I use the screenshot feature almost daily and it has been working fine until the other night. Suddenly, when I open the Gallery app, the Screenshots album shows no cover image, just a gray Gallery app icon, and then disappears within a split second. I cannot see or access it at all within the Gallery app, including from "All Albums" (though it is chosen to be on the front page). The folder and all the image files are still on my phone, as I can see them in My Folders and even open them from there in Gallery.
I thought maybe the folder got too many images in it, so I moved them to a different folder, but that didn’t work. I thought maybe the folder got corrupted, so I deleted it, but when I took another screenshot to have the phone create the folder again, it did not fix the problem. There was an update for my phone OS, so I updated, but that didn’t fix the problem.
Thanks for any help!
Try clearing the system cache...
I had the same problem, iirc it was solved during a flash/full wipe.
I also had a problem with every single image showing up... apart from the standard folders like screenshot.
With simple gallery at least, you can exclude folders. Or .nomedia
Candiety said:
I had the same problem, iirc it was solved during a flash/full wipe.
I also had a problem with every single image showing up... apart from the standard folders like screenshot.
With simple gallery at least, you can exclude folders. Or .nomedia
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's not solving it, it's nuking it. It may reoccur; always best to find to root cause. Only exceptions are after a major firmware upgrade, a boot loop, changes in hidden user settings, malware, etc. Poorly coded 3rd party apps can occasionally permanently alter hidden user settings if so it's important to not reload that app after a factory reset. Regardless back up all critical data now if it isn't...
There maybe a conflicting 3rd party app, try in safe mode. Try clearing the Gallery app data before a reset, maybe other Samsung system apps as well.
Play with it for at least a week or two before doing a factory reset for a minor issue like this.
Do some Google searches... you're likely not the only one that had this problem.
blackhawk said:
Try clearing the system cache...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I'll try that!
ButterflyFlutterflyMyOhMy said:
Thanks, I'll try that!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're welcome. It's always worth a try and can clear bizarre behaviors. Zero risk. I do it about once every month or two as part of routine maintenance or if troubleshooting.
If you don't upgrade or update Android loads can be very long lived. One reason I advocate finding the root cause. This N10+'s last factory reset was in June 2020; still running fast and very stable. Zero malware on this load, still running on Pie.
blackhawk said:
You're welcome. It's always worth a try and can clear bizarre behaviors. Zero risk. I do it about once every month or two as part of routine maintenance or if troubleshooting.
If you don't upgrade or update Android loads can be very long lived. One reason I advocate finding the root cause. This N10+'s last factory reset was in June 2020; still running fast and very stable. Zero malware on this load, still running on Pie.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately, that didn’t solve the problem. Any other ideas? Samsung never got back to me in the help section of Samsung Members, and nobody on there had any valid ideas in the community section.
ButterflyFlutterflyMyOhMy said:
Unfortunately, that didn’t solve the problem. Any other ideas? Samsung never got back to me in the help section of Samsung Members, and nobody on there had any valid ideas in the community section.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try in safe mode.
No apps were disabled using a Package Disabler or adb edits, right?
If global power management is active, turn it off.
Make sure all Samsung system apps have the permissions they need.
It's likely a settings issue... play with it. Androids wuv attention.
blackhawk said:
Try in safe mode.
No apps were disabled using a Package Disabler or adb edits, right?
If global power management is active, turn it off.
Make sure all Samsung system apps have the permissions they need.
It's likely a settings issue... play with it. Androids wuv attention.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I downloaded a couple of other gallery apps to see if they saw the album/folder. One from Google did, but another from Google (the pre-installed one that I'd long-ago disabled) did not, and two other apps did. Only one had the ability to change the app cover pic, but that didn't affect the Gallery app from Samsung. So, I made the decision to Clear Data for the app even though I'd have to set up the albums again and lose everything in the Trash folder (I do sometimes undelete pics, especially, uhm, racy ones to share again before deleting them again ). I didn’t have to sign back in and it kept my sync settings with OneDrive, thankfully. Most importantly, it FIXED the problem with the screenshot folder! I just tried taking a random screenshot to make sure it would still work after and it did. Phew! It was annoying to set my albums on the first page up again (choose them and drag them in the order I want them in/most importance, like Snapseed and Screenshots in the top row with Camera and the Camera album from my previous phone) and lose the Trash, but worth it.
Thank you for the help!
