When you turn on backup, your photos are stored at photos.google.com.
Important: If you're inactive in Google Photos for two years or more, your content may be deleted. Learn about the Google Photos inactivity policy.
Before you get started
Check your account
Some photos can seem to disappear because you're on a different account.
Check your backup status
Review backup settings
- Open Google Photos .
- At the top, tap your account profile photo or initial Photos settings .
- Tap Back up.
- Check your settings:
- Back up: Make sure that 'Back up' is turned on.
- Backup account: Make sure that 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 that you turn on your available device folders.
- When to back up: Make sure that you know when Google Photos backs up your photos and videos. You can choose to back up items over mobile data.
Tip: If you use an iPhone or iPad, do not quit the Google Photos app while it’s backing up items.
Find your missing photos and videos
Restore recently deleted photos and videos
- If your photo is still in the bin, you may be able to get it back. Learn how to restore a deleted photo.
- If your photo is in the bin 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.
Search for lost photos and videos
Important:
- Make sure that 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 4.00 a.m. 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.
To find a recently added photo or video:
- On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Photos app .
- Sign in to your Google Account.
- At the bottom, tap Search .
- Type Recently added.
- Browse your recently added items.
- On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Photos app .
- At the bottom, tap Search .
- Type what you want to find, like 'dogs', 'New York City' or, if you tag your photos, someone's name.
- Search with a different keyword.
- Search again in 3–5 days. It can take a while for photos to be searchable.
Find photos after you've freed up space in Google Photos
- If your photo is still in the bin, you may be able to get it back. Learn how to restore a deleted photo.
- If your photo is in the bin 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.
Find photos from apps like Facebook or Instagram
- On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Photos app .
- At the bottom, tap Collections On this device.
- Check your device folders.
Find items from other apps
Note: These steps are available if you use Google Photos on an Android phone or tablet.
If you're missing photos or videos from other apps or devices, check your device folders.
- On your Android device, open the Google Photos app .
- At the bottom, tap Collections On this device.
- 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.
- On your Android device, open the Google Photos app .
- At the top, tap your account profile photo or initial.
- Tap Photos settings Backup Back up device folders.
Find an archived photo or screenshot
- On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Photos app .
- Make sure that you're signed in to the correct account.
- At the bottom, tap Collections Archive.
- If you access 'Archive' often, you might also find it at the top.
Check your photo stacks for missing photos
If you can't find a photo, it could be in a photo stack. To find all photos in a photo stack from a grid:
- On your Android device, open the Google Photos app .
- Tap a photo stack .
- Tap Stacks grid .
Avoid losing photos or videos
To prevent missing photos or videos in the future, make sure that:
- You keep your backup turned on or understand how changing your backup settings impacts Google Photos. Learn more about backup.
- You don't permanently delete items or misplace them in your archive. Learn more about bin and archive.
- 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.
- You check your recently added items to quickly find photos and videos in the order that they were backed up. Learn how to find recently added items.
Still missing photos?
- Ask the Google Photos community for more help
- Browse or search for more info in the Help Centre