Troubleshoot | Google Photos Locked Folder Missing

Where do Google locked photos go?

After unlocking your lock screen password, strangers including thieves can browse all the information and get their needed data at will.

To protect their sensitive photos, videos, and files, many users have installed the Google Photos app on their Android phones. Because the Google Photos app releases a feature, Locked Folder that can hide users’ personal information and important documents.

Windows also has a hidden feature, you can use Windows File Explorer or CMD to show hidden files in Windows if you need.

If you’ve moved photos or other files to the Locked Folder, these photos will not appear in the Photos grid, memories, or album. Moreover, apps on your phones that have access to the album also cannot access these images.

Apart from that, your cloud backups will automatically delete these locked items if you have turned on cloud backups. In summary, you’ll have no choice but to access your locked files in the Locked Folder.

How to fix the Google Photos Locked Folder not showing?

In theory, users can browse and make changes to their photos after entering passwords or unlocking these items with a fingerprint.

But some users complained about the Google Photos locked folder not showing up.

Similar to the Locked Folder, Google Photos provides another hidden feature: Archive. Sometimes, your desired Google photos might be in your Archive folder rather than the Locked Folder. To avoid unnecessary steps, you’d go to the Archive folder to recheck.

Solution 1. Check your Wi-Fi connection

If the above fix is useless, it’s necessary for you to check your Wi-Fi connection because a poor Wi-Fi connection can discourage loading content. To some extent, it’s one of the reasons why the Google Photos Locked folder missing.

Solution 2. Check your Google account

When you find that photos from Google Photos are missing, you should also check your current account, as you may have multiple Google accounts and the photos you are looking for are not in the account you are currently logged into.

Solution 3. Recover deleted locked photos from Android via tools

If my Google Photos Locked Folder missing, so how do I recover photos from a Locked Folder in Google Photos? The answer is using data recovery software to recover deleted locked Google photos.

Because even after accidental deletion, the Android system will not automatically send your unwanted Google photos to your Recently Deleted folder. Not to mention restoring them.

Fortunately, there exists a possibility to recover deleted photos from the Locked Folder before data coverage. Though these deleted locked photos are invisible to you, you can also reappear them from your phones using third-party tools because these pictures are most likely still on your Android phones. 

Solution 4. Ask for help from Google Support

If you cannot find the Google Photos locked folder, then you can consider asking for help from Google Support. Just follow the steps: Go to Google Support > Contact us > Chat/Email.

Solution 5. Turn off third-party extensions

The issues you're experiencing may be caused by bugs and unresponsive scripts in third-party extensions. Therefore, you can try turning off some uncommon third-party extensions in your Chrome to see if they work.

Further reading: How to recover deleted photos from Google Photos?

Although the Locked Folder improves confidentiality, it also makes data recovery more difficult. Google Photo recovery is relatively easier without setting up a Locked Folder.

Solution 1. Recover permanently deleted photos from Google Photos via photo recovery software

But after 60 days or emptying your Trash manually, those Google users without backups will be prompted to utilize online photo recovery tools to recover permanently deleted photos from Google Photos.

Naturally, if you’ve downloaded Google photos to your hard drives, even after deletion, you can utilize leading Windows data recovery tools like MyRecover to recover deleted photos from computers.

Download MyRecover on your Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, or Windows Server computer to get your needed Google photos back!

Step 1. After launching MyRecover. Hover the mouse over the drive saved deleted files before, and click Scan.

Step 2. You can quickly locate your desired photos by Name, Path, Date, or Type. You can also wait to view all the deleted & lost files after the scanning process.

Step 3. Go to the Deleted Files/Recycle Bin/Other Missing Files folder and click “Recover x files” to recover your selected Google photos. After recovery, please choose another saved path to store these retrieved image files.

MyRecover

Powerful Photo Recovery Software

• Powerful features: Recover deleted & lost MS Office files, and different types of photos including photos in Google Photos.
• Easy-to-find: During Quick Scan and Deep Scan, you can search your desired files by Path, Filename, Date, etc.
• Convenient: Retain the original Path, Filename, and Format for the deleted files.
• Excellent compatibility: Support NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, and ReFS file systems.

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Solution 2. Check the Trash folder

How to recover deleted photos from Google Photos? Please open your Trash to restore your deleted Google photos because this temporary storage place can save deleted items for 60 days.

Step 1. Please go to the Google Photos site and log in with your Google account. Then click the “Trash” button.

Step 2. Select your desired photos and “Restore” them to their original locations.

In the end

The Google Photos Locked Folder missing, where is my Locked Folder Google Photos? Or how to recover deleted photos from Google Photos? After reading this passage, you may have a clearer understanding of the Locked Folder and how to solve these problems.

If you’re unwilling to suffer further damage, you’re advisable to put the following data loss prevention measures into action.

• Please think twice before deletion or emptying your Trash.
• Cloud backups offer you another way to restore permanently deleted Google photos. Thus, develop a good habit of backing up photos to Google Drive.

• For saved files on your Windows, you can make good use of free Windows features like File History or free backup software for Windows to back up files.