topic Re: Gallery favorites folder empty with 1000s of pics in Mobile Apps & Services

Gallery favorites folder empty with 1000s of pics

Roxy — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 02:31:57 GMT

I've tried samsung support but they aren't knowledgeable enough.

After my update on Dec 8th, my favorites folder pics have disappeared. I know the pics were there in Dec 6th as I used the folder. I had over 1000 pics there over several years! All other pics are there. I checked backup on Google photos and that folder isn't there. I have no idea what happened to it. I have plenty of space on my phone and the pics aren't in the trash folder either. I really need someone who understands and can look at the logs or how can I access my logs? Pls help as I had important information there! Thank you.

Re: Gallery favorites folder empty with 1000s of pics

Sonora — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 08:45:06 GMT

Do you see a Recent folder in Gallery?

If you have a backup to Google Photos, your photos are there, but Google doesn't store photos by folder in Gallery, but by date, or you have to arrange the folders in Google Photos yourself to look like in the Gallery

Re: Gallery favorites folder empty with 1000s of pics

AndrewL — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 09:32:39 GMT

@Roxy : If you head to the Gallery app > Select the Albums tab > Select 'View all' in the top right corner, can you see the Favourites folder/album? If so, tap the Back button > Tap the 3 dots in the top right > Select essential albums > Tap on the Favourites album so a tick appears > Done.

Let me know if this helps.

Re: Gallery favorites folder empty with 1000s of pics

Moiramon — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 09:51:37 GMT

The favourites isn't really a folder it's just a shortcut to your favourite photos. So the photos should still be available in the original album. I.E camera for instance. As seen in the screenshot the photo of the rabbit appears in both albums but is actually stored in the camera folder.

Re: Gallery favorites folder empty with 1000s of pics

Roxy — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 10:04:42 GMT

No it wasn't there unfortunately

Re: Gallery favorites folder empty with 1000s of pics

Roxy — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 10:07:27 GMT

This makes sense so maybe the references where you ❤️ it to save there, those ❤️s are gone? How can I check those? I have over 15k pics and don't remember what was ❤️.

Re: Re: Gallery favorites folder empty with 1000s of pics

Moiramon — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 10:09:08 GMT

Unfortunately I don't think you can but at least you haven't lost the photos.

Re: Gallery favorites folder empty with 1000s of pics

Sonora — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 10:27:20 GMT

Open Gallery settings, scroll all down, check if you have Gallery lab at the bottom. Tap Gallery lab and check if you have this turned on

If you don't see Gallery Lab at the bottom of your settings, tap About Gallery ,tap on version of Gallery several times until you see a message that you've enabled Gallery Lab. Go back to Settings from Gallery and you should see that tab at the bottom, so tap it and turn on Show Favorites and Recent folders in albums.

Re: Gallery favorites folder empty with 1000s of pics

Roxy — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 10:28:34 GMT

All folders were there except favorites on Google.

Also in my Gallery, the favorites folder was there but empty, the folder wasn't missing.

Re: Gallery favorites folder empty with 1000s of pics

Sonora — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 10:34:39 GMT

Google create it's own folders, all your picture are saved by date, not by folders in Gallery. Google Photos also have Favorites folder, you can manually add all your favorite photos there, but Google Photos Favorites folder isn't same as Samsung Gallery Favorites folder

Re: Gallery favorites folder empty with 1000s of pics

Sonora — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 10:57:24 GMT

If Google creates folders, you will also see those folders in Samsung Gallery. All folders that you create in Samsung Gallery are saved by Google under the Camera folder. Before you move photos to a folder in Gallery, check if the photos are actually saved to Google Photos, if not, you will see a cloud icon with an up arrow. Why do I say that? If you move photos to a folder that you created yourself before Google backup it, those photos will not be saved to Google Photos, because Google saved ALL your photos (screenshots, your created Samsung Gallery folders) as photos taken with camera

Re: Gallery favorites folder empty with 1000s of pics

Roxy — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 10:56:11 GMT

I was finally able to enable the Labs, thank you. It was already enabled.

The recent and favorites were there:

Recent didn't have issues, favorites folder was there but empty. Since then I've added a few pics im favorites which are there, but my original favorites pics are gone.

Any idea? Thank you for your help.

Re: Gallery favorites folder empty with 1000s of pics

Sonora — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 11:03:49 GMT

I'm afraid you'll need to take the time to go through your 15k photos in camera and re-mark your favorites with ❤️ so they appear in the Favorites folder..

I have 120000 photos under Recent folder 🤭

Re: Gallery favorites folder empty with 1000s of pics

Roxy — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 11:11:34 GMT

So my pics are in camera folder but the ❤️ designation was lost? If that's the case, im a little relieved. I'm afraid of doing that and then this happening again. Probably creatingva xopy if the favorites folder will help...

Thx for your help

Re: Gallery favorites folder empty with 1000s of pics

Sonora — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 11:32:02 GMT

You can't copy them to the Favorites folder in Gallery. You can only mark them with a ❤️.

If you want to be 100% sure that your Favorites photos will never disappear again, view the Photos in Google Photos and star them, they will appear in your Google Favorites folder and will remain there regardless of which photos you have as favorites in Samsung Gallery.

Re: Gallery favorites folder empty with 1000s of pics

mikey007 — Tue, 27 May 2025 16:06:32 GMT

This is absolutely absurd. What the heck can the reason be behind removing the favorites folder in gallery? There is no logic to this whatsoever.

Re: Gallery favorites folder empty with 1000s of pics

AndrewL — Tue, 27 May 2025 16:22:52 GMT

@mikey007: The Favourites folder should still be accessible in the Gallery. If you open the Gallery app > Select the Albums tab > Tap on 'View all' in the top right, then it will be visible here.