Finder doesn't show Image Dimensions or Resolution

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evansdoor Author

Level 1

9 points

Finder doesn't show Image Dimensions or Resolution

I've had this problem since Mojave. I still have it with Monterey.

I've tried various workarounds over the years but nothing has helped, including:

Forcing a refresh of the Finder preferences file by putting ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist in the trash and restarting
Ensuring Dimensions and Resolution are checked in Finder > View > Show Preview Options
Checking Spotlight's System Preferences to ensure that all categories are checked as searchable and no folders are listed under Privacy.

Something is very broken in Finder because:

When an image is selected in Finder, Show Preview Options sometimes shows all the checkboxes it should, but sometimes shows no checkboxes at all.
Extensions are visible though the Hide Extension option is checked.

See these 2 screencaps of the same image selected for evidence.

Posted on Feb 7, 2022 1:55 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

scrantch

Level 1

21 points

Feb 9, 2022 11:49 AM in response to evansdoor

Any updates on this?! I've had this problem forever and really getting irritating. Nothing on the internet seems to explain it or have a solution. This used to work. It is broken!

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Answer 2

evansdoor Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 8, 2022 3:45 PM in response to VikingOSX

I'm seeing this issue across all image types. I used a screenshot for the example, hoping that the OS-native method of image creation would be the one most likely to play nice with Finder.

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Answer 3

Lindsay_B.

Community Specialist

Feb 8, 2022 1:38 PM in response to evansdoor

Hey there, evansdoor,

Thanks for visiting the Apple Support Communities to get help with your Mac. It sounds like the Get Info options on photo files sometimes does not display all of the options expected. We are happy to help.

First, if you have not already, we would recommend checking to see if this occurs in safe mode: How to use safe mode on your Mac and a new user account: Set up users, guests, and groups on Mac - Apple Support

If you still have some trouble, please let us know if this occurs with all files, or just specific ones, as well as whether it occurs with all file types or just specific ones.

Cheers!

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Answer 4

evansdoor Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 8, 2022 3:17 PM in response to VikingOSX

Thanks for the comment, @VikingOSX, but I still can't see Dimensions or Resolution in the Show Preview panel in Finder.

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Answer 5

evansdoor Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 8, 2022 3:41 PM in response to Lindsay_B.

The problem was even worse in Safe Mode.

In Safe Mode, Get Info showed nothing under More Info.

In normal mode, Last Opened date and time was shown.

In Safe Mode Finder's Show Preview panel showed only Created and Modified dates and times.

In normal mode, Last Opened and Content Created dates and times were also shown.

This problem affects all image files.

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Answer 6

Feb 8, 2022 2:49 PM in response to evansdoor

Do not expect those Finder Show Preview Options to change the content provided on the Get Info panel. Depending on the source, I have some screen-captured images that show their dimension and resolution, while others do not. I have a 300 dpi image that I created locally in Affinity Designer that reports its dimensions, but not its resolution on that Get Info panel, but does show both in the Show Preview panel in a Finder window.

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Answer 7

Feb 8, 2022 3:27 PM in response to evansdoor

As I said, not every image will show its resolution or dimensions in the Finder Preview window based on how and what created it. I have some screenshots in JPG and PNG, where the PNG are most likely to not show resolution, but do show dimension.

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Answer 8

Feb 9, 2022 12:04 PM in response to evansdoor

I tested this over a wide variety of screenshots, both in png and jpg format, as well as other image sources, and I drew the conclusion that jpg images are more likely to offer dimensions and resolution than png images. At least where screenshots are concerned.

As a test, I just took a PNG screenshot of a Finder window, changed the screenshot image type to JPG, and snapped the same finder window. Both shots showed dimensions, but only the JPG showed resolution too.

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Finder doesn't show Image Dimensions or Resolution

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