LF: Fix Video Previews Not Showing (FFmpeg, Thumbnails)

Aug 20, 2025 by Natalie Brooks 56 views

LF Not Showing Video Previews: A Comprehensive Guide

Hey guys! Are you experiencing issues with LF not displaying video previews? You're not alone! Many users of this nifty file manager have encountered this problem, and it can be quite frustrating when you're trying to quickly browse through your media files. This comprehensive guide will delve into the common causes behind this issue and provide you with step-by-step solutions to get your video previews working again. We'll explore everything from checking your preview.sh script to ensuring you have the necessary dependencies installed. So, let's dive in and get those previews back up and running!

At the heart of LF's preview functionality lies the preview.sh script. This script is responsible for generating previews for various file types, including videos. Let's break down the script and understand how it works. In the context of the user's issue, the provided preview.sh script snippet offers a glimpse into how image previews are generated using chafa. To effectively troubleshoot video preview problems, it's essential to understand the role of each component. The image() function, for instance, calculates the geometry for the preview based on the available space and then uses chafa to convert the image into a sixel format for display in the terminal. The -f sixel flag tells chafa to use the sixel graphics protocol, which is a way of displaying images in a terminal. The -s "$geometry" option specifies the size of the output, ensuring it fits within the terminal window. The --animate false flag disables animation, which is useful for static previews. To ensure video previews work correctly, the script needs to handle video files specifically, often using tools like ffmpeg to extract frames and then convert them into a suitable format for previewing. If the script lacks the necessary logic for video files or if the dependencies like ffmpeg are not correctly configured, video previews will fail to display. The script might also include functions for other file types, such as text files or PDFs, each using different tools and techniques to generate previews. Therefore, when troubleshooting, it's crucial to examine the script for any errors or missing components related to video processing.

Several factors can contribute to LF not displaying video previews. Let's explore some of the most common culprits:

