate it like it can a regular drive. So it's a limitation of the protocol. if Android were to add the ability for this into their filesystem then Windows would be able to use it.
So I figured out what works for me. Downloading that Zatta app didn't work for me, probably because I'm not rooted.
Okay so go to Settings>More>USB Utilities>Connect Storage to PC
If you're charging through USB it will tell you, "USB is connected. Remove the cable." So remove it and plug it back in again and then click the button which now says, "Turn on USB storage" then OK.
Now it should be using it like a disk drive.
Hopefully this works for you. I just switched from my HTC so everything is messy. In other words I have now my old folder that I named when the SD card was in my HTC and another drive, "Removable Disk" under that. But all my new and current files are there.
This problem only exists after the Jellybean 4.1.1 update. If you have any thumbnails from previous version of ICS, you can see them in Windows Explorer. Post-Jellybean update only shows the Windows thumbnail icons in Explorer. Question is... when will the fix arrive?
I copied and pasted the "Camera" folder from my phone (Galaxy Nexus Jellybean) to my PC desktop and the thumbs show up, they don't if I move one picture at a time.
The problem isn't after the files are copied to the PC, it's when you're attempting to view the thumbnails while connected to your PC via Windows Explorer.
The problem isn't after the files are copied to the PC, it's when you're attempting to view the thumbnails while connected to your PC via Windows Explorer.
I have the same problem with my S3 when connecting it to my Vista based PC. This is very annoying and I suspect Samsung will just continue spending money on advertising of how great they are instead of fixing these and other issues. It's been one problem after another with this phone from poor call quality to limited Bluetooth/audio jack functionality. I have to wonder how much Samsung tested this phone!
Note: I didn't have this issue when using a Motorola RAZR M and RAZR MAXX with the same PC running Vista.
If anyone can come up with a solution to this issue without having to using a dropbox, please post the solution to this forum.
The Fix from guestaccount worked for me.
On my SGS2 with ICS I can go into settings - more - wireless and networks - USB utilities - then turn on USB storage. I was then able to view thumbnails on my computer. It looks like you need to do this every time you connect as I got a warning that some Apps on the phone may not work properly in this mode. I hope this works for everybody else.
The Fix from guestaccount worked for me.
On my SGS2 with ICS I can go into settings - more - wireless and networks - USB utilities - then turn on USB storage. I was then able to view thumbnails on my computer. It looks like you need to do this every time you connect as I got a warning that some Apps on the phone may not work properly in this mode. I hope this works for everybody else.
That's very nice but this is the S3 forum and that does NOT work
The Following User Says Thank You to pappcam For This Useful Post:
The Fix from guestaccount worked for me.
On my SGS2 with ICS I can go into settings - more - wireless and networks - USB utilities - then turn on USB storage. I was then able to view thumbnails on my computer. It looks like you need to do this every time you connect as I got a warning that some Apps on the phone may not work properly in this mode. I hope this works for everybody else.
The S3 does not have a "USB utilities" option. Is there another way on the S3 to get to this option or another way of turning on USB storage on the S3?
So I figured out what works for me. Downloading that Zatta app didn't work for me, probably because I'm not rooted.
Okay so go to Settings>More>USB Utilities>Connect Storage to PC
If you're charging through USB it will tell you, "USB is connected. Remove the cable." So remove it and plug it back in again and then click the button which now says, "Turn on USB storage" then OK.
Now it should be using it like a disk drive.
Hopefully this works for you. I just switched from my HTC so everything is messy. In other words I have now my old folder that I named when the SD card was in my HTC and another drive, "Removable Disk" under that. But all my new and current files are there.
thanks alot man! this really worked out fine, perfect! this problem has really bothered me for a long time and now its finally fixed! now i can have a better experience in transfering only those photos i want from my phone!
Hello all and thanks in advance for any help you might offer. Same issue as all of you. Read this thread and tried several of the options.
In summary, I can see the pics fine in gallery on the phone, but no way to see pics via PC. Only see jpg icon. Tried fixes listed --
In settings, more settings, I do not see a USB option as recommended.
Copying the folder doesn't work.
I'm not rooted and don't want to go there.
Other than dropbox, any options? Many thanks!!!!
For the record, I think this issue is horrible and would have never bought this phone had I known. Besides phone, camera is my #1 use. Samsung, are you hearing this?
