Why is my Preview app Sidebar not refreshing?

I use the Preview app a lot to open files of multiple images, click on the thumbnails in the sidebar to view them at large size, then right click on the thumbnail and Move to Bin for those I want to delete.


Since I updated to Sequoia, Preview has got flaky - when I Move To Bin, the actual image file is moved from its folder to the bin, but its thumbnail in Preview doesn't always delete, which is making things confusing.


(I have to close and reopen the sidebar for it to refresh correctly, which is long-winded and frustrating with a large file of images to check).


I have tried deleting the preference file, but it's still not working as it should/used to.


Any ideas, please?



[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iMac (M1, 2021)

Posted on May 10, 2025 03:27 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on May 27, 2025 02:10 AM

I have exactly the same workflow and exactly the same problem.

manuschwendener.ch wrote:

• Describing my workflow, in the hope that it will help to get this fixed.

I'm out taking pictures
• I copy them from the memory card to a folder on my Mac desktop
• I open the folder, select all photos, open them in Preview
• In the sidebar I see the thumbnails, next to it the bigger version of the photo my cursor is on in the thumbnail column
The photos I don't want to keep I a) delete in the sidebar, which b)• also deletes the image from the folder
• My cursor automatically lands on the next thumbnail, and the next image displays

What is broken now is a)

The image gets deleted, but the thumbnail doesn't. My cursor is now on the thumbnail of the deleted image, the image displayed in big is the next image.
This alone would be wrong, but I wouldn't mind just moving my cursor one image down.

But: moving the cursor to the next thumbnail also loads the next image = the thumbnail is not the same as the image.

So I can't go on with my routine of deleting the superfluous images in Preview.
I have to close Preview and start again from the third point in the bullet list.

Which wouldn't be so bad if there was an alternative with the same basic function – but I haven't found one yet.


23 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

May 27, 2025 02:10 AM in response to manuschwendener.ch

I have exactly the same workflow and exactly the same problem.

manuschwendener.ch wrote:

• Describing my workflow, in the hope that it will help to get this fixed.

I'm out taking pictures
• I copy them from the memory card to a folder on my Mac desktop
• I open the folder, select all photos, open them in Preview
• In the sidebar I see the thumbnails, next to it the bigger version of the photo my cursor is on in the thumbnail column
The photos I don't want to keep I a) delete in the sidebar, which b)• also deletes the image from the folder
• My cursor automatically lands on the next thumbnail, and the next image displays

What is broken now is a)

The image gets deleted, but the thumbnail doesn't. My cursor is now on the thumbnail of the deleted image, the image displayed in big is the next image.
This alone would be wrong, but I wouldn't mind just moving my cursor one image down.

But: moving the cursor to the next thumbnail also loads the next image = the thumbnail is not the same as the image.

So I can't go on with my routine of deleting the superfluous images in Preview.
I have to close Preview and start again from the third point in the bullet list.

Which wouldn't be so bad if there was an alternative with the same basic function – but I haven't found one yet.


May 27, 2025 02:01 AM in response to BlueberryiMac

Describing my workflow, in the hope that it will help to get this fixed.


  • I'm out taking pictures
  • I copy them from the memory card to a folder on my Mac desktop
  • I open the folder, select all photos, open them in Preview
  • In the sidebar I see the thumbnails, next to it the bigger version of the photo my cursor is on in the thumbnail column
  • The photos I don't want to keep I a) delete in the sidebar, which b) also deletes the image from the folder
  • My cursor automatically lands on the next thumbnail, and the next image displays


What is broken now is a)


The image gets deleted, but the thumbnail doesn't. My cursor is now on the thumbnail of the deleted image, the image displayed in big is the next image.

This alone would be wrong, but I wouldn't mind just moving my cursor one image down.


But: moving the cursor to the next thumbnail also loads the next image = the thumbnail is not the same as the image.


So I can't go on with my routine of deleting the superfluous images in Preview.

I have to close Preview and start again from the third point in the bullet list.


Which wouldn't be so bad if there was an alternative with the same basic function – but I haven't found one yet.

May 10, 2025 04:57 AM in response to Owl-53

Quick Look isn't an alternative because there's no simple individual file delete option (hit F19 and it moves all the images you've selected to the bin) and you can't see the thumbnails at the same time as you're looking at the larger version of an image.


I have also tried looking at the images as icons at the largest size. Unfortunately, unless you have a screen the size of Manhattan, the icons aren't big enough to see the differences between very similar images.


I just want Preview to work properly, because it does exactly what I need.


Any ideas of how to fix it, please?

May 27, 2025 01:40 AM in response to leroydouglas

I am running OS15.5


(I have been using Macs for 30 years and know how to keep one ticking along pretty well, which is why issues like this are so frustrating)


As manuschwendener.ch says, what we are trying to do in Preview means not opening each file in its own window. We need the sidebar.


The issue is the sidebar not deleting the thumbnails of images which have been moved to the bin.


I have tried deleting the Preview preferences, which has made no difference. Is there any way of deleting and re-installing the Preview application without having to do a complete re-installation of Sequoia?

May 26, 2025 01:35 PM in response to BlueberryiMac

I use the Preview app a lot to open files of multiple images,


Verify your software is up to date…

The current stable release of Sequoia including bug fixes, security updates is macOS 15.5

Keep your Mac up to date - Apple Support

Keep your Mac up to date - Apple Support


To be proactive you can file a bug report / submit your Apple Feedback here: Product Feedback - Apple



I would recommend changing the Preview >Settings if you have an issue with 'groups'


May 27, 2025 08:38 AM in response to manuschwendener.ch

manuschwendener.ch wrote:

Same here:




Sorry I can not reproduce the issue on macOS 15.5



To trouble shoot further you can:


 —A SafeBoot Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support will sort many anomalies


Does a quick disk repair before it fully boots up, and certain system caches get cleared and rebuilt, third party system modifications and system accelerations are disabled temporarily.


Login and test. Reboot  as normal and test.  Caches get rebuilt automatically.


This test will tell you if third party interference; most extensions etc are not loaded in safe boot mode. 



—Test issue in another user (or guest user) account Change Users & Groups settings on Mac - Apple Support


 This will tell you if it a universal issue or isolated to your user/admin account. 



***wireless keyboard with rechargeable batteries— connect the charging cable, this will make the wired keyboard successful Safe Boot your Mac.



unplug all non-essential  peripherals when testing


Uninstall all third party apps that are Cleaners/Optimizers/VPN/Anti-Virus

all known to cause issues on the macOS


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Why is my Preview app Sidebar not refreshing?

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