Spinning wheel in Finder preview (for images and videos)

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Level 1

5 points

Spinning wheel in Finder preview (for images and videos)

How can I fix the spinning wheel issue in the finder preview. It seems to have issue with only images and movies (text, pdf, ppt files working fine). I have Mac OS Ventura 13.3. Thank you!

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Oct 10, 2023 5:05 AM

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Answer 1

JJRASC

Community Specialist

Oct 11, 2023 7:03 AM in response to tikeswar_

Hello tikeswar_,

Welcome to the Apple Support Communities.

Does this only seem to be an issue with specific files? If so, are you able to open and view the files on any other devices? This can help determine if the file is corrupted or not.

To isolate this issue on your Mac, try opening these same files when your Mac is in safe mode: Start up your Mac in safe mode.

It may also help to relaunch the Finder using the Force Quit menu as explained here: How to force an app to quit on your Mac.

Please reply back for more help.

Cheers!

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Answer 2

tikeswar_ Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 11, 2023 12:11 PM in response to JJRASC

Hello JJRASC:

Thank you for your reply, really appreciate.

Now to answer your questions ...

Yes, the issue seems to be with graphics (mov, jpg, png, mp4, gif, etc.) and pdf files. Text files (.docx, .txt, and even Open Office .odt work fine ... I had included a screenshot of .odt in my initial message).
The files aren't corrupt I believe. This is because I can open the same files by double clicking on it in the SAME Mac (no issues at all) - so for example .png/.jpg/.pdf open fine in the Preview, and the same .mov opens and plays fine in QuickTime. Issue is that it just wouldn't show the preview when selected in the Finder (and that is en extremely nice feature I have gotten very much used to).
I did try force quitting, and even rebooting the computer a few times. Still no luck :(

Also observed couple of strange things ...

Once I reboot the computer, it DOES show the preview of the file in the same Finder ... but after a few times that spinning wheel appears :( and never works again (unless I reboot the computer again)
When I select multiple of those files the the Finder (by holding on the Shift key), the very same files show the thumbnails!!
I just bought this Mac and this has this issue (it works fine in my older Mac, no issues). It was working fine initially, but all of a sudden it stopped working (bought it a couple of months back).

I am including couple of more screenshots to explain my issue a bit more clearly ...

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Answer 3

VikingOSX

Level 10

122,298 points

Oct 11, 2023 7:16 AM in response to tikeswar_

Apple's Preview cannot open the LibreOffice/OpenOffice Open Document {text (.odt), presentation (.odp), spreadsheet (.ods)} file types. It is not a video viewer either. Strictly for supported image types and PDF.

I happen to have LibreOffice 7.6.2 installed and the Finder Quick Look facility can view these file types. Quick Look will not view every .mov movie file either. Ones that have a QuickTime logon on them do not view, and those with a first frame of the video displayed on the file icon do.

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Answer 4

tikeswar_ Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 11, 2023 12:18 PM in response to JJRASC

Hello VikingOSX:

"Apple's Preview cannot open the LibreOffice/OpenOffice Open Document

{text (.odt), presentation (.odp), spreadsheet (.ods)} file types. It is

not a video viewer either. Strictly for supported image types and PDF."

I found it does work for .odt (pls see my initial screenshot), but not for .odp/.ods.

It also woks with video files (in my older Mac) - I can watch the whole video in preview itself, Or shift through ll the pages of a pdf file!

The issue is in my new Mac ... it does not even show the preview of a .jpg file :(

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Answer 5

SMac137

Level 1

8 points

Nov 28, 2023 5:55 AM in response to tikeswar_

I'm experiencing this same issue (Ventura 13.4) while previewing photo and video footage. This has only started to occur for me in the last day so it's perplexing. I do this daily as I'm a photographer/videographer and, at this point, my work has ground to a halt. I have to reboot my computer after every two or three files previewed which is completely unacceptable. After two or three files previewed with no problems, previews are no longer rendered and I also cannot view a larger preview by hitting the spacebar. Nothing loads…the loading icon just spins.

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Answer 6

Nov 21, 2023 7:21 AM in response to tikeswar_

I'm also suddenly having this same issue, also on a newer MacBook Pro laptop. Curious if solutions have popped up?

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Answer 7

tikeswar_ Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 29, 2023 11:43 PM in response to SMac137

@Carpeteria, @SMac137

I did not find a solution. Wonder if there is a way to escalate this issue to Apple?

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Spinning wheel in Finder preview (for images and videos)

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