Missing Dependencies: One of the most frequent reasons is the absence of necessary software dependencies. LF relies on external tools like FFmpeg, ImageMagick, or mediainfo to generate video thumbnails. If these tools aren't installed or correctly configured, LF won't be able to create previews. Ensure that you have the required packages installed on your system. The first thing to verify is whether you have ffmpeg installed. FFmpeg is a powerful multimedia framework that is often used for video decoding and encoding, making it a crucial tool for generating video previews. If ffmpeg is missing, LF will not be able to extract frames from video files, and thus, no preview can be generated. To check if FFmpeg is installed, you can open your terminal and run the command ffmpeg -version. If FFmpeg is installed, this command will display the version information. If it's not installed, you'll need to install it using your system's package manager. For example, on Debian or Ubuntu, you can use sudo apt-get install ffmpeg, while on Fedora or CentOS, you can use sudo dnf install ffmpeg. After installing FFmpeg, it's a good idea to restart LF to ensure it recognizes the new installation. Other dependencies might include tools for image manipulation, such as ImageMagick, which can be used to convert video frames into a format suitable for display in the terminal. Make sure to read the documentation for LF to identify all the recommended and required dependencies for video previews. Failing to install these dependencies is a common oversight, but it's a critical step in getting video previews working correctly.
Incorrectly Configured Preview.sh: The preview.sh script is the engine that drives LF's preview generation. If this script is not set up correctly, previews won't work as expected. This script contains the logic for how LF handles different file types, including videos. A common issue is that the script may not have the necessary commands or logic to process video files. For example, if the script only includes instructions for generating image previews but lacks the code to extract frames from videos using FFmpeg, then video previews will fail. Another potential problem is that the script might have syntax errors or incorrect paths to the required executables. Even a small typo in the script can prevent it from running correctly. To troubleshoot this, you should carefully examine the script for any errors. Use a text editor with syntax highlighting to help identify potential issues. Check that the paths to executables like FFmpeg are correct and that all commands are properly formatted. You might also want to add some logging to the script to help debug it. For example, you can use echo commands to print messages to the terminal, indicating which parts of the script are being executed and whether any errors occur. This can help you pinpoint the exact location of the problem. Additionally, make sure that the script has execute permissions. You can set these permissions using the command chmod +x preview.sh. Without execute permissions, LF will not be able to run the script, and no previews will be generated.
Missing Video Codecs: Sometimes, the issue isn't with LF itself, but with the codecs installed on your system. Video codecs are essential for decoding and playing different video formats. If your system lacks the codecs required to decode a particular video format, LF won't be able to generate a preview for it. This is because LF relies on these codecs to extract frames from the video, which are then used to create the preview image. The most common codecs are usually included in codec packs, which you can install from your system's package manager. For example, on Debian or Ubuntu, you can install the ubuntu-restricted-extras package, which includes many common codecs. On Fedora, you can install the gstreamer1-plugins-bad-free and gstreamer1-plugins-ugly-free packages. If you are working with a specific video format, such as H.265 (HEVC), you might need to install additional codecs to support it. You can search for the appropriate codec packages for your system using your package manager. Once you have installed the necessary codecs, try generating the video preview again in LF. If the issue was indeed due to missing codecs, the preview should now display correctly. It's also worth noting that some video formats might be inherently difficult to preview due to their complexity or encoding. In such cases, even with the correct codecs installed, generating a preview might be slow or fail altogether. If you encounter this issue with only certain video files, it could be related to the specific encoding used for those files.
File Permissions: File permissions can also prevent LF from generating previews. If LF doesn't have the necessary permissions to read the video file or execute the preview.sh script, it won't be able to create a preview. Ensure that the video files you're trying to preview have read permissions for the user running LF. Similarly, the preview.sh script needs execute permissions. To check the permissions of a file, you can use the ls -l command in the terminal. This command will display the file's permissions, along with other information such as the file size and modification date. The permissions are represented by a string of characters at the beginning of the line, such as -rw-r--r-- or -rwxr-xr-x. The first character indicates the file type (e.g., - for regular file, d for directory), and the following nine characters represent the permissions for the owner, group, and others, respectively. The r character indicates read permission, w indicates write permission, and x indicates execute permission. If LF is unable to access the video file, you should ensure that the user running LF has at least read permissions. You can change the permissions of a file using the chmod command. For example, to give the owner read, write, and execute permissions, and the group and others read and execute permissions, you can use the command chmod 755 filename. Similarly, to ensure that the preview.sh script has execute permissions, you can use the command chmod +x preview.sh. After adjusting the file permissions, try generating the video preview again in LF. If the issue was related to file permissions, the preview should now display correctly.
LF Configuration Issues: Occasionally, the problem might stem from LF's configuration itself. Incorrect settings or conflicts with other configurations can prevent video previews from working. LF has a configuration file, typically located at ~/.config/lf/lfrc, where various settings can be customized. If this file contains incorrect or conflicting settings, it can interfere with the preview generation process. One common issue is an incorrect setting for the previewer option, which specifies the command used to generate previews. If this option is set to an incorrect path or command, LF will not be able to generate previews. To troubleshoot this, you should review the lfrc file and ensure that the previewer option is correctly configured. You can also try temporarily commenting out or removing custom settings to see if they are causing the issue. Another potential problem is that LF might be configured to ignore certain file types or directories, preventing previews from being generated for them. Check the lfrc file for any settings that might be excluding video files from preview generation. Additionally, some LF plugins or extensions might interfere with the preview functionality. If you have installed any plugins, try disabling them temporarily to see if they are causing the problem. It's also a good idea to consult the LF documentation and community forums for information about common configuration issues and how to resolve them. By carefully reviewing LF's configuration and troubleshooting any potential conflicts, you can often resolve issues with video previews.

Now that we've identified the common causes, let's walk through some practical troubleshooting steps:

Verify FFmpeg Installation: As mentioned earlier, FFmpeg is crucial for video previews. Open your terminal and run ffmpeg -version. If FFmpeg is installed, you'll see version information. If not, install it using your system's package manager. This is the foundational step in getting video previews to work in LF. FFmpeg is a powerful multimedia framework that provides the necessary tools for decoding and encoding video files. Without it, LF cannot extract frames from videos, which are essential for generating previews. If the command ffmpeg -version returns an error or indicates that the command is not found, it means that FFmpeg is not installed or not accessible in your system's PATH. To install FFmpeg, you can use your system's package manager. For example, on Debian or Ubuntu, you would use the command sudo apt-get install ffmpeg. On Fedora, you would use sudo dnf install ffmpeg. After installing FFmpeg, it's a good idea to verify the installation by running ffmpeg -version again. This will confirm that FFmpeg is installed correctly and that LF can access it. If you encounter any issues during the installation process, consult the documentation for your operating system or package manager for troubleshooting tips. Once FFmpeg is installed, you can move on to the next steps in troubleshooting video previews in LF. However, ensuring that FFmpeg is correctly installed is a critical first step, as it is a fundamental requirement for video preview generation.
Examine the Preview.sh Script: Open your preview.sh script and look for any errors or missing video-related logic. Ensure it includes commands to handle video files, typically using FFmpeg to extract frames. This step involves a careful review of the preview.sh script, which is the core component responsible for generating previews in LF. The script should contain the logic for handling different file types, including videos. To effectively troubleshoot video preview issues, you need to examine the script for any errors or missing elements. Start by opening the script in a text editor. Look for any syntax errors, typos, or incorrect paths to executables. Even a small mistake can prevent the script from running correctly. Next, focus on the section of the script that handles video files. This section should include commands to extract frames from the video using FFmpeg. A common approach is to use the ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -ss 00:00:01 -vframes 1 output.jpg command, which extracts a single frame from the video at the 1-second mark and saves it as a JPEG image. Ensure that the script includes similar logic for video files and that the paths to FFmpeg and other required utilities are correct. If the script lacks the necessary commands for video files, you will need to add them. You can find examples and templates of preview.sh scripts online, which can serve as a starting point. It's also a good idea to add some logging to the script to help debug it. You can use echo commands to print messages to the terminal, indicating which parts of the script are being executed and whether any errors occur. This can help you pinpoint the exact location of the problem. Remember to save the script after making any changes and ensure that it has execute permissions.
Check File Permissions: Verify that LF has the necessary permissions to read the video files and execute the preview.sh script. Use ls -l to check permissions and chmod to modify them if needed. This is a crucial step in troubleshooting video preview issues in LF, as incorrect file permissions can prevent LF from accessing the video files or executing the preview.sh script. To check the file permissions, you can use the ls -l command in the terminal. This command will display the file's permissions, along with other information such as the file size and modification date. The permissions are represented by a string of characters at the beginning of the line, such as -rw-r--r-- or -rwxr-xr-x. The first character indicates the file type (e.g., - for regular file, d for directory), and the following nine characters represent the permissions for the owner, group, and others, respectively. The r character indicates read permission, w indicates write permission, and x indicates execute permission. Ensure that the user running LF has at least read permissions for the video files and execute permissions for the preview.sh script. If the permissions are not correct, you can use the chmod command to modify them. For example, to give the owner read, write, and execute permissions, and the group and others read and execute permissions, you can use the command chmod 755 filename. Similarly, to ensure that the preview.sh script has execute permissions, you can use the command chmod +x preview.sh. After adjusting the file permissions, try generating the video preview again in LF. If the issue was related to file permissions, the preview should now display correctly. It's also important to check the permissions of the directories containing the video files and the preview.sh script, as LF needs to have access to these directories as well.
Install Missing Codecs: If you suspect missing codecs, install a comprehensive codec pack for your system. This will ensure that LF can decode a wide range of video formats. This step is essential when troubleshooting video preview issues in LF, as missing codecs can prevent LF from decoding and generating previews for certain video formats. Video codecs are software components that encode and decode video data. Different video formats use different codecs, and if your system lacks the necessary codec for a particular video format, LF will not be able to generate a preview for it. To ensure that your system has the necessary codecs, you can install a comprehensive codec pack. These packs typically include a wide range of codecs, covering most common video formats. The specific codec pack you need to install depends on your operating system. For example, on Debian or Ubuntu, you can install the ubuntu-restricted-extras package, which includes many common codecs. On Fedora, you can install the gstreamer1-plugins-bad-free and gstreamer1-plugins-ugly-free packages. There are also other codec packs available, such as the K-Lite Codec Pack for Windows. After installing the codec pack, try generating the video preview again in LF. If the issue was due to missing codecs, the preview should now display correctly. It's also worth noting that some video formats might require specific codecs that are not included in standard codec packs. In such cases, you might need to search for and install the specific codec required for that format. You can usually find information about the required codecs by searching online for the video format in question.
Review LF Configuration: Check your lfrc file for any settings that might be interfering with video previews. Pay close attention to the previewer option and any file type exclusions. This step involves examining LF's configuration file, typically located at ~/.config/lf/lfrc, to identify any settings that might be preventing video previews from working correctly. LF's configuration file allows you to customize various aspects of its behavior, including the preview generation process. Incorrect settings in this file can lead to issues with video previews. Start by opening the lfrc file in a text editor. Look for any settings that relate to previews or file handling. One of the most important settings to check is the previewer option, which specifies the command used to generate previews. Ensure that this option is set to the correct path for your preview.sh script or another preview generation command. If the path is incorrect, LF will not be able to run the script and generate previews. Another potential issue is file type exclusions. LF allows you to exclude certain file types from preview generation. If video files are excluded, LF will not generate previews for them. Check the lfrc file for any settings that might be excluding video files, such as hiddenfiles or ignore. You can also try temporarily commenting out or removing custom settings to see if they are causing the issue. If you have made significant changes to the lfrc file, it's possible that a conflict or error has been introduced. By temporarily removing custom settings, you can revert to the default configuration and see if the issue is resolved. It's also a good idea to consult the LF documentation and community forums for information about common configuration issues and how to resolve them. By carefully reviewing LF's configuration and troubleshooting any potential conflicts, you can often resolve issues with video previews.

