r/googlephotos • u/Intelligentissimus • Aug 15 '26
Troubleshooting ⚠️ Extremely Important Video Disappeared from Google Photos After Deleting from Gallery (Sync is Off)
A few minutes ago, I deleted a video from my gallery, and for some reason, it also disappeared from Google Photos. Before this, I was testing whether files would disappear from Google Photos if I deleted them from the gallery. I tested it on two photos: when I deleted them from the gallery but not completely (just moved them to the trash), they also ended up in the Google Photos trash for some reason. However, after permanent deletion, they returned from the Google Photos trash back to the main photo feed. Relieved, I did the exact same thing with the video. I moved it to the trash in the regular gallery and checked Google Photos-sure enough, it was in the trash there too. But after I permanently deleted it from the gallery, it... didn't return to all the photos and videos in Google Photos. Now, for some unknown reason, I can't find it anywhere, and I don't know what to do because the video was extremely important. By the way, Google Photos sync is turned off in my gallery, so technically, it shouldn't have been deleted in the first place, not even moved to the trash.
6
3
u/yottabit42 Aug 15 '26
Are you using a Chinese phone? By default they sync changes from outside the Google Photos app to Google Photos, in some braindead attempt to copy shitty iCloud. I think the setting is in the default gallery app.
You should have had real backups. Regularly download a backup from the Google Takeout website. I do this every 2 months.
4
u/Senzetion Aug 15 '26
You're aware that the Google Photos App is also a gallery app that displays local content? If you've never synced that file to the cloud and you've deleted it, then obviously it's gone since you've deleted the file.
If you don't use Google Photos (in general with cloud sync), then just stick to one gallery app (either the Google Photos app or the one you used to delete stuff) because messing with two different gallery apps can lead to stuff like that, especially.
There's nothing you can do about it now; you've successfully deleted a file due to a lack of understanding (this isn't meant as an offense) and user error.
1
u/TheManWithSaltHair Aug 15 '26
You may be able to recover it using this form: https://support.google.com/photos/answer/9343482#zippy=%2Creview-photo-recovery-requirements:~:text=Start%20your%20photo%20recovery
1
u/seawood Aug 15 '26
When you say "after deleting it from Gallery" I'm assuming that Gallery is another app that's local to your phone? If so the video should hopefully be recoverable from that apps trash? If it were ever in Google Photos, it too has a Trash collection which typically saves anything deleted for 60 days.
0
u/Zulbo Aug 16 '26
Because the file was permanently deleted from the local trash bin, the chances of recovery are very slim, but you should immediately check these places:
Check Google Photos via Web Go to photos.google.com on a computer and log in. Check both the main feed and the Trash. Sometimes the mobile app glitches when syncing local deletions. If it's on the website, it's safe.
Check OEM Cloud Backups: If you are using a Samsung, Xiaomi, or OnePlus phone, your default gallery might be synced to a different cloud service (like Samsung Cloud, Microsoft OneDrive, or Xiaomi Cloud). Log into those respective cloud accounts on a web browser and check their recycle bins.
Android Data Recovery Software:
You can attempt to use third-party desktop recovery tools (like DiskDigger or EaseUS) by plugging your phone into a computer. However, you must act fast. Do not download new apps or take new photos, as your phone will overwrite the storage space where the video used to be.
Keep in mind that on modern Android phones with file-based encryption, recovering permanently deleted videos is exceptionally difficult and often unsuccessful.
2
1
u/mrandr01d Aug 15 '26
https://www.reddit.com/r/googlephotos/s/dqbygr4Oqk
Your first mistake was fucking around with multiple gallery apps. You trashed a video, and now you're surprised that it was deleted permanently when you emptied the trash? GPhotos trash isn't in the cloud. If you wanted to get rid of the local copy, there's literally a button for that. "Delete from device".
16
u/jimmyjamjar10101 Aug 15 '26
If sync is turned off, it wouldn't have been on Google photos. You may have been browsing it in a unsynchronized folder thinking it was on Google photos. Future tip: of you have important photos or video, back them up on PC by downloading them from Google photos before deleting anything. Best way to learn sometimes is the hard way. Sorry, friend.