Find lost photos & videos

When you turn on backup, your photos are stored in photos.google.com.

Important:

• If you're inactive in Google Photos for 2 years or more, your content may be deleted. Learn about the Google Photos inactivity policy.
• If you’re over your storage limit for 2 years or more, your content may be deleted. Learn more about how your Google storage works.

Some photos can seem to disappear because you’re on a different account.

Your missing photos or videos may not be backed up to Google Photos. Your backup settings are important to how and when Google Photos backs up your items.

1. Open Google Photos .
2. At the top, tap your account profile photo or initial Photos settings .
3. Tap Back up.
4. Check your settings:
   • Back up: Make sure "Back up" is turned on.
   • Backup account: Make sure you back up your photos and videos to the right Google Account.
   • Back up device folders: If you want to find photos and videos on your Android phone from other apps or devices in your Google Photos Account, make sure you turn on your available device folders.
   • When to back up: Make sure you know when Google Photos backs up your photos and videos. You can choose to back up items over mobile data.

Check your backup

Learn more about backup.

• If your photo is still in trash, you may be able to get it back. Learn how to restore a deleted photo.
• If your photo is in trash for over 60 days, the photo may be permanently deleted.
• If you use another photo app or gallery, and delete photos there, you might delete your photo before Google Photos can back up your photo.

Important:

• Make sure backup is on. You can only search for backed-up photos. Learn how to turn on backup.
• If you suddenly lose photos, they may have a different date.
• Photos taken before 4 AM are sorted into the previous day.
• If you download or scan a photo from a device with different date and time settings, the timestamp may be wrong. Learn how to change timestamps on photos.

Search for the right dates or keywords to find a lost photo or video. Sometimes, when you scan or download a photo from a device with the wrong date and time settings, the timestamp is different. Learn how to change timestamps on photos.

To find a recently added photo or video: 

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Photos app .
2. Sign in to your Google Account. 
3. At the bottom, tap Search .
4. Type Recently Added. 
5. Browse your recently added items. 

If your item isn't in Recently Added, you can search for a person, place, or object in the photo:

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Photos app .
2. At the bottom, tap Search .
3. Type what you want to find, like “dogs,” “New York City,” or if you tag your photos, someone’s name.

If you can’t find a photo with search, try to:

• Search with a different keyword.
• Search again in 3—5 days. It can take a while for photos to be searchable.

• If your photo is still in trash, you may be able to get it back. Learn how to restore a deleted photo.
• If your photo is in trash for over 60 days, the photo may be permanently deleted.
• If you use another photo app or gallery, and delete photos there, you might delete your photo before Google Photos can back up your photo.

It may be in your device folders.

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Photos app .
2. At the bottom, tap Collections On this device.
3. Check your device folders.

Back up your device folders to find photos from other apps in your Photos view. Learn how to back up your device folders.

If you’re missing photos or videos from other apps or devices, check your device folders.

1. On your Android device, open the Google Photos app .
2. At the bottom, tap Collections On this device.
3. If available, open your device folders to find your missing item.

If you want your device folder items to appear in your Photos tab, you can back them up automatically.

1. On your Android device, open the Google Photos app .
2. At the top, tap your account Profile photo or Initial.
3. Tap Photos settings Backup Back up device folders.

Note: If you delete an item from your device without backing up your device folders, the item won't appear in Google Photos.

If you can’t find a photo you don’t regularly see in your gallery view, it may be in your archive. Learn about your archive.

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Photos app .
2. Make sure you’re signed in to the right account.
3. At the bottom, tap Collections Archive.
   • If you access "Archive" often, you might also find it at the top.

1. On your Android device, open the Google Photos app .
2. Tap a Photo stack .
3. Tap Stacks grid .

Tip: In the grid, to take actions on a group of photos, you can select multiple items. Learn more about how to stack similar photos.

To prevent missing photos or videos in the future, make sure:

1. You keep your backup turned on, or understand how changing your backup settings impacts Google Photos. Learn more about backup.
2. You don't permanently delete items, or misplace them in your archive. Learn more about trash and archive.
3. You check your Google Photos device folders if you back up photos or videos on your Android phone from other apps. Learn more about backing up from other apps.
4. You check your recently added items to quickly find photos and videos in the order they were backed up. Learn how to find recently added items.

• Ask the Google Photos Community for more help
• Browse or search for more info in the Help Center

Related resources

• Send feedback or ask a question
• My photos aren't backing up
• Edit your photos
• Search by people, things & places in your photos