User level: Level 1 (41 points)Since upgrading to OS 27, Apple Preview has opened all groups of files in separate windows?
The "When opening files:" preference is set to "Open groups of files in the same window".
Is there a fix?
Posted on Oct 26, 2026 6:15 PM
User level: Level 1 (41 points)Nov 3, 2026 1:08 AM in response to neuroanatomist
Sorry it has taken so long to get back to you. Apple must have found out about the issue because the OS 27.2 update fixed the problem.
Thank you for your help.
User level: Level 9 (72,871 points)Oct 26, 2026 7:42 PM in response to Mug
What you describe is not the expected behavior, so some troubleshooting is in order.
The current version of macOS is 27.2. Based on your post you are running an older version, so the first step is to update your Mac to the current version.
See: Update macOS on Mac - Apple Support
Go to Preview menu > Settings > Images tab, toggle the setting to the other option (open each file in its own window), quit Preview, then re-launch Preview and toggle it back.
If that does not work, see if the problem is present when you boot in safe mode. That process performs some system cleanup and clears caches, and also disables 3rd party extensions that may cause problems.
Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support
If that does not correct the issue, test in a new user account. A newly-created user account will have all settings at default, and if the issue does not occur in that new account then it provides guidance on what may need to be changed to correct the issue.
Add a user or group on Mac - Apple Support
Once the testing is complete, the new account can easily be deleted.
Delete a user or group on Mac – Apple Support
Those steps will help to isolate the problem.
The expected behavior is described by Apple here: Display several files in one Preview window on Mac - Apple Support
That is the behavior I see with that setting enabled on my Mac running macOS 27.2. I select a group of images, open them (Command-O) with Preview as the default app, and they open in a single window with thumbnails shown in the Sidebar.
User level: Level 1 (41 points)Oct 26, 2026 7:54 PM in response to neuroanatomist
Thanks for your reply.
I was notified of the 27.2 upgrade today. It's been downloading.
I tried the toggle off - quit and restart with toggle back on. Not working at this time.
I will try again after the upgrade. That will take a while.
Thanks again, I will check back.
Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256383636