Have you updated your smartphone to Android 10 and can’t find the usual gallery? Or did all the photos disappear after resetting the settings? This problem is familiar to many users - in the tenth version of the OS, Google radically changed its approach to storing media files. Now the standard Gallery application can be hidden, replaced by Google Photos or completely absent from the menu.

In this article we will look at all possible gallery locations in Android 10including hidden system folders and alternative access methods. You will learn how to return the standard application, why photos may “disappear” after an update, and what to do if the gallery is empty, although there are files on the phone. The instructions are suitable for all popular brands: Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei, Realme and others with shells based on pure Android.

In most firmware based on Android 10 the standard gallery is hidden under different names. Manufacturers often rename it or integrate it into other system utilities. Here's where to look for it:

  • 📱 Apps menu: Scroll through all the pages at the bottom of the screen - the icon may be called “Photos,” “Media,” “Gallery,” or “Albums.” On Samsung this application Samsung Gallery, on Xiaomi — Mi Gallery.
  • 🔍 Search by system: Swipe down on the main screen and enter “gallery” or “photo” in the search bar. The system will show all related applications, including hidden ones.
  • 📁 Google folder: Sometimes the gallery is hidden in a folder with other Google services. Look there if you don’t find the icon on the main screen.

If the standard application is missing, it may have been disabled or deleted. To return:

  1. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications.
  2. Tap on the three dots in the upper right corner and select “Show system ones.”
  3. Find “Gallery” in the list (or com.android.gallery3d), click "Enable".
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On some smartphones (for example, Huawei), the gallery is built into the “Files” application. Open it and go to the “Images” or “Multimedia” tab.

Starting from Android 10many manufacturers make Google Photos the default application for viewing media. This is due to Google's policy on integrating its services. Advantages of this approach:

  • ☁️ Automatic synchronization with cloud (if enabled).
  • 🔎 Smart search by faces, places and objects in the photo.
  • 🎨 Built-in editor with filters and retouching tools.

However, Google Photos has some disadvantages:

Problem Solution
Does not show all folders Go to Settings → Folders on the device and turn on display of hidden folders.
Takes a lot places Clear the cache in Settings → Storage → Google Photos.
Slow performance Disable automatic background downloads.

If you prefer the standard gallery, you can return it as the default application:

  1. Open any image through the file manager.
  2. Click “Open with” → “Gallery” → “Always”.
📊 Which gallery do you use most often?
Standard (built into the firmware)
Google Photos
Third-party (for example, QuickPic)
I don’t know which one I have

3. Searching for photos through the file manager: hidden folders and paths

If the gallery does not display photos, but you are sure that they are on the phone, check them through the file manager. In Android 10 media files are stored in several standard folders:

  • 📂 /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/ — the main folder for photos from the camera.
  • 📂 /storage/emulated/0/Pictures/ — screenshots and downloaded images.
  • 📂 /storage/emulated/0/Download/ — files downloaded from the Internet.
  • 📂 /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/ —media from applications (for example, WhatsApp or Telegram).

To see hidden folders:

  1. Open any file manager (for example, Files by Google or Solid Explorer).
  2. Tap on the three dots → “Settings” → enable “Show hidden files.”
  3. Go to /storage/emulated/0/ and check the folders .thumbnails (thumbnails) and .picassa (cache Google Photos).

Open File Manager|Enable Show Hidden Folders|Check DCIM Folder|Check Android/data Folder|View Google Photos Cache-->

Attention! Folders with a dot at the beginning (for example .nomedia) contain files that the gallery ignores by default. If you want photos from such a folder to be displayed, rename it by removing the dot.

The situation when the gallery does not show photos, although they are on the phone, is common: Here are the main reasons and ways to eliminate them:

  1. No permission to access storage:

    Go to Settings → Applications → Gallery → Permissions and enable access to files and media.

  2. Cache or application data is damaged:

    Clear the cache in Settings → Applications → Gallery → Storage → Clear cache. If that doesn’t help, click “Clear data” (this will reset the gallery settings).

  3. File .nomedia in folder:

    Some applications (for example, WhatsApp) create this file to hide media from the gallery. Delete it through the file manager.

  4. Scanning error. media:

    Restart the phone or manually start the scan by sending broadcast-intent: 

    adb shell am broadcast -a android.intent.action.MEDIA_SCANNER_SCAN_FILE -d file:///storage/emulated/0/DCIM/

What to do if the photos are missing after updating to Android 10?

After updating the system, the media database may be reset. Try:

1. Connect the phone to the PC and check. availability of files through Windows/macOS Explorer.

2. Install a third-party gallery (for example, Simple Gallery) - it often finds files that the standard one does not see.

