Saving your favorite photos to a separate folder or album is one of the most popular functions on smartphones. But not all users know that on Android there are several ways to add photos to favorites, and they depend on the device manufacturer, operating system version and even the installed gallery application. In this article, we will look at all the current methods: from standard Google Photos tools to proprietary solutions from Samsung, Xiaomi and other brands.

The peculiarity of Android is that each manufacturer can modify the gallery interface. For example, on Samsung Galaxy with a shell One UI the algorithm differs from pure Android on Google Pixel. We'll look at universal methods that work on most devices, as well as unique features for popular brands. If you often lose important pictures in the chaos of the gallery or want to quickly access your favorite shots, this instruction will help systematize your media library.

The application Google Photos is preinstalled on most Android devices and offers one of the most convenient ways to manage your favorite photos. The main advantage is synchronization between devices via a Google account. To add a photo to your favorites:

  1. Open the application Google Photos (icon in the form of a multi-colored pinwheel).
  2. Find the desired photo and tap on it to open it in full screen mode.
  3. In the bottom toolbar, click on the icon "Heart" (♥) or "Add to favorites" (depending on the application version).
  4. The photo will automatically appear in the album Favorites, which can be found in the section Library → Albums.

Important: if you have disabled synchronization with Google Drive, your favorite photos will only be available on the current one device. To enable backup, go to Settings → Backup and synchronization and activate the switch.

  • ✅ Pros: cross-platform (access from PC, tablet), automatic backup, integration with Google Drive.
  • ❌ Cons: takes up space in cloud storage (if the limit is exceeded, new photos will not be synchronized).
📊 Which gallery do you use more often?
Google Photos
Standard manufacturer gallery
Another application (for example, QuickPic)
I don’t know which one I have

Method 2: Manufacturer branded galleries

Smartphone manufacturers often replace the standard Android gallery with their own solutions. Let's look at how to add a photo to favorites on popular brands:

Samsung Galaxy (One UI)

On devices Samsung the application is used Samsung Gallery. Here, selected photos are placed in a separate folder Favorites, which is displayed on the main screen of the gallery. Instructions:

  1. Open Samsung Gallery and select a photo.
  2. Tap on icon "Three dots"** (⋮) in the upper right corner.
  3. In the menu, select Add to favorites.

To remove a photo from favorites, repeat the steps and select Remove from favorites.

Xiaomi (MIUI)

On smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO the application is used Gallery with the function Favorites. A feature of MIUI is the ability to create smart albumsthat automatically sort photos by date, place or people. To add a photo:

  1. Open the photo in the gallery and click on the icon "Star"** (★) in the bottom panel.
  2. The photo will appear in the album Favorites, which is available in the section Albums.

Google Pixel (Pure Android)

On Pixel Google Photos is set by default, but if you use an alternative gallery (for example, Google Photos, but if you're using an alternative gallery (like Simple Gallery), the algorithm may differ. In the standard version, the method works from Method 1.

Manufacturer Gallery application Icon for favorites Where to look for an album
Samsung Samsung Gallery ⋮ → Add to favorites Gallery main screen
Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO Gallery (MIUI) ★ (Star) Albums → Favorites
Google Pixel Google Photos ♥ (Heart) Library → Albums → Favorites
Huawei/Honor Gallery (EMUI) ⋮ → To favorites Albums → Favorites
💡

If your smartphone does not have the “Favorites” icon in the gallery, try updating the application via Google Play. Manufacturers often add this function in new versions.

Method 3: Creating a separate album for your favorite photos

If your gallery does not have the “Favorites” function or it does not work well, you can create it a separate album manually. This method is universal and works on any device. Instructions for Google Photos:

  1. Open the photo you want to add to your favorites.
  2. Tap on the icon "Add to"** (usually located next to the button “Share”)
  3. Select New album and name it, for example, Favorite photos 2026.
  4. Click Done — the photo will be added to a new album.

To add other photos to this album:

  1. Select several photos (press the first photo with your finger, then tap on the others).
  2. Click "Add to"** and select the created album.
  • 📁 Advantage: You can create several albums for different categories (for example, "Family", "Travel", "Selfies").
  • 🔍 Disadvantage: photos are not marked as “favorites” in other galleries.

Open Google Photos|Select a photo and click “Add to”|Create a new album|Add other photos to this album-->

Method 4: Using file manager

If you prefer to work with files directly, you can manually move the photo to a separate folder via file manager. This method is suitable for users who do not want to depend on gallery apps. Instructions:

  1. Install a file manager (for example, Files by Google, Solid Explorer or standard My files to Samsung).
  2. Go to folder DCIM → Camera (or another folder where your photos are stored).
  3. Select the desired photos, click "Move" or "Copy".
  4. Create a new folder (for example, Favorite_Photos) in the root directory or on a memory card.
  5. Insert photos into this folder.

Now all photos from this folder will be displayed in the gallery as a separate album. The disadvantage of the method is that when you delete photos from the folder, they will disappear from the gallery. To avoid this, use copying instead of moving.

⚠️ Attention: If you are moving photos to a memory card (SD), make sure it is formatted as internal memory (setting in Settings → Memoryotherwise). will not see the files.

