Thumbnail view for PDFs is available in OneDrive and SharePoint on the web

OneDrive and SharePoint on the web will add a default-enabled thumbnail view in the PDF viewer by mid-August 2026, allowing users to visually browse and jump to PDF pages easily. No admin action or changes to permissions are required; organizations should update training and inform users.

[What and Why:]

We are improving PDF navigation in OneDrive and SharePoint on the web by adding a thumbnail view in the PDF viewer. Users will be able to open a thumbnail panel to visually browse pages in a PDF and jump directly to a selected page. This update helps users navigate long PDFs more quickly, especially when they need to find a visual section, page layout, chart, image, or form page without scrolling page by page.

This message is associated with Roadmap ID 566696.

[Rollout Schedule:]

• Targeted Release (Worldwide): Beginning early August 2026; expected to complete by mid-August 2026
• General Availability (Worldwide, GCC, GCC High, DoD): Beginning mid-August 2026; expected to complete by late August 2026

[Impact on Your Organization:]

Who is affected: All users who view PDFs in OneDrive and SharePoint on the web

Platforms/Services:

• OneDrive (Web)
• SharePoint (Web)

What will happen:

• Users will see a new option to open a thumbnail pane in the PDF viewer.
• A visual list of page thumbnails will be available for navigation.
• Users can select a thumbnail to jump directly to a specific page.
• The currently viewed page will be highlighted in the thumbnail pane while scrolling.
• The feature will be enabled by default.
• There are no changes to file permissions, sharing behavior, sensitivity labels, download behavior, or admin controls.

Screenshot: Browse PDF pages with visual thumbnails:

[Action Required/Recommendations:]

No admin action is required.

Recommended actions:

• Inform helpdesk and support teams about this user experience improvement
• Update internal training materials or documentation if they reference PDF navigation workflows
• Consider notifying users who frequently work with long or complex PDF files

[Compliance considerations:]

No compliance considerations identified, review as appropriate for your organization.