Fix missing RetroArch thumbnails on Android
Open the affected playlist entry and verify its label and `db_name`, update Core Info Files and Databases, then use the playlist or individual thumbnail downloader. If automatic matching fails, compare the playlist name and entry label with Libretro's documented thumbnail directory and filename rules. On Android, also verify RetroArch can write to its configured Thumbnails directory. A missing image may simply have no official match.
Do this in order
- 01
Record the RetroArch version, menu driver, playlist filename, entry label, `db_name`, selected thumbnail types, and configured Thumbnails directory.
- 02
Update Core Info Files and Databases, restart RetroArch, and confirm the content still belongs to the intended playlist.
- 03
Run Playlist Thumbnails Updater or the individual Download Thumbnails action for one entry; do not overwrite a custom collection without a backup.
- 04
If no image appears, inspect whether the entry came from a strict database scan, loose scan, or manual playlist and whether filename matching is enabled.
- 05
For a lawful custom image, follow the exact playlist folder and `Named_Boxarts`, `Named_Snaps`, or `Named_Titles` path and sanitize the filename as documented.
- 06
Restart, check both the normal and fullscreen thumbnail view, and stop if no official asset exists rather than copying artwork from an unauthorized source.
Decision and diagnostic table
| Observation | Likely boundary | Next check |
|---|---|---|
| No entries in the playlist | Scan or database identity, not thumbnails | Repair the playlist first |
| Some entries have art | Per-entry label or official asset availability | Compare label, database, and flexible matching |
| Download reports success but nothing appears | Wrong thumbnail type, menu view, or path | Inspect selected type and configured directory |
| Custom PNG never appears | Folder or sanitized filename mismatch | Match playlist name and `Named_*` structure exactly |
Thumbnails attach to playlist identity
RetroArch does not infer every image from an arbitrary ROM filename. Playlist database identity and the entry label guide matching, and loose or manual entries may lack the metadata used by the official thumbnail service.
Changing a label for display can therefore break an existing match. Preserve the original playlist before editing and test one entry rather than rebuilding the whole library.
Image type and menu presentation are separate
Libretro distinguishes box art, title screens, and in-game snapshots. The selected menu driver can display them differently, and fullscreen cycling may reveal an asset not shown in the current sidebar layout.
Confirm the requested type exists before treating a blank panel as a network failure. An official service may have one category for a title but not all three.
Custom artwork needs rights and exact paths
A working custom PNG proves only technical placement. It does not prove that the box art, screenshot, logo, or scan is licensed for reuse.
Use artwork you created, public-domain material, or an asset with permission covering your use. Keep rights evidence beside the source note, not inside an unreviewed downloadable thumbnail pack.
Thumbnail availability is not a license. Do not scrape, mirror, or redistribute commercial covers, screenshots, logos, or scans without permission; use the official RetroArch service for personal frontend retrieval or artwork whose rights you have verified.