Photos disappeared after S21 update??

I updated my Galaxy S21 a few days ago (think it was the July security update?) and noticed a bunch of photos from my gallery just disappeared. Not in Trash, not in Samsung Cloud, not on Google Photos either (I hadn’t turned that sync on). I didn’t factory reset or anything. Just a normal OTA update.
Anyone else ever face this? Is there a legit way to get them back or am I screwed?

Android recovery

All Replies

Viewing 6 replies - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)

Mira Lennox Lennox

Participant

August 22, 2025 at 9:46 am

Agree on using PC-based recovery. Those “free apps” in the Play Store don’t do jack. Proper software can at least scan the memory and show you what’s salvageable. You can preview before buying, so you’ll know if your pics are recoverable or not.

Silas Vane

Participant

August 22, 2025 at 9:45 am

Some are total garbage, but there are legit ones. I used one last month when my kid deleted a whole folder of pics. Needed a PC though, not just some random app from Play Store. If your phone’s storage hasn’t been heavily written over, you’ve got a shot.

Beatrice

Participant

August 22, 2025 at 9:42 am

So you mean like those Android data recovery software things? Always wondered if they actually work or just scammy.

Nina Calder

Participant

August 22, 2025 at 9:32 am

If they’re not in Samsung Cloud or Google Photos, then your only real shot is recovery tools. Android doesn’t have a recycle bin for everything, and updates can overwrite sectors. Just don’t save new files, because that lowers the chance of recovery.

Beatrice

Participant

August 22, 2025 at 9:26 am

I did connect it to my laptop, same deal. The missing pics just aren’t there in DCIM. Like they were never taken. That’s what freaks me out.

Jace Elric

Participant

August 22, 2025 at 9:18 am

I had this happen on my S20 last year. After an update some files just went missing. OTA updates usually don’t wipe stuff, but corruption during the update can mess with media files. Check if they show up when you connect the phone to a PC. Sometimes gallery apps just fail to index properly.

Viewing 6 replies - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)