Quicklook (preview) thumbnail is black in column view on macOS 15.4

hi, since updating to macos 15.4 are the thumbnails in the preview windows black. this is only the case in column view. if I change the column size, the image appears, but only the marked image. When i click on the next thumbnail it is black again.

if i open the image in quicklook (spacebar), then appears it normal. just in column view is it black.



[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Mac mini, macOS 15.4

Posted on Apr 3, 2025 2:55 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on May 27, 2025 3:38 AM

sh1n123 wrote:

It's unthinkable that such a MAJOR issue isn't yet solved.
For those in desperation, open in quicklook (space bar) and minimize the image on the trackpad, it will appear.
Apple fix this ASAP.


You don't seem to have read this thread, particularly the part where people say it has been FIXED in 15.5.



45 replies

Apr 3, 2025 4:28 AM in response to laszlo155

I am not seeing this on my mac.

Does it also occur if you do this is in a new user account on the same mac?

If not, then the issue is restricted to your usual account. You could try deleting Finder preferences:

To delete Finder preferences: 1) In Finder, press Command-Shift-G and paste ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist 2) Drag the file to the trash 3) Press Command-Option-Escape to open the Force Quit window. Select Finder in the list, and click Relaunch.

May 9, 2025 2:09 PM in response to zdrilx

You're right! The first is black, but you can fix that with 'wiggling' the width of the thumbnail. But if you then select the second (on top of the first), by holding the shift key down, and the third and the fourth, etc. you will get the visible thumbnail every time.

Simple bug indeed, but let's hope it gets fixed soon, because it's really annoying.

Apr 28, 2025 12:42 AM in response to Sherleynob

'It' (I assume you mean dragging the column a little?) only works for one picture at a time. The next one in the column is black again. But my QuickView allows me to view each and every picture (although the thumbnail is black) one by one. So I select the top pic in the column, press the spacebar and get a view of my RAW file, then I simply press the down arrow on the keyboard.

(CR2 files from a 7D Canon)

I've reported it to Apple and hope the issue gets fixed soon. As I stated in a previous post: my wife and I are losing lots of time trying to find the picture we want to develop.

Apr 29, 2025 5:30 AM in response to laszlo155

I noticed that while the problem persists with most recent updates, its not all my old raw images. DNGs from a very old Pentax Q show correctly. But DNGs from an old Pentax 645Z show black, and I have to use the resize method. Since the Q produces very small images, while the 645Z does medium format, I wonder if it's related to scaling and the size of the image. In any case, it should be fixed.


The good news is it made me switch to Fast Raw Viewer instead of the Finder for any search for or preview of an image. MUCH better than either the Finder or Bridge for browsing images. And, as it says, fast. Shows a histogram too, which is super handy. Well worth the small cost.

Apr 28, 2025 1:23 AM in response to winzppo

I bet all these suggestions have been tried; at least I tried them, even in a different account and on two different Macs (well... the same model and the same OS version, i.e. the most recent one) the issue is still there. We shut down our Macs every night.

Looks like we'll have to wait till the following update (to 15.5, I mean). I have reported the bug to Apple Support.

Apr 3, 2025 7:08 AM in response to laszlo155

Me too. Ugh! Quick Look appears broken in 15.4 when trying to access CR2 files. (So much for the old workflow.) Problem persists when testing in a new account. Am still able to view and edit files within Lightroom.


Prior to finding this thread, tried a variety of steps--none of which helped.

Relaunched Finder

Force Quit Finder

Force Quit Quick Look Processes

Cleared Cache

Rebooted

Tested in Safe Mode



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Quicklook (preview) thumbnail is black in column view on macOS 15.4

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