Updating the operating system Android to version 11 often brings not only new security features, but also noticeable changes in the user interface. Many users are faced with a situation where the usual icon for viewing photos suddenly disappears from the main screen or from the menu of all applications. This causes panic, especially if the device stores important pictures that urgently need to be shown or edited.
In fact, the application does not disappear forever. In most cases standard media browser it is simply moved to the Google tools folder or hidden due to a malfunction of the launcher. Understanding the logic of the system will help you quickly find access to your media library without the need to download third-party software.
In this article we will look in detail at why the shortcut might have disappeared, how to find built-in viewers, and what to do if the standard application was deleted or disabled. You will learn how to manage hidden folders and restore access to your photos in a few minutes.
Standard Google Photos and Gallery applications
The first thing that owners of smartphones based on Android 11 need to understand is that in the “clean” version of the operating system from Google there is no application called “Gallery”. Its role is fully performed by the service Google Photos. It is this tool that opens images by default when you click on a preview in messages or the browser.
Smartphone manufacturers such as Samsung, Xiaomi or Huaweioften add their own skins. Such devices may contain two different applications for working with images: a system one from Google and a proprietary one from the manufacturer. If you updated, the priority may have shifted towards the Google ecosystem.
⚠️ Attention: Do not confuse the "Photos" shortcut (Google Photos) and the "Gallery" (manufacturer's system application). They may have different synchronization functionality and different paths to hidden albums.
To check which application is the main one, try opening any picture from the messenger. The system will prompt you to select a default app. If you select Google Photos, its icon will appear most often in the interface.
If you prefer the classic folder view, install any third-party gallery from the Play Store and set it as the default application for opening JPEG or PNG files.
Search through the menu of all applications and search
The fastest way to find a missing shortcut is to use the built-in search. B Android 11 it works globally, scanning not only installed apps, but also the contents of files. Swipe up from the center of the home screen or tap the Google search bar.
Enter the word “Photos” or “Gallery”. If the application is installed, but simply hidden on one of the desktop pages, the system will show its location. Often, users accidentally drag icons into folders called "Google", "Tools" or "System", forgetting about it.
- 🔍 Enter the name of the application in the search bar on the desktop.
- 📂 Check the "Google" folder, where services are often hidden after an update.
- ⚙️ Go to the settings and use the search options by entering “gallery”.
- 🗣️ Use the voice assistant by saying “Open gallery”.
If the search returns a result, but there is no icon on the screen, the shortcut may have been deleted from the desktop, although the application itself remains in the system. Long pressing on a found item in the search will add it back to the home screen.
Setting up the display of hidden albums
Often users are not looking for the application itself, but for specific folders that are no longer displayed after the update. In Android 11 the rules for accessing the file system have changed, and some directories (for example, Android/data or Android/obb) have become hidden by default for security.
To return the display of hidden albums in Google Photos, you need to change the display settings. Go to the application, click on your profile avatar in the upper right corner and select "Photo Settings". There is an item “Show or hide photos on the device.”
In this menu you will see a list of all folders on your phone. Some of them may be disabled. Turn on the toggle switches next to the folders whose images you want to see in the general feed. This is especially true for messenger folders, such as Telegram or WhatsApp.
☑️ Checking the visibility of albums
Restoring a deleted or disabled application
If the search does not produce results, the application may have been accidentally deleted or disabled in the system settings. In Android 11 some system components can be “frozen”, which makes them invisible to the user, but they continue to take up space.
To check, go to Settings → Applications → Manage applications. Find "Photo" or "Gallery" in the list. If you see the Enable button, the application has been disabled. Click it to return the functionality.
If the standard application is completely deleted (which is possible on some shells), it can be returned through the store Google Play. Find "Google Photos" or a gallery from your manufacturer (for example, "Samsung Gallery") and click "Install".
| Status | Where to look | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Application hidden | All menu applications | Drag to desktop |
| Application disabled | Settings → Applications | Press the "Enable" button |
| Application deleted | Google Play Market | Click "Install" |
| Launcher failure | Settings → Applications | Clear launcher cache |
What to do if the "Enable" button is inactive?
If the button is gray and cannot be pressed, the application may be a critical system component that cannot be removed, but can only be updated through the Play Store. Try to find an update for Google Play Services.
Working with files through the File Manager
Sometimes the problem lies not in the application, but in the paths to the files. After the update Android some folders may change their access rights. If the gallery does not see the photos, try opening them directly through the system explorer.
Locate the Files or File Manager application (often located in the Tools folder). Go to "Pictures" or "Internal Storage". All graphic files are displayed here, regardless of the gallery settings.
If you found your photos here, but they do not appear in the gallery, the problem is in indexing the media files. Try rebooting your device. If this does not help, you can use the command to force a media scan, but this requires connecting to a computer and ADB.
adb shell am broadcast -a android.intent.action.MEDIA_MOUNTED -d "file:///sdcard/"This command will force the system to rescan the internal memory and update the media database. After it is completed, the photos should appear in the gallery.
If the files are visible in Explorer, but not in the gallery, the problem is in the media file database, and not in deleting photos. A reboot most often solves this problem.
Alternative solutions and third-party galleries
If standard tools Android 11 do not suit you or do not work correctly, nothing prevents you from installing an alternative application. App stores offer dozens of options with advanced functionality.
Popular options, such as Simple Gallery (or its forks), A Gallery or F-Stop, provide more flexible settings for sorting, hiding albums and editing. They often work faster than standard solutions.
- 🚀 Simple Gallery —lightweight and open source.
- 🎨 A Gallery —modern design and smart distribution.
- 🔒 F-Stop —powerful tools for organizing and tagging.
- 📂 QuickPic —classic fast viewer.
After installation Third-party gallery system may ask which application to use to open images by default. Select a new application and check the “Always” box to forget about problems with the standard gallery.
⚠️ Attention: When installing third-party galleries, carefully read the permissions. Some applications may require access to contacts or location, which is not required to view photos.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why did all the photos disappear after the Android 11 update?
Most likely, the photos were not deleted, but simply hidden due to the folder display settings being reset in the Google Photos application. Go to the application settings and check the "Show or hide photos on device" section. Also check your cloud storage trash.
Is it possible to get back the old Samsung gallery after updating?
Yes, if you upgraded from an older version of One UI. Go to the Galaxy Store (not the Play Store), search for the Gallery app from Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and try updating it or reinstalling it. If it was completely deleted, you can download it again from the same place.
Where is the folder with hidden photos in Android 11?
In Google Photos, hidden photos are located in the "Library" → "Settings" → "Hidden Photos" section (or just the "Hidden" folder in the bottom panel). In the file manager, they can be located in a folder .thumbnails or have a dot prefix in the name, which makes them hidden by default.
How to take a screenshot if the volume button does not work?
In Android 11, you can use the combination of the "Power" + "Power" buttons (if configured), swipe down with three fingers (on some skins) or through the quick settings menu in the notification shade, adding the “Screenshot” button there.