Method 5: Third-party applications for managing photos

If standard Android tools do not suit you, can be used third-party galleries with advanced functions for working with favorite photos. Popular options:

  • 📱 Simple Gallery Pro —supports tags, color tags and smart albums. Favorite photos can be marked with stars (★) or hearts (♥).
  • 🖼️ QuickPic — allows you to create hidden albums and sort photos by rating.
  • 🌟 F-Stop Gallery —a professional application with support for EXIF data and a flexible tagging system.

Example of settings in Simple Gallery Pro:

  1. Open the photo in the application.
  2. Tap on the icon "Edit tags"** (tag icon).
  3. Select a tag Favorites or create a new one (for example, Top2026).
  4. Save the changes - the photo will be displayed in the appropriate section.

The advantage of third-party galleries is the flexibility of settings. For example, in F-Stop you can assign hot keys to quickly add photos to favorites or configure automatic sorting by shooting date.

⚠️ Attention: When using third-party galleries, disable auto-synchronization with Google Photos if you do not want to duplicate photos in the cloud. This can be done in the application settings in the section Cloud.

How to remove a photo from favorites

If you want to remove a photo from favorites, the algorithm depends on the way you added it:

  • 🔄 Google Photos: open the photo → tap on the filled one heart (♥) → it will become empty and the photo will disappear from the album Favorites.
  • 📁 Samsung Gallery: open photo → ⋮ → Remove from favorites.
  • ★ Xiaomi MIUI: open the photo → tap on the filled star (★).
  • 🗃️ Manual album: delete the photo from the folder/album through the file manager or gallery.

Important: deleting a photo from favorites does not completely remove it from the gallery - it remains in the main album. data-i="211">All photos does not remove it from the gallery completely - it remains in the main album All photos or Camera. To erase a photo permanently, use the function Delete in the context menu.

What to do if a photo has disappeared from your favorites?

If a photo has disappeared from the album Favorites, but remains in the main gallery, check:

1. Is synchronization disabled in Google Photos (if you used the cloud).

2. Have the gallery settings been reset after updating the OS?

3. Have you moved photos manually through the file manager.

If the photo has been completely deleted, check Trash in the gallery - files are stored there for up to 30 days.

Problems and solutions

Sometimes users encounter difficulties when working with selected photos. Let's consider typical problems and ways to solve them:

Problem Possible cause Solution
The “Favorites” album is not displayed Gallery problems or disabled synchronization Update the application galleries or check your Google Photos settings (Settings → Backup)
Photo is added to favorites, but not synchronized Google Drive has run out of space Clean up space or buy additional storage
The “Favorites” icon is inactive The photo is already in favorites or the gallery does not support the function Check whether the photo was previously marked. If not, use an alternative method (for example, creating an album)
After resetting the settings, favorites. missing Local gallery data has been deleted Restore the photo from a Google Photos backup or check the folder on the memory card

If none of the methods work, try:

  1. Clear the gallery cache in the application settings (Settings → Applications → Gallery → Memory → Clear cache).
  2. Reboot the device.
  3. Install an alternative gallery (for example, Simple Gallery).
⚠️ Attention: On some devices (for example, Huawei c EMUI), the "Favorites" function may be hidden behind additional settings. Check the section Gallery settings → Manage albums.
💡

If you often work with favorite photos, set up automatic synchronization with Google Photos - this will protect your photos from being lost when you reset your phone or replace the device.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions

Can I add a video to favorites in the same way?

Yes, in most galleries (including Google Photos), the algorithm for adding videos to favorites is identical to working with photo. Click on the video, then select the icon hearts (♥) or stars (★) depending on the application. The video will appear in the same album Favorites.

How to transfer your favorite photos to a new phone?

There are three ways:

  1. Via Google Photo: log in to the new phone using the same Google account - your favorite photos are synchronized automatically.
  2. Via a memory card: copy the folder with your favorite photos to the SD card and insert it into the new phone.
  3. Via file manager: transfer the folder via cable or via the cloud (Google Drive, Dropbox).
Why are selected photos duplicated in the gallery?

This happens if you use several galleries at the same time (for example, Google. Photo and the manufacturer's standard gallery). Each application creates its own database, and photos can be displayed twice. Solution:

  1. Select one main application for working with photos.
  2. Disable autorun of unnecessary galleries in the settings (Settings → Applications → Autorun).
Is it possible to make selected photos inaccessible to others applications?

Yes, for this:

  1. Move the photo to hidden folder (for example, .nomedia - add a dot at the beginning of the folder name).
  2. Use a gallery with a built-in hiding function (for example, Simple Gallery Pro allows you to protect albums with a password).
  3. On Samsung you can use Secure Folder (Settings → Biometrics and security → Secure Folder).

Please note: hidden folders will not be displayed in standard galleries, but will remain accessible through the file manager.

How to export selected photos to your computer?

Export methods:

  • 🖥️ Via USB cable: connect your phone to your PC, select mode File transfer and copy the folder with your favorite photos.
  • ☁️ Via Google Photos: go to photos.google.com from your computer, select an album Favorites and click Download all.
  • 📧 By email: select a photo in the gallery, click Share and send to your email.