ButterflyFlutterflyMyOhMy said:
I downloaded a couple of other gallery apps to see if they saw the album/folder. One from Google did, but another from Google (the pre-installed one that I'd long-ago disabled) did not, and two other apps did. Only one had the ability to change the app cover pic, but that didn't affect the Gallery app from Samsung. So, I made the decision to Clear Data for the app even though I'd have to set up the albums again and lose everything in the Trash folder (I do sometimes undelete pics, especially, uhm, racy ones to share again before deleting them again ). I didn’t have to sign back in and it kept my sync settings with OneDrive, thankfully. Most importantly, it FIXED the problem with the screenshot folder! I just tried taking a random screenshot to make sure it would still work after and it did. Phew! It was annoying to set my albums on the first page up again (choose them and drag them in the order I want them in/most importance, like Snapseed and Screenshots in the top row with Camera and the Camera album from my previous phone) and lose the Trash, but worth it.
Thank you for the help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're welcome.
Yay! Now you feel like an ace So much more rewarding than arbitrary doing a factory reset.
The question remains what caused it to happen.
If it reoccures try to remember the events before it manifested itself that may have caused it.
A scripted malware jpeg from a download can cause hell, damaging other files in the same folder. Deleting that jpeg will stop the damage. The trigger is opening the jpeg to view it; it will then damage other files in that folder. Some can be repaired easily if it just changed the file type suffix, other files have deeper damage. I hate these critters.
All downloads* especially jpegs and pngs should go to the download folder first. Open them there first before transferring anywhere else. Look for changes in other files in that folder.
May be the only way to spot these vermin. Antivirus apps may not ID them...
*Scan with online Virustotal any file that may warrant it before installing or moving out of the download folder. If there's any doubt, delete the file. Downloads are a known malware vector... delete any files you didn't download. Police the download folder daily. Scanning with Malwarebytes may tag infected files there too.
blackhawk said:
You're welcome.
Yay! Now you feel like an ace So much more rewarding than arbitrary doing a factory reset.
The question remains what caused it to happen.
If it reoccures try to remember the events before it manifested itself that may have caused it.
A scripted malware jpeg from a download can cause hell, damaging other files in the same folder. Deleting that jpeg will stop the damage. The trigger is opening the jpeg to view it; it will then damage other files in that folder. Some can be repaired easily if it just changed the file type suffix, other files have deeper damage. I hate these critters.
All downloads* especially jpegs and pngs should go to the download folder first. Open them there first before transferring anywhere else. Look for changes in other files in that folder.
May be the only way to spot these vermin. Antivirus apps may not ID them...
*Scan with online Virustotal any file that may warrant it before installing or moving out of the download folder. If there's any doubt, delete the file. Downloads are a known malware vector... delete any files you didn't download. Police the download folder daily. Scanning with Malwarebytes may tag infected files there too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I only have screenshots in that folder, only sometimes moving some out to organize them (ex. relationship memes from Instagram in one folder, regular memes stay in the screenshots folder, random things I need to save to refer to go in a random-screenshots folder, house ideas go in another folder, etc.), never moving anything into it. Downloads are in the Downloads (with or without the "s", I forget which is the current one) folder, may or may not be moved or deleted depending on their use. I have an anti-virus app that runs all the time, tells me when anything installs (because it scans it), etc.
ButterflyFlutterflyMyOhMy said:
I only have screenshots in that folder, only sometimes moving some out to organize them (ex. relationship memes from Instagram in one folder, regular memes stay in the screenshots folder, random things I need to save to refer to go in a random-screenshots folder, house ideas go in another folder, etc.), never moving anything into it. Downloads are in the Downloads (with or without the "s", I forget which is the current one) folder, may or may not be moved or deleted depending on their use. I have an anti-virus app that runs all the time, tells me when anything installs (because it scans it), etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You really don't need antivirus running real time if using Android 9 or higher... unless you do stupid things. Android 9 is very robust and secure if used right. I run a logging firewall always, this is more useful than antivirus. Any app that doesn't require internet access to work is blocked.
I scan every couple weeks with free Malwarebytes and Trojan Scanner, that's it. In 3 years Malwarebytes tagged one trojan preloader that slipped through the Samsung browser. I would've spotted it anyway as I police the download folder almost daily. Almost all malware is user installed or downloaded.
blackhawk said:
You really don't need antivirus running real time if using Android 9 or higher... unless you do stupid things. Android 9 is very robust and secure if used right. I run a logging firewall always, this is more useful than antivirus. Any app that doesn't require internet access to work is blocked.
