6 Ways to Fixe Discord Images Showing as Files or Links

Are you experiencing a situation where images are displaying as files or links on Discord? Typically, when someone shares an image file or a link to an image online, Discord automatically provides a preview of the image, eliminating the need to open the link or download the file. However, if you’re unable to see these previews, several factors could be at play, ranging from Discord settings to underlying network problems. In this article, we will delve into the reasons behind the absence of Discord image previews and explore how to rectify the issue of images appearing as files or links. Let’s begin by addressing the most straightforward aspects.

On This Page :

1. Enable Link and Image Previews

By default, image links in Discord come with previews. However, if you’re unable to view these previews, it’s possible that you accidentally disabled the preview option in your settings. To address this, ensure that you’ve enabled the option for image link previews.

On Desktop:

Open the Discord app on your computer or access the Discord website. Look for the cog icon located near your username at the bottom right corner and click on it. This action will open the User Settings menu.
Within User Settings, find and select the “Text & Images” option listed in the sidebar.
To ensure image previews are enabled, make sure the toggle switch next to “When posted as links to chat” is turned on. Enabling this option allows image links to display previews in the chat.

On Discord Mobile App (Android/iPhone):

Launch the Discord app on your mobile device and locate the profile icon at the bottom right corner. Tap on this icon.
As the profile page opens, scroll down until you see the “Text & Media” option. Tap on it to proceed.
Confirm that the toggle switch next to “When posted as links to chat” is enabled. This action ensures that image previews will be shown when links are shared in the chat.

Following these steps will help you ensure that both link and image previews are properly enabled in your Discord settings. This way, you can enjoy a richer and more visual experience while using Discord.

2. Checking File Formats

Discord supports specific file formats such as PNG, JPG, JPEG, and GIF for images. If someone sends an image in a format like WEBP, Discord won’t display a preview. After uploading, you can see the file format of the image you’re sending.

To view a preview, you’ll need to convert the image to a supported format before sending. While this might seem like a limitation, it’s a minor consideration to ensure compatibility with Discord’s supported file types.

3. Enabling Large File Previews

In Discord, if an image is larger than 10MB and is uploaded directly, you won’t see a preview; instead, you’ll receive the image as a file. To view a preview of such larger images, either the uploader can compress the image before uploading, or the recipient can enable the “large files preview” option.

On Desktop:

Open the Discord app or website, and click the cog icon next to your username at the bottom right to access User Settings.
In User Settings, choose the “Text and Images” option from the left sidebar.
Enable the toggle next to “When uploaded directly to Discord”.

On Discord Mobile App (Android or iPhone):

Open the Discord app, and tap the profile icon at the bottom right.
Scroll down on the profile page and select “Text & Media”.
Toggle on “When uploaded directly to Discord”.

By enabling this option, you’ll be able to see previews of larger images directly in Discord, making it more convenient to view and share content.

4. Disabling VPN

If none of the previous solutions resolve the issue, it’s possible that the problem could be related to your network. While the mentioned Discord settings and image file formats are the usual suspects, network-related problems can also play a role.

As a first step, consider disabling your VPN if you are using one. Although a VPN typically doesn’t cause preview issues, it’s worth a try. Turn off your VPN and see if this resolves the problem you’re facing with image previews on Discord.

5. Check Your Internet Speed

If your internet connection isn’t sufficiently fast, it could be the reason why Discord images are appearing as links or files instead of previews. To troubleshoot this, assess both your upload and download speeds, as well as your ping.

If your internet speed is relatively slow, hovering around 5Mbps or less, consider connecting to a faster network. A quicker and more stable connection could potentially resolve the issue of Discord images not displaying as previews.

6. Reinstall Discord

If the previous solutions haven’t resolved the issue, you might consider reinstalling the Discord app. Sometimes, minor glitches can be fixed by restarting the app, but if the problem persists, a fresh installation might help. Keep in mind that simply uninstalling the app might not completely remove all related files. To ensure a clean installation, follow these steps:

On Windows:

Right-click on the Discord app in the Start menu and choose the Uninstall option to remove Discord from your PC.
Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog, type %appdata%, and press Enter. This will take you to the app data location.
Locate the Discord folder, select all files inside it (Ctrl + A), and then delete them by pressing the Delete key. This ensures that all Discord data is removed from your PC.

On Mac:

Open Finder, go to Applications in the left sidebar, and then select the Utilities folder.
Open Terminal from the Utilities folder.
In the Terminal, type sudo uninstall file://, and then drag and drop the Discord app icon into the Terminal. This will display the path of the Discord app. Press Return to uninstall the app and its related files.

On Android:

Long-press the Discord app icon on your home screen or app drawer.
Select the app info option (usually represented by an “i” icon) from the menu.
On the app info page, tap on “Storage and cache”. Then tap on “Clear Data” or “Clear Storage”.
Return to the app info page and select the “Uninstall” option. Confirm the uninstallation when prompted.

On iPhone:

Long-press the Discord app icon on your home screen.
Tap the cross icon on the Discord app to trigger the uninstallation process.

After uninstalling Discord, you can reinstall the app from the respective app stores on each platform (App Store for iPhone, Play Store for Android, and Microsoft Store for Windows). This clean installation process should help to resolve any lingering issues.

Please note that these instructions are given for general guidance, and the actual steps might vary slightly based on your device and operating system version.

Problem Solved

In the majority of cases, the issue of images appearing as files or links in Discord is primarily related to the settings discussed earlier or the specific file format of the images being shared. It’s unlikely that this problem is caused by a software bug or glitch. However, if the solutions we’ve covered so far haven’t resolved the problem, you might consider two final options: restarting or reinstalling Discord. These steps can often provide a lasting solution to the issue.

Remember, it’s always a good idea to troubleshoot the issue step by step, starting with the solutions mentioned earlier. If those solutions don’t work, then resorting to restarting or reinstalling Discord can be effective in resolving the issue once and for all.

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