Safari's Download tab missing file icon (PDF) thumbnails

Hey mjaggi,

Thanks for posting in Apple Support Communities. We understand that icon previews are not working as expected after updating to macOS Ventura.

Does the same behavior occur in Safe Mode?

How to use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support

"How to use safe mode

Determine whether you're using a Mac with Apple silicon, then follow the appropriate steps:

Apple silicon

1. Shut down your Mac.
2. Turn on your Mac and continue to press and hold the power button until you see the startup options window.
3. Select your startup disk, then press and hold the Shift key while clicking “Continue in Safe Mode.”
4. Log in to your Mac. You might be asked to log in again.

Intel processor

1. Turn on or restart your Mac, then immediately press and hold the Shift key as your Mac starts up.
2. Release the key when you see the login window, then log in to your Mac. 
3. You might be asked to log in again. On either the first or second login window, you should see ”Safe Boot” in the upper-right corner of the window."

If so, we recommend reaching out to Apple Support directly for a closer look: Contact - Official Apple Support

Take care.

Hey there mjaggi, 

It looks like an app other than Preview may have been set as the default app to open PDF files, and was then removed. You may need to right click, or hold the control key and click a PDF file, then choose Preview as the default app to open PDF files.  

Have a good one!

I have the same issue but with video files. It's definitely related to apps, since VLC does have its thumbnail icon in the download list, but iina doesn't. I've tried defaulting files both in finder and in the app, no change. Been driving me crazy.

This does not work. Many forums saying the same thing.