Preview no longer showing sort method

Question

Preview no longer showing sort method

On a M1 Mac Mini running Tahoe 26.2. In pre-Tahoe versions of Preview, when sorting a group of files by certain metadata (size, date, etc.), Preview would then show that data under the file thumbnail. Now, Preview only shows filename and no other data, regardless of sort method. Is there any justification for removing this feature? The screenshots below show the same group of images sorted two different ways. Without being able to tell how they are sorted or what the ordering is, this app is now useless to me, and I'm guessing to many others also. Is there any way to restore this setting? Failing that, can anyone recommend a good third party app that works similarly to how Preview USED to work?

Mac mini, macOS 26.2

Posted on Jan 9, 2026 7:49 AM

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Answer 1

VikingOSX

Level 10

125,374 points

Jan 9, 2026 10:20 AM in response to lovellbenjamin

Preview in macOS Tahoe 26.2 does not provide sub-text beneath thumbnail images when a sort category is chosen. On macOS Sonoma (as an example), Preview did provide sort category sub-text beneath thumbnail images.

On Tahoe, you can select View > Contact Sheet and those images do show sort category sub-text beneath the individual images.

With Apple, what is past may not be prologue with regard to operating system features or presentation. You can send direct feedback to the macOS product team requesting this thumbnail information reprieve, or simply adapt to the contact sheet view.

We cannot discuss Apple beta products in these public communities.

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Answer 2

leroydouglas

Level 10

202,024 points

Jan 9, 2026 9:25 AM in response to lovellbenjamin

lovellbenjamin wrote:

Maybe someone more familiar with Preview can assist then,

it absolutely used to display sort data under the filename when files were sorted by anything other than name until Tahoe and was not a "test thing."

I have never used Preview in this way to add more...one way or the other.

See if there is anything here—

Preview User Guide for Mac - Apple Support

submit your Apple Feedback here: Product Feedback - Apple

for some alternative you can try the Photos.app

you can Call Customer Support (800) MY–APPLE (800–692–7753)

or on line https://getsupport.apple.com/

Outside the USA—Contact Apple for support and service by phone

See a list of Apple phone numbers around the world.

Contact Apple Support - Apple Support

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Answer 3

Jan 9, 2026 7:53 AM in response to lovellbenjamin

I have MacOS 12 (My Mac is old) but even for a software from 2022, I have never seen more than the name under the image. So, maybe it was just a test thing apple did. Also, what photos are you viewing lol?

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Answer 4

Jan 9, 2026 8:23 AM in response to Jaxon-M-Lester

Maybe someone more familiar with Preview can assist then, it absolutely used to display sort data under the filename when files were sorted by anything other than name until Tahoe and was not a "test thing."

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Answer 5

Jan 9, 2026 10:25 AM in response to VikingOSX

That's a shame, I'll be providing my feedback then and continuing to regret updating to Tahoe, for a number of reasons. The changes they have made top to bottom to the UI on this new OS are baffling and completely counterintuitive.

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Answer 6

Jan 9, 2026 11:33 AM in response to lovellbenjamin

I know it is not exactly the same, but you can press Command-I to show Info.

(FWIW, I also had never used Preview in this manner, and I was not even aware that in previous versions if showed that metadata under the thumbnail)

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Answer 7

VikingOSX

Level 10

125,374 points

Jan 12, 2026 7:11 AM in response to lovellbenjamin

Though not impressed with the visual changes to Tahoe, it is my daily driver and I have just adapted to it. I have a 30-year technical career being a resource and skill multiplier where adaptation to constantly changing solution delivery was the norm. That of course, does not ease your pangs at all… 😉

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