A default limit to image files like .jpg, .png and similar causes Gnome Desktops not to generate image previews for them on Linux. If an image is larger than 10 MB, no preview will be displayed, but the default image icon. Here’s how to fix it:
In order to change the thumbnail generation limit you either can open the Preferences in Nautilus or Nemo in Gnome and Cinnamon. If you have no option to access that, you can install the dconf-editor.
Here’s how some of my image directories looked when a JPG file was larger than 10MB:
![]()
On Ubuntu, Linux Mint and other debian derivatives that can be done with:
apt-get install dconf-editor
On Arch Linux / Manjaro / Antergos you can use (or another AUR/package wrapper)
pacaur -Sy dconf-editor
After opening the dconf-editor you need to find the following path:
org / gnome / nautilus / preferences / thumbnail limit
![]()
Depending on your settings, you can either double the number (to 20MB) or just append a 0 to the value to raise it to 100 MB.
After that your thumbnails up to 100 MB should be displayed correctly in Nautilus:
![]()
Thank you for reading! If you have any comments, additions or questions, please leave them in the form below! You can also tweet them at me
If you want to read more like this, follow me on feedly or other rss readers
Thank you very much, so helpful and so clearly explained.
I just need to get thumbs working for .CR2 showing now.
New to Linux and loving the challenge.
Have a good day
Very happy to help! Thanks for dropping by! 🙂
Happy Linuxing!
Also have .CR2 files showing thumbs showing now.
Keep forgetting the terminal is my friend, thanks also for reminding me to go there
Hi, in Debian 10 XFCE all looks the same as in your screenshot: except the button ‘use default value’ on, is not there. ->The important part.
No way one can set thumbs like that anymore. Still looking for a solution…
This just post just solved my missing thumbnail problem. Thanks for the explanation.