I lost most of my phone folders after android 12 fermwer phone S20 Ultra 5g

[john291]

I lost most of my phone folders after android 12 fermwer phone S20 Ultra 5g Help

[xSteveuk]

Hi,
Check the My Files app
Click on the three horizontal Dots
Recycle Bin
Also check the documents folder

Also if just updated phone
Try clearing the phone cache

https://www.samsung.com/uk/support/mobile-devices/how-do-i-clear-the-cache-on-my-device/

[Cosmin1990]

You should have backup your files first and after that downloaded the android.

[john291]

I DID, and I restored all ok for a day then lost folders, shortcuts again.

[john291]

Google Chrome browser taking over default browser settings regardless of setting defalt. Since firmware android 12 update on samsung s20 ultra 5g.

[AndrewL]

@john291: To address this, please head to Settings > Apps > Choose Default Apps > Browser App, and change it to your preferred option from here. For your missing files issue, swipe up from your Home Screen > Samsung (folder) > My files > Internal Storage. If you see 'Essential's with a drop down arrow above your list of folders, tap on this and select 'All'. 

[john291]

This is a tip for people like me who open links with different browsers depending on what they click. This behavior is now seemingly impossible on Android 12 unless you disable Chrome. BUT enable Chrome and settings brought all but 4, deleted folders and shortcuts back.?????

[john291]

New
Android 12 forces you to choose a default browser which is Google Chrome unless you disable Chrome or uninstall it.
When you disable or uninstall it, it takes all bookmarks and addresses off your device.
Samsung Internet browser address links used in Google chrome are tagged as Google chrome links so they are also removed.
Microsoft tried this with Microsoft explorer many years ago and it was deemed to take away your freedom of choice.
Why is samsung allowing this to happen.
Can you tell me why this is happening.

[Pernas]

The same thing happened to my wife's S20 5G - she had many folders with shortcuts spread over ten home screens and now the home screens are blank - this is a real bug, haven't seen this type of "data loss" before with earlier updates from Samsung (or from Google). I hope there will be some type of patch/fix released at a later time since I do believe the shortcuts are there but they're hidden at the moment.

[davebarnwood]

Had same on A51 Pain it is!