Was so excited about my wonderful new phone. Just thought it was me, that I would google and find out how to see the jpegs. None of the solutions above are working. I take 1000's of pix for work, and may have to return if nothing works. Unbelieveable on a device such as this!! Is Samsung doing a fix? How do you find that out? Not familiar with Dropbox. Does downloading it void warranty? Will it mess with my phone?
I really appreciate this forum!!
Quick workaround while we all wait for the proper solution:
Basically I do all the viewing of thumbnails and selecting of the pics on my phone. I use a file explorer app, browse the thumbnails, selecting multiple thumbnails as I go, then copy and paste them into a new folder on the phone in one go. Just browse for that folder on you PC, you don't need to see the thumbnails at that point, cut and paste the contents of that whole folder onto your PC.
With all this latest and greatest, you would thing a simple thing like showing me Thumbnails on my SD card would have not been missed. After hours with Samsung, Andrew told me to get on this forum an tell everyone to call, chat, or email Samsung about this Jelly Bean oversite. You can install the Kies software from Samsung for the temporary work around till they get it fixed and it works with my Windows 7 64bit. Ugh Android... I love this new Galaxy SIII but come on DROID.... how careless...
I currently have the Samsung Note 2 with the same issue.
Didn't seem something like this in the thread list over there, so figure I would post here.
I have noticed since Gingerbread there are a few features on across the board missing.
One: being this, the thumbnails not working when plugged into a PC.
Two: Maybe not such a big deal, but the review option in settings on the camera.
The Note 2 is a big phone, awesome feature to say 'shoot' and it takes a picture. YaY hands free.. oh, but I wanna see if the pix turned out good? Oh.. I have to hit the thumbnail... ..
Gingerbread on the S2 had a review feature. When the S2's were updated to ICS that feature went away.... why?
Three: Copy from a text NOT already sent. Instead of using the blue thingy to highlight what I want, Gingerbread would allow me to open a window while compossing a text (not sent) give me a select, select all, copy Feature. ICS & Jellybean...ugh...
I have compared oranges and apples with my stock rooted S2 with Gingerbread.
When they took away scrolling wallpaper it was enough for me to seek down the original stock software.
Momma always said if ain't broke don't fix it.
Yes I know there are roms and apps that will allow for that, i am not a fan of those. I want what originally worked. Plain and simple.
If any you know a Gingerbread ROM for the samsung Note 2, I would almost be willing to put that on there. ICS & Jellybean are not doing it for me. =(
Add me to the list of users who are hating this "feature".
I just upgraded from a HTC EVO 4G to the S3, too late to return it though.
I use the photo viewer/editor software ACDSee Pro on my PC and laptop.
With my EVO 4G connected via USB, I could browse, edit, modify and organize the photos that were on that phone. No need to transfer to my computers first. This is really valuable when you take multiple photos of the same thing, and are trying to pick out the best image for editing. Also, with my ~50 year old eyes, even the nice screen on the S3 is no comparison to being able to view and manipulate the images on a big PC display. Being able to edit and organize the photos on the phone in this manner is a necessity for me.
Unfortunately, just like everyone else, the only thing I can see when using ACDSee (or Explorer or another image editor) and connected via a USB cable is the standard "JPG" icon, no thumbnails or images. Thinking about going back to my EVO 4G now since I have not yet sold it.
Last edited by LuMax; January 2nd, 2013 at 11:27 AM.
add me too. its sucks to say the least. i tried airdroid but not sure if they end up with my files on their servers. dont want that. just want to be able to see an F___ing thumbnail on my pc when my 300 dollar phone [note2] is connected to it!
So I thought I would stop back in here to see if anyone figured out a way to display thumbnails on the computer. Looks like no go for the S3.
I have noticed that thumbnails seem to be a problem in general for the S3. When I use AllCast to view photos on my laptop over the network it won't display the thumbnails.
When I use DLNA to view photos on my TV using the Pixel DMS app I can't see the thumbnails.
I wonder if I have a corrupted thumbnail database? I guess not since it seems to work on the phone just fine.
So I thought I would stop back in here to see if anyone figured out a way to display thumbnails on the computer. Looks like no go for the S3.
I have noticed that thumbnails seem to be a problem in general for the S3. When I use AllCast to view photos on my laptop over the network it won't display the thumbnails.
When I use DLNA to view photos on my TV using the Pixel DMS app I can't see the thumbnails.
I wonder if I have a corrupted thumbnail database? I guess not since it seems to work on the phone just fine.
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Windows Explorer Thumbnails won't display S3 jpegs - what gives?
I figured it out for me!
).. rooted or not. 