To help you craft your preview.sh script, here are a couple of snippets that demonstrate how to generate video previews using FFmpeg:

Snippet 1: Basic Video Preview

video() {
  ffmpeg -i "$1" -ss 00:00:01 -vframes 1 "$1.jpg" 2>/dev/null &&
  image "$1.jpg" "$2" "$3" &&
  rm "$1.jpg"
}

This snippet uses FFmpeg to extract a frame from the video at the 1-second mark and saves it as a JPEG image. It then uses the image function (defined in the original script) to display the image in the terminal. Finally, it removes the temporary JPEG file. This is a simple and effective way to generate video previews, but it has some limitations. For example, it only extracts a frame from the 1-second mark, which might not be representative of the entire video. It also creates a temporary JPEG file, which can clutter your file system if previews are generated frequently. However, for basic video previews, this snippet is a good starting point. To use this snippet, you would add it to your preview.sh script and ensure that the image function is also defined. You might also need to adjust the paths to FFmpeg and other utilities if they are not in your system's PATH. It's also a good idea to add some error handling to the script to handle cases where FFmpeg fails to extract a frame or the image function fails to display the image. For example, you can use the || operator to execute a fallback command if the main command fails.

Snippet 2: Advanced Video Preview with Error Handling

video() {
  if ffmpeg -i "$1" -ss 00:00:01 -vframes 1 "$1.jpg" 2>/dev/null; then
    image "$1.jpg" "$2" "$3" && rm "$1.jpg"
  else
    echo "Failed to generate video preview for $1"
  fi
}

This snippet builds upon the previous one by adding error handling. It checks if the FFmpeg command was successful before attempting to display the image. If FFmpeg fails, it prints an error message to the terminal. This is a more robust approach, as it prevents the script from crashing if FFmpeg encounters an error. The if statement checks the exit code of the FFmpeg command. If the exit code is 0, it means the command was successful, and the script proceeds to display the image and remove the temporary file. If the exit code is non-zero, it means the command failed, and the script prints an error message. This error handling helps you identify potential issues with video files or FFmpeg itself. You can further enhance this snippet by adding more sophisticated error handling, such as logging the error to a file or displaying a more informative error message. You might also want to add a fallback mechanism, such as displaying a generic video icon if the preview generation fails. To use this snippet, you would add it to your preview.sh script and ensure that the image function is also defined. You might also need to adjust the paths to FFmpeg and other utilities if they are not in your system's PATH. It's also a good idea to test the script with various video files to ensure that it works correctly.

Troubleshooting video previews in LF can be a bit of a puzzle, but by systematically checking dependencies, script configurations, file permissions, and codecs, you can usually pinpoint the issue and get your previews working again. Remember, the preview.sh script is your best friend in this process, so take the time to understand how it works and how to customize it to your needs. Guys, I hope this guide has been helpful! Happy file managing!