S23 keeps bringing back deleted photos

[cathryneap]

About a year ago I got a new phone and used smart switch to transfer settings etc from my old Samsung smart phone. Since then, whenever I delete photos that were part of the transfer they keep coming back every few weeks. I do not have any back up settings (eg one drive) set up, except Google Photos, but at these were originally WhatsApp photos they were never backed up to Google Photos. In addition, I have no back up settings with WhatsApp, so they are not backing up from there either. I also have no SD card. I'm absolutely baffled as to how to get rid of these photos without putting my phone back to factory settings

[PaulM1]

Hi there, @cathryneap, and thanks for taking the time to post this. That sounds like a bit of a mystery (on the surface), but I'm sure we'll be able to help you unravel this. 🔍👍

Please can you advise where/in which app(s) the deleted photos are reappearing?

[cathryneap]

Thanks @PaulM1, the photos are reappearing in the WhatsApp folder of my gallery app. If they reappear I'll check if they are also appearing in the WhatsApp group media in that app but I don't think they do

[PaulM1]

Based on what you've advised, and what I've found from other sources, it would appear that WhatsApp has a particular sync feature activated where (once the app gets updated) backed up data get restored.

As it's a third-party app (from a Samsung perspective), I think this would be best resolved by you reaching out to WhatsApp's Support Team. You can find this resource by putting in a web search for "WhatsApp Support UK": the first result is likely to be WhatsApp's official site.

I recommend doing it this way as, after looking at various sources online, I was unable to see a method that worked for every WhatsApp user who encountered these unwanted data restores. Moreover, the steps may change as the app gets refined over time. 

I'm confident it'll just be an app setting that needs to be toggled on or off, however.

Please update the thread and let us know when you get this resolved.

[cathryneap]

Thanks Paul, maybe it's my confusion but there is no back up of these files. That's what's confusing me. I don't allow WhatsApp messages and media to be backed up, ever. The only instance was when I transferred the data. I'll follow up with WhatsApp but I'm really baffled as to where it's pulling the files from

[emsafra]

Hi, I'm having the same issue. I deleted the WhatsApp history for the contact so the pictures aren't even on WhatsApp anymore, and I changed my whatsapp settings so media isn't downloaded anymore, but it's still happening. All the photos are from my ex, so it's driving me mental having to see these pictures every few days! Did you get a resolution?

[Shristi]

Hi, I am having same issue. Even after deleting the group chats and media from WhatsApp, the media gets backed up.

[cathryneap]

I finally figured out what is happening but waited to check it was a fix. Essentially when looking at where recent photos are stored and where transferred photos are stored, I realised they are in two different files. I went into the files themselves and deleted the folder with the transferred photos. Obviously take care that you aren't deleting things you want to keep but hopefully that should stop the issue. It did for me.
To see the file root, select a picture and swipe upwards. If you compare a recent photo with one that keeps coming back you should see they are different and know which folder to delete. Hope this helps

[cathryneap]

I finally figured out what is happening but waited to check it was a fix. Essentially when looking at where recent photos are stored and where transferred photos are stored, I realised they are in two different files. I went into the files themselves and deleted the folder with the transferred photos. Obviously take care that you aren't deleting things you want to keep but hopefully that should stop the issue. It did for me.
To see the file root, select a picture and swipe upwards. If you compare a recent photo with one that keeps coming back you should see they are different and know which folder to delete. Hope this helps

[Debra Teng]

I have the exact same problem! I called Samsung support and was told to reset my phone... Did that but the deleted media are still coming back!!