3. Use data recovery apps (DiskDigger, Recuva) - but only if the files have been deleted, and not just hidden.

If none of the methods help, check if the mode "Battery saver" is enabled for the gallery application. In this case, the system limits background activity, and media files may not be indexed.

5. Alternative galleries: which applications are better

If the standard gallery in Android 10 is unstable, consider third-party applications. They often offer more functions and do a better job of organizing media files. Top 5 alternatives:

  • 🏆 Simple Gallery Pro - without unnecessary water, support for cloud storage, built-in editor.
  • 🔒 A+ Gallery — open source, no tracking, dark theme support.
  • 📱 QuickPic — lightweight, fast, with control gestures.
  • ☁️ F-Stop Gallery — for professionals, RAW support, photo tagging.
  • 🎨 Piktures — beautiful interface, smart albums, built-in cloud backup.

When choosing an alternative, pay attention to:

  • Support Android 10+ (some old galleries may not work correctly).
  • Availability Incognito mode for hidden photos.
  • Integration with Google Drive or other clouds.
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Third-party galleries are often better at indexing media files than standard ones, especially if you have many photo folders on the card memory.

Before installing, check reviews in Google Play —some applications may contain aggressive advertising or collect data about your files.

6. How to recover deleted photos in Android 10

If the photos were not lost due to a gallery failure, but were deleted, they can still be returned. Android 10 there are several recovery methods:

  1. Recycle Bin in Google Photos:

    Open Google Photos, tap on your avatar → “Cart”. Deleted files are stored there for 60 days.

  2. Local recovery:

    Use apps like DiskDigger (requires root access for deep scanning) or Dumpster (works like a recycle bin for all files).

  3. Backups:

    If backup was enabled in Google Account, check Settings → Google → Backup copying.

⚠️ Attention! The sooner you start recovery, the higher the chances of getting your files back. When you delete, the data is not immediately erased - it is marked as free space and gradually overwritten by new files. Avoid writing new data to the device before recovery!

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If you often delete photos by mistake, turn on automatic synchronization with Google Photo or install a recycle bin application (for example, Recycle Bin).

The standard gallery in Android 10 is often limited in functions, but it can be customized. Here's what you can do:

  • 🖼️ Sorting albums: In most galleries, you can change the display order (by date, name, size). Go to the application settings and find the “View” or “Sorting” section.
  • 🔒 Hidden folders: In Google Photos you can archive photos (they will remain on the device, but will not be displayed in the main stream. In the standard gallery, there is sometimes an option “Hide album.”
  • 🌓 Dark theme: Enabled in the application settings or through system settings (Settings → Display → Dark theme).

For advanced users:

  • Use ADBto disable unnecessary system galleries: 
    adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.gallery3d
  • Set up automatic backup via Tasker or MacroDroid.

⚠️ Attention! Changing system applications via ADB can lead to unstable operation of the phone. Before experiments, make a backup of your data.

Why did all of them disappear after updating to Android 10? photos?

This is due to the fact that the system is rebuilding the media database. Try:

  1. Restart the phone.
  2. Clear the gallery cache in the application settings.
  3. Wait 10-15 minutes - sometimes indexing occurs in the background mode.

If the photos do not appear, check them through a file manager or PC.

How to prevent the gallery from showing screenshots?

Create an empty file in the folder Pictures/Screenshots data-i="209">Open the file manager. .nomedia:

  1. Open your file manager.
  2. Go to /storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots/.
  3. Create a new text file and rename it to .nomedia (with a period at the beginning).

After this, the screenshots will not be displayed in the gallery, but will remain on device.

Is it possible to transfer the gallery to a memory card?

Yes, but with reservations:

  • Some firmware (for example, on Samsung) allow you to select the default save location in the camera settings.
  • For existing photos, use the file manager: select files → “Move” → select a memory card.

Important! Memory cards microSD slower than the built-in memory, so the gallery may work slower.

Why does Google Photos duplicate photos?

This happens due to:

  • Synchronization with the cloud (photos are stored both locally and online).
  • Automatic creation of edited copies (for example, after applying filters).

To remove duplicates:

  1. Open Google Photos → three dots → “Free space” → “Remove duplicates.”
  2. Disable automatic backup in settings, if you don't need it.
How to get the old gallery back after updating?

If you don't like the new gallery in Android 10, you can:

  • Install the APK of the old version (for example, Google Gallery from Android 9), but it may work unstable.
  • Use third-party applications with a similar interface (for example, QuickPic in classic mode).
  • Roll back the firmware to Android 9 (risky, requires unlocking loader).

The best option is to get used to the new gallery or choose an alternative from Google Play.