UPDATE REQUIRED in Gallery

[Android Central Question]

Today for the first time, when I try to view a video in "Gallery", I get a pop-up window which blocks the view and says "You need to update Google+". When I tap "update" I get a message "the latest version of Google+ is not compatible with your device". Does this mean I can no longer view videos in "Gallery"?
This has never happened before.
It might have something to do with the closing down of Google+ for consumers.

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! Which device do you have, and what version of Android is it running? Google Photos came from Google+, so if you have a really old device, the way its Gallery app is trying to display your Google Photos from the cloud might be through some ancient Google+ API.

 

[chrisvis789]

Thanks for your help, B.Diddy.

My device is a mobile phone, Samsung Galaxy S5 mini.

I am running Android version 4.4.2

 

[B. Diddy]

Are you using the stock Gallery app? Is the video saved to your phone or in your Google Photos cloud?

KitKat is quite old, and support for it is starting to disappear. You could try installing the Google Photos app, if you haven't already, and use that as your Gallery app.

 

[chrisvis789]

I'm using the stock Gallery app, the one which came loaded on the phone when I bought the phone.
The videos are saved to my phone.
I don't use Google Photos cloud, and I don't actually know what "Google Photos cloud" means.
I haven't heard of KitKat before.
I assume that you are saying that Kitkat is being used on my phone at present.

I will take your advice and try installing the Google Photos app. And then do I uninstall Gallery?

How will my phone know that it should thenceforth save camera images and WhatsApp images in a different app?

Thanks for your help so far.

 

[B. Diddy]

Android 4.4.2 is nicknamed "KitKat" and is quite outdated.

Google Photos has a very powerful feature that allows you to backup your photos to the cloud: https://support.google.com/photos/answer/6193313?co=GENIE.Platform=Android&hl=en. I highly recommend taking advantage of this, because if you only keep your photos and videos saved to your phone, they're at risk of being lost forever if something happens to the phone. The Google Photos app can also be used as a standard Gallery app, although it can be a little confusing at first.

You may also want to try some other 3rd party gallery app, like Focus. (Stay away from the old favorite QuickPic, since it was bought out by DU, a Chinese company that's known for sneaky adware.)

The bigger picture is that your phone is pretty obsolete, and running an outdated version of Android like KitKat puts you at increased risk for security breaches. I'd look into upgrading to a more recent phone some time soon.