Lost access to your Google Photos Locked Folder after switching or losing a device? In this blog post lets learn how to recover your sensitive photos easily step-by-step based on your backup settings.
Lost Access to Google Photos Locked Folder?
If you’ve recently switched Android phones or your old device has stopped working or lost, you may no longer access your photos stored in Google Photos’ Locked Folder. These folders are designed to keep your private content secure but what happens if the original device is gone? Are your photos lost forever?
In this article, we’ll see how Google Photos Locked Folder feature works, what backup options were introduced in 2023, and what steps to take to recover your content depending on the situation.
What is the Locked Folder in Google Photos?
The Locked Folder is a privacy focused feature within the Google Photos app for Android devices. It allows users to store sensitive photos and videos securely using a screen lock or bio-metric authentication.
However, by default, the contents stored in the Locked Folder are saved locally on the device and are not uploaded to your Google Account or backed up to the cloud. This means the data is only available on the device where it was originally stored, unless you have specifically turned on cloud backup.
What Changed in 2023?
In mid-2023, Google introduced the option to back up content from the Locked Folder to the cloud. This was a significant update, offering users the flexibility to access their private media from other signed-in devices if the backup was enabled.
To activate this, users need to manually turn on the “Back up Locked Folder” setting within the Google Photos app. When this setting is enabled, the content stored in the Locked Folder is uploaded securely and becomes accessible from other signed-in devices.
Two Scenarios: Backup ON vs. Backup OFF
If Backup Was Enabled:
If you had previously enabled the backup option for Locked Folder on your old device, you’re in luck. Your files were safely uploaded to your Google Account and can be accessed on your new device.
Here’s how to retrieve them:
- Install or update the Google Photos app on your new Android device.
- Sign in with the same Google Account used on the old device.
- Open Google Photos and tap your profile picture in the top-right corner.
- Go to Photos settings > Backup > Back up Locked Folder.
- Turn the toggle on (if not already) and open Locked Folder.
- Use your screen lock or biometrics to view your backed-up content.
You should now be able to view your previously secured media.
If Backup Was Not Enabled:
If you did not enable backup on the original device, the content might have stored only locally(on your local storage). The Google Photos cloud does not keep copies of Locked Folder items that haven’t been backed up. If the original device is no longer functional or accessible, the content is likely unrecoverable.
However, if you still have physical access to the device even if it won’t boot there may be options.
How to Recovery from a Non-Working Device
To recover form a non working devices and if the device is physically intact and its internal storage or SD card can be connected to a computer, you can to retrieve the files using third-party data recovery tools. Keep in mind that these methods do not guarantee success, especially if data has been overwritten or encrypted.
Recommended Tools:
These are the tools i researched on the internet and seems best.
- EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard : A user-friendly recovery tool for Windows and macOS that can scan Android devices.
- MiniTool Power Data Recovery : Another reliable option that can detect and recover deleted or hidden files from connected storage.
- Wondershare : Offers Android data recovery options, including media files, even from broken devices.
I suggest you to always download these tools from official websites and avoid , which can pose serious security risks
How to Prevent Data Loss in the Future
If you’re reading this before a loss has occurred or you’ve just recovered your data, here’s what you should do immediately:
- Open the Google Photos app.
- Tap your profile photo > Photos settings > Backup.
- Turn ON “Back up Locked Folder.”
- Regularly review your backup settings, especially when setting up a new device.
Taking a few minutes to check these settings can prevent irreversible data loss in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Are Locked Folder items backed up automatically?
No. Backup is off by default and must be manually enabled by the user.
Q: How can I check if my Locked Folder was backed up?
Go to Google Photos > Profile > Settings > Backup. If “Back up Locked Folder” is toggled on, your files were backed up.
Q: What if my old phone is completely dead?
If you had not enabled cloud backup, recovery may only be possible by extracting files from the device’s internal storage using third-party software. This often requires technical skill and has no guarantee.
Q: Are third-party recovery tools safe?
Yes, if you use reputable options like EaseUS or Wondershare or MiniTool. Always download from their official websites.
Q: Will backed-up Locked Folder items use my Google storage quota?
Yes. They count toward your total Google storage allocation just like other media.
Losing access to personal photos is not a good experience especially when the files were intentionally placed in a secure folder. Whether or not you can recover your files depends largely on whether you had enabled the backup feature introduced in 2023.
If your backup was on, recovery is straightforward. If not, your only hope is accessing the device storage using professional tools. Going forward, enabling cloud backup for your Locked Folder is essential for peace of mind.
Hope this helps. Let me know if this article helped you. I am eager to know.
