JPEG is the most widely used image file format, mainly known for its efficient compression and compatibility with various devices and applications. However, instances may occur when JPEG files become corrupted, causing issues while opening or viewing them. Interestingly, sometimes, the thumbnails of these corrupted JPEG files remain intact, helping you easily repair those corrupted or damaged JPEG files. This guide will explore various JPEG repair methods to repair corrupted JPEG files that still display their thumbnails.
Before diving into JPEG file repair methods, it’s important to understand the exact cause of your JPEG corruption and why thumbnails might still be visible. Some common reasons for JPEG corruption are:
File Transfer Errors: Interruptions or errors while transferring between devices lead to corrupted JPEG files.
Bad Sectors on Storage Media: Bad sectors or damaged hard drives, USB drives, SD cards, or any other storage media can corrupt files stored on them.
Software Issues: Problems with image editing or viewing software are also responsible for the corruption of JPEG files.
Virus or Malware Attacks: Malicious software like viruses or malware can corrupt JPEG files and other data on your computer.
Unexpected System Shutdowns: Power failures or crashes while saving or transferring JPEG files can cause corruption.
Why Do Thumbnails Remain Intact?
Thumbnails are smaller versions of the original images stored in the metadata of your JPEG file. When JPEG files get corrupted, the corruption often affects the main image data without affecting the thumbnail. This is because the thumbnail data is typically stored in a different section of the file than the main image data.
Quick Methods to Repair Corrupted JPEG Files
In this part of the blog, we will discuss manual approaches as well as professional JPEG repair software to repair corrupted JPEG files that still display their thumbnails. Just go with these techniques one-by-one to repair JPEG easily:
Method 01: Use Third-Party Photo Repair Software
Let’s start with the simplest method first. There are several JPEG repair tools available online that you can try to easily repair your corrupt or damaged photos. Stellar Repair for Photo is, no doubt, an all-in-one photo repair software that can fix your photos in a few simple clicks. Whether your photo is corrupted due to color distortion, blurriness, image artifacts, or any other reason, feel free to use this amazing software to repair your files.
Why Stellar Repair for Photo?
Though there are several JPEG file repair software available on the internet, the Stellar Repair for Photo tool is known for some amazing features. These features include:
The software supports repairing image files without losing quality.
You can use this tool to repair JPEG files stored on any internal or external storage device, including SD cards, hard drives, USB flash drives, and more.
Support RAW file formats of popular camera brands like Canon, Nikon, Sony, etc.
It offers an ‘Advanced Repair’ option for severely corrupt JPEG/JPG images.
Allows you to preview the repaired photos after completely scanning the storage drive.
Here’s how to repair corrupted JPEG files that still have their thumbnails using the Stellar Repair for Photo tool:
Step 1: Download and install the Stellar Repair for Photo software on your Windows or Mac device. Launch the software, and from the homepage, click Add File to select the photos you need to repair.
Step 2: Click Repair to initiate the repairing process and wait till it gets completed.
Step 3: Once it is done, preview the repaired photos and click the Save Repaired Files button to save selected photos at the desired location.
Method 02: Change the Image Format
Sometimes, changing the file format of your JPEG image can also help you to repair corrupted JPEG files. You can use any online converter or Windows built-in Paint tool to convert its file format. Follow the below steps to change your JPEG image to any other format using the Paint tool:
Open the Paint app on your Windows device.
Now, click on File from the top menu bar.
Select Open and open the JPEG image that you need to convert.
Go to File > Save As and select the file format (e.g., PNG, BMP, GIF) from the list.
Lastly, click the Save button to convert and save the image in the new format.
Method 03: Restore from Backup
Another corrupted JPEG file repair method to repair JPEG photos with thumbnails is by restoring the image using backups. If you have a backup of your JPEG files, restoring from the backup can be the easiest and most effective solution.
Check Cloud Storage:
Check if your JPEG files are backed up on cloud storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox, or iCloud.
Download and save the backup files to replace the corrupted ones.
Check External Drives:
If you created a backup of your important files to an external hard drive or USB drive, check these devices for copies of the corrupted JPEG files.
Copy the backup files to your computer.
Preventive Tips to Avoid JPEG Corruption
Though the above JPEG file repair methods are easy and quick to apply, it is important to avoid such corruption issues. Here are some common preventive measures that you can consider to minimize the risk of JPEG corruption in the future:
Regular Backups: Regularly back up your JPEG files to multiple locations, including cloud storage and external drives.
Safe Eject Storage Media: Always use the “eject” option before removing storage media like USB drives or SD cards to avoid data corruption.
Avoid Interruptions: Avoid interruptions during file transfers or saving processes to prevent incomplete writes that can lead to corruption.
Antivirus Protection: Use reliable antivirus software to protect your device from malware or virus attacks that can corrupt JPEG files and other data.
Wrapping Up
Hope the aforementioned manual methods and photo repair software help you in repairing corrupted JPEG files that still display their thumbnails. Whether you are converting the image format using a built-in Paint tool, restoring images from backups, or using any third-party photo repair software like Stellar Repair for Photo, make sure you carefully follow the steps. Understanding the causes of JPEG corruption and taking preventive measures can help protect your valuable images from future data loss. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can recover and repair your corrupted JPEG files effectively.