I scan every couple weeks with free Malwarebytes and Trojan Scanner, that's it. In 3 years Malwarebytes tagged one trojan preloader that slipped through the Samsung browser. I would've spotted it anyway as I police the download folder almost daily. Almost all malware is user installed or downloaded.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's just how it works, it runs all the time. Been using it for many years. Comes with my plan for my PC anti-virus program. Also has features to find a lost/stolen phone with a pic if someone tries to use it, tells you what apps have certain features like ads or access, etc. And tells you if anything installs (like, did you know Facebook updates itself multiple times a day?).
ButterflyFlutterflyMyOhMy said:
That's just how it works, it runs all the time. Been using it for many years. Comes with my plan for my PC anti-virus program. Also has features to find a lost/stolen phone with a pic if someone tries to use it, tells you what apps have certain features like ads or access, etc. And tells you if anything installs (like, did you know Facebook updates itself multiple times a day?).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did it ever find any serious Android malware like a trojan preloader?
FB, WhatsApp, any social media, sales apps are either package blocked if bloatware or never installed. The firewall prevents any updating mischief. Even and especially Samsung updates are blocked.
blackhawk said:
Did it ever find any serious Android malware like a trojan preloader?
FB, WhatsApp, any social media, sales apps are either package blocked if bloatware or never installed. The firewall prevents any updating mischief. Even and especially Samsung updates are blocked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, no problem with any viruses.
ButterflyFlutterflyMyOhMy said:
Nope, no problem with any viruses.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You see why I said what I said?
Real time antivirus slows the Android and wastes valuable resources in doing so.
Manually scanning downloads and apps to be side loaded with online Virustotal yields better results and uses far less resources.
Android 9 is the most robust platform I ever used, it's easy to manage and keep secure.
blackhawk said:
You see why I said what I said?
Real time antivirus slows the Android and wastes valuable resources in doing so.
Manually scanning downloads and apps to be side loaded with online Virustotal yields better results and uses far less resources.
Android 9 is the most robust platform I ever used, it's easy to manage and keep secure.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It does scan apps before installing them if they are not from trusted sources, and scans updates/new installs as well. You can also manually scan all apps and all files. Among other features (which apps use which permissions, etc.). Definitely not slowing my phone at all. Even auto-updates downloading and installing doesn't slow this phone, unlike my previous one. I don't even notice anything installed until I see the anti-virus notification that an app updated, so was scanned.
The Screenshots album disappeared again this afternoon, ugh! At least I know how to fix it, but spending time to choose the front-page albums and put them in the order I need them in isn't something I wanted to do again. I don't know if the size of the folder/album is what is causing the problem or not, so I moved all but 32 of the latest screenshot images to a new album. Here's hoping it won't happen again! (And yes, I did a scan of my phone after, and no viruses.)
ButterflyFlutterflyMyOhMy said:
It does scan apps before installing them if they are not from trusted sources, and scans updates/new installs as well. You can also manually scan all apps and all files. Among other features (which apps use which permissions, etc.). Definitely not slowing my phone at all. Even auto-updates downloading and installing doesn't slow this phone, unlike my previous one. I don't even notice anything installed until I see the anti-virus notification that an app updated, so was scanned.
The Screenshots album disappeared again this afternoon, ugh! At least I know how to fix it, but spending time to choose the front-page albums and put them in the order I need them in isn't something I wanted to do again. I don't know if the size of the folder/album is what is causing the problem or not, so I moved all but 32 of the latest screenshot images to a new album. Here's hoping it won't happen again! (And yes, I did a scan of my phone after, and no viruses.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Duration of unused files in My Files is set to what? Double all Gallery settings.
Virustotal gives better oversight to make an informed decision. OTA upgrades and auto updates can and do break things. Samsung's will run well without them.
Just because a virus scan finds nothing it doesn't mean there is nothing. If it's an undetected scripted jpeg it's going to be a whole lot of "fun".
I am facing the same issue My screenshots folder also disappears from the gallery app.
ravenlida123 said:
I am facing the same issue My screenshots folder also disappears from the gallery app.
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Click to collapse
What model, OS version?
What Gallery app version?
Any recent firmware changes, OTA updates or upgrades?
Maybe Samsung auto updated this app?