I am working on Ubuntu Linux, and I very much appreciate XnView being available on Ubuntu.
I often use (used) XnView MP for working with the XMP metadata, like changing GPS places or times.
About three weeks ago, the preview and details of images stopped working: In the file explorer in XnView MP, all folders show thumbnails of the images in them. But when I open such a folder, it seems to be empty, no files are displayed at all in XnView. The window where the files were listed is just white and empty. A file explorer outside of XnView shows the pictures/thumbnails.
I tried to reconstruct the database, that did not help. I also installed a new version of XnView MP, but the behaviour is still the same.
What could be wrong?
I am using Ubuntu MATE 22.04, XnView MP 1.11.5 with Libformat 7.240 (Linux).
I wanted to attach my xnview.ini, but the dialog does not allow it - it seems not to be a "supported file type", it lists only image file endings. How to upload an .ini-file?
Thanks for your help!
Folders seem empty, but preview shows thumbnails
Moderator: xnview
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LuBie
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cday
- XnThusiast
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Re: Folders seem empty, but preview shows thumbnails
You should be able to attach any file if it is placed in a ZIP, current forum attachment size limit 2MiB.LuBie wrote: Sat Jul 18, 2026 12:40 pm I wanted to attach my xnview.ini, but the dialog does not allow it - it seems not to be a "supported file type"
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LuBie
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Sat Jul 18, 2026 12:22 pm
Re: Folders seem empty, but preview shows thumbnails
Thanks for the hint - xnview.ini is zipped and attached.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
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jkm
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Re: Folders seem empty, but preview shows thumbnails
Welcome to the forums, LuBie...
If you have it set to not show images, it won't show images.
This mysteriously started a few weeks ago because you changed your Filter setting (accidentally, apparently). The setting persisted when you installed a new version of the app because you allowed it to use your pre-existing INI file, which is where the setting is stored. If you had deleted the INI file, your settings would have been reset to defaults on next launch, and the default is to show images.
"Reconstructing" the database would have no effect whatsoever, because settings like this are stored in the INI file, not the db.
There's nothing mysterious here.
99% of the time, when a user says "I can't see files of xyz type" it's because they're filtering them out. If you experiment with the "Custom" filter settings, you will find that you can customize, or break, your Xnview views in any number of ways.
Hopefully this helps...
Why don't you try fixing your filter? View->Filter By
If you have it set to not show images, it won't show images.
This mysteriously started a few weeks ago because you changed your Filter setting (accidentally, apparently). The setting persisted when you installed a new version of the app because you allowed it to use your pre-existing INI file, which is where the setting is stored. If you had deleted the INI file, your settings would have been reset to defaults on next launch, and the default is to show images.
"Reconstructing" the database would have no effect whatsoever, because settings like this are stored in the INI file, not the db.
There's nothing mysterious here.
99% of the time, when a user says "I can't see files of xyz type" it's because they're filtering them out. If you experiment with the "Custom" filter settings, you will find that you can customize, or break, your Xnview views in any number of ways. Hopefully this helps...