Having issues with photos and videos not showing up in your phone’s gallery app can be frustrating. There are a few potential causes and solutions for this problem that are worth trying.
Check if the files are actually on your device
The first thing to check is whether the photos/videos were actually saved to your device’s storage. Open the Folder or File Manager app and navigate to the DCIM folder. This is where the camera photos/videos are stored by default.
If the files are not there, it means they were not properly saved to the device. This could happen if there was an error or interruption when trying to save them originally.
Potential solutions:
- Try taking the photos/videos again, ensuring there are no interruptions
- If taking from another device, check that the transfer completed properly
- Check if there is an SD card installed – files may be stored there instead of internal storage
Verify media scanner is running
Android uses the media scanner service to index files on your device so they show up in the gallery and other apps. If this scanner encounters issues, your photos/videos won’t appear even if they are physically stored.
To check this:
- Go to Settings > Apps > Media Storage
- Check that Media Storage is enabled and has permission to access media files
- Force stop the app and clear cache/data, then restart your device
This will reset the media scanner, forcing it to rescan the device storage for media files when you reboot.
Check third-party gallery apps
Sometimes photos get sorted into a third-party gallery app instead of the default system one. For example, if you have Google Photos or another gallery manager installed.
Open these other gallery apps and check if your missing photos/videos show up there. You may need to give proper permissions to access device folders.
Verify default gallery app settings
There are some settings in your device’s default gallery app that could prevent displaying certain media.
Go into the gallery app’s Settings menu and verify:
- Show hidden files is enabled
- Only show downloaded images filter is disabled
- Show videos is enabled
Toggling these on/off may make previously hidden media show up.
Check if files are hidden
Sometimes media files get set as hidden by accident. This prevents the gallery and media apps from finding them.
Using a file manager, browse to the DCIM folder again. Try making any hidden files visible and check if your missing media appears.
You can also try a third-party utility that shows hidden files to recover and unhide anything mis-categorized.
Clear gallery app cache and data
If your gallery app still can’t find files that definitely exist, try wiping its app data. This will force a full refresh when reopened.
Go to Settings > Apps > Gallery > Storage > Clear Cache and Clear Data. Be aware this will log you out and remove any saved data in the app.
Check for filesystem issues
In rare cases, filesystem corruption can cause files to go missing or become inaccessible to apps. If other solutions haven’t worked, use recovery software to check your device’s filesystem integrity.
Apps like DiskDigger Photo Recovery can scan and rebuild corrupted folders to recover missing or inaccessible files. Use as a last resort if no other fixes bring back your media.
Reset all app preferences
Resetting app preferences will clear any problematic settings or caches related to the gallery and other media apps.
Go to Settings > System > Reset Options > Reset App Preferences. Be aware this will reset settings for all apps on your device.
Factory reset device
If you’ve exhausted all other options, a factory reset will wipe your device and restore to factory default state. This gives the media scanner a fresh start and will recover any files not showing up before.
Note this will erase your data, so be sure to backup important files first. You can then selectively restore personal data after the reset completes.
Check for device storage issues
Problems with the physical storage on your device can also lead to missing media files or galleries not updating.
Issues to look for include:
- Failing or faulty SD card – try removing it and see if gallery works
- Corrupted internal storage – scan phone memory for errors
- Lack of free space – clear space or expand storage if phone memory is full
Addressing any device storage issues can help get your gallery working again.
Use a gallery repair app
Several apps on the app store are designed specifically to dig into system files and repair gallery issues:
| App | Key Features |
|---|---|
| Gallery Doctor | – Finds missing media files – Removes corrupt elements – Refreshes gallery cache |
| Gallery Repair Tool | – Scans for missing files – Identifies duplicates – Fixes thumbnail issues |
| Fix Gallery Pro | – Troubleshoots crashes/freezes – Repairs common glitches – Optimizes gallery performance |
These apps use advanced tools and techniques to diagnose and repair many common gallery problems, including missing media files.
Conclusion
If photos or videos are not showing up in your device gallery, there are several steps you can take to troubleshoot and fix the issue:
- Check the actual storage to see if files exist
- Force restart the media scanner
- Look in third-party gallery apps
- Toggle gallery settings and view options
- Scan for hidden files
- Wipe gallery app data and cache
- Repair possible filesystem corruption
- Reset all app preferences
- Factory reset the device
- Check for device storage issues
- Use a gallery repair app
In most cases, the files are still on your device but something is preventing the gallery from finding them. By tracking through these troubleshooting steps, you should be able to refresh the gallery and regain access to your missing media.
Some last resort options include using data recovery software or professional phone repair services if no DIY solutions do the trick. But following the tips outlined here will help get your gallery working properly again in most situations.