Fixed: Google Photos Locked Folder Missing

Why did my locked folder disappear in Google photos?

Google Photos allows users to move sensitive images, videos, and other material to a secured folder. This process will render the selected files unreachable in the Photos grid, albums, recollections, and search. However, you may occasionally see Google Photos locked folder missing, which puts data at risk of loss.

If your locked folder in Google Photos disappeared, it could be due to several reasons:

➳ App updates or bugs: Sometimes, app updates or bugs can cause issues with certain features, including the locked folder. Ensure your Google Photos app is up to date.
➳ Syncing issues: If there was a problem syncing your photos to the cloud, the folder might not appear on other devices or after reinstalling the app.
➳ Device-specific issue: The locked folder is stored locally on your device, so it won't appear on other devices or after resetting your phone. If the folder disappeared after resetting or switching devices, this could be why.
➳ Storage permissions: If the app lost permission to access storage or the necessary files, the folder could become access denied.
➳ Corrupt data: If the data in the locked folder was corrupted, the folder might disappear. This could happen due to a crash, improper shutdown, or other issues.
➳ User Action: It’s also possible that the folder was deleted or its contents moved by accident.

How to fix the Google Photos locked folder missing?

Users should be able to browse and edit their photos after unlocking them with a password or fingerprint. However, some have reported that the Locked Folder in Google Photos isn’t appearing as expected.

Like the Locked Folder, Google Photos also offers an Archive feature. Sometimes, photos may be stored in the Archive instead of the Locked Folder, so it’s worth checking there first to avoid unnecessary steps.

Solution 1. Check your Wi-Fi connection

If this solution doesn’t help, it’s important to check your Wi-Fi connection, as poor connectivity can prevent content from loading properly, which might be why the Locked Folder isn’t showing up.

Solution 2. Check your Google account

Another possible reason for missing photos is that you might be logged into the wrong Google account. If you have multiple accounts, the photos you’re searching for might be in a different one than the one you’re currently using.

Solution 3. Recover deleted locked photos from Android via tools

If your Google Photos Locked Folder is missing, you may wonder how to recover photos stored there. In this case, using data recovery software is a viable option. Even if photos have been accidentally deleted, Android doesn’t automatically move them to the Recently Deleted folder, making it impossible to restore them through standard methods.

Fortunately, there is a chance to recover these deleted photos before they are overwritten. Although these images are not visible, third-party tools can help retrieve them, as they likely still reside on your device.

Solution 4. Ask for help from Google Support

If the Locked Folder is still not visible, contacting Google Support might be necessary. You can do this by visiting Google Support, selecting “Contact us,” and choosing to chat or email.

Solution 5. Turn off third-party extensions

The problem could also be due to bugs or issues with third-party browser extensions. Disabling some of the less common extensions in Chrome might resolve the issue.

Bonus tip: How to recover Google Photos from a missing locked folder

While the Locked Folder feature enhances privacy, it also complicates data recovery. Retrieving photos from Google Photos is generally simpler without a Locked Folder in place.

However, if 60 days have passed or you've manually emptied your Trash, and you don’t have backups, you’ll likely need to use online photo recovery tools to restore permanently deleted photos from Google Photos.

If you've downloaded your Google photos to a hard drive, even after deletion, you can still recover them using top Windows data recovery tools like AOMEI FastRecovery.

To retrieve your deleted photos, download AOMEI FastRecovery on your Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, or Windows Server computer and follow the steps to restore your files.

Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI FastRecovery. Choose the exact partition or disk where your data lost and click Scan.

Step 2. Then, the recovery tool start to scan and search. lt will execute the “Quickly Scan" first for finding your deleted data fast, and then execute the “Deep Scan" for searching other lost data.

Step 3. Once the scan is completed, all deleted files, recycle bins and other missing files will be displayed. Please select the file you would like to recover and then click "Recover".

Step 4. Then, select a folder path to save your recovered photos.

Step 5. Wait patiently for this process of recovering ends.

Conclusion

Why Google Photos Locked Folder missing and how to fix this issue? How to recover deleted photos from Google Photos if you lose them? By now, you should have a better understanding of the Google Photos Locked Folder and how to address these issues. To keep your photos safe, it’s a good habit to back up them or other data regularly.