Question Question on "Gallery" for photo and video

[Alan0354]

I am new with smart phone, I have an old model Samsung J3V phone. My question is about Samsung Gallery app, also how to attach photo from other folders on the phone that is not in the Gallery.
1) I am using Samsung Gallery, When I tax and want to attach photo. It only go to Samsung Gallery. I can only attach from the Gallery.
a) How can I move photo or video into the Samsung Gallery. I don't see any way to move or copy photo or video into the gallery.
b) Better yet, How can I attach photo or video from other folders that is not in the Gallery?

2) I also installed Google Gallery app on the phone. How can I change the setting so I go to Google Gallery when I try to attach photo or video to the tax?
I went into Setting app, How can I set Google Gallery as default so the tax will go to Google Gallery. I canceled the default on Samsung gallery, but when I try to attach photo in tax, still it goes to Samsung.

Sorry if the question is too stupid, I just started to learn Android.

Thanks

 

[VidJunky]

Welcome to Android Central forum.

a) How can I move photo or video into the Samsung Gallery?

I have to assume that the photo you want to move is one that you downloaded from somewhere if it doesn't appear in your Samsung Gallery app. You will have to locate this photo on your device in order to move it. Depending on where the photo is from this may not be simple. In your app drawer you should have an app called File or maybe My Files. Open this app to locate and move the photo. This is where knowing where the photo is comes in handy. If you downloaded from the internet it is most likely in your Download folder. You can find this by opening Internal Storage>Downloads. If it is form someplace else, tell what app and we can offer more specific advice. If you recently opened, downloaded or captured the photo it will usually appear across the top of the main page in My Files.

b) Better yet, How can I attach photo or video from other folders that is not in the Gallery?

With this device releasing in 2016 it is likely missing a lot of the updates that came with Share but you could try removing Gallery form your default list and see if you then have other options. To do this go to Settings>Apps>Samsung Gallery>I believe it is on a page called Advanced Settings or More Settings but you are looking for something that says Defaults>Clear the default list. If you are successful, the next time you go to share a photo you should get a pop-up asking what you would like to do with at least a couple of options, maybe only Google Photos or Samsung Gallery, but you will have a chance to make other choices.

2) I also installed Google Gallery app on the phone. How can I change the setting so I go to Google Gallery when I try to attach photo or video to the tax?

If the instructions form above work you should be able to use Photos as a location to share from. Alternatively have you tried sharing form Photos directly? Open the Photos app, browse for the image you want to share, long press on it to select it, and/or select other images once the selection option is enabled, there should be a checkmark or other indicator on the image that lets you know they are selected, then select the share option, which should give you the option to select whatever your SMS app, text app, is and you know the rest.

Let us know what you find and if anything doesn't work for you and we can offer other advice.

 

[Alan0354]

Welcome to Android Central forum.

a) How can I move photo or video into the Samsung Gallery?

I have to assume that the photo you want to move is one that you downloaded from somewhere if it doesn't appear in your Samsung Gallery app. You will have to locate this photo on your device in order to move it. Depending on where the photo is from this may not be simple. In your app drawer you should have an app called File or maybe My Files. Open this app to locate and move the photo. This is where knowing where the photo is comes in handy. If you downloaded from the internet it is most likely in your Download folder. You can find this by opening Internal Storage>Downloads. If it is form someplace else, tell what app and we can offer more specific advice. If you recently opened, downloaded or captured the photo it will usually appear across the top of the main page in My Files.

b) Better yet, How can I attach photo or video from other folders that is not in the Gallery?

With this device releasing in 2016 it is likely missing a lot of the updates that came with Share but you could try removing Gallery form your default list and see if you then have other options. To do this go to Settings>Apps>Samsung Gallery>I believe it is on a page called Advanced Settings or More Settings but you are looking for something that says Defaults>Clear the default list. If you are successful, the next time you go to share a photo you should get a pop-up asking what you would like to do with at least a couple of options, maybe only Google Photos or Samsung Gallery, but you will have a chance to make other choices.

I know about "Files app", I can create folders in different location within the phone, move files from one folder to the other, copy and all that. I just cannot move files into the Samsung Gallery.

I went to Setting, Apps, It's nothing like this on my phone. I go to "Setting">Apps> then search for Samsung Gallery logo, tap and go in. I already remove from default in "Set As Default". It shows "None set as default". there is a "Setting button on the right side of the Gallery logo, I went in and there is nothing about option to move pictures or videos from outside files into Gallery.

I'll work on 2) later on.

How can different version of Android so different? That's the reason I have such a difficult time finding answers. I went online, youtube and I am going nowhere for over a day.

Thanks for you help. I am still learning even though I have not solve the problem. I'll reply again later on your second part.

Thanks

 

[BerryBubbles]

I know about "Files app", I can create folders in different location within the phone, move files from one folder to the other, copy and all that. I just cannot move files into the Samsung Gallery.

Hi, Welcome to Android Central Forums.

Just so to clarify, Samsung Gallery does not have a folder you can move files into. It is a program that searches for photos on your device and catalogs them.

You might want to see if any of the folders that your pictures are stored in have a file called .nomedia. That file will keep the Gallery app from seeing the photos & listing them.

 

[Alan0354]

Hi, Welcome to Android Central Forums.

Just so to clarify, Samsung Gallery does not have a folder you can move files into. It is a program that searches for photos on your device and catalogs them.

You might want to see if any of the folders that your pictures are stored in have a file called .nomedia. That file will keep the Gallery app from seeing the photos & listing them.

Is there any way to direct the Samsung Gallery to look into a specific folder. I have the pictures in a specific folder in the SD card.

Thanks

 

[BerryBubbles]

Is there any way to direct the Samsung Gallery to look into a specific folder. I have the pictures in a specific folder in the SD card.

Thanks

Not that I personally know of.

You didn't find any .nomedia files?

There's a couple of things to try.

• If you go to the My Files app & navigate to the sd card files, can you select a photo & open it? Not just view the thumbnail, but actually see it in full screen. Just checking to see if the SD card is functioning okay. Is it a new card? Was it used on a prior device?

(Side note, when I had photos on my SD card, I kept them in folders within the SD card DCIM folder.)

• Try going to your phones settings & search for the Samsung gallery app. Force stop it. Under the storage setting, clear the cache, then data. Shutdown & restart your device. That should make the gallery rebuild its catelog. (I can't suggest anything with Google Gallery as I've never used it)

• I'm guessing that your texting app is the Samsung message app that came with the device. See if Google Messages is available for your J3V. I'm not sure what Android version you are on. Google Messages has an option to browse through folders to select a picture.

 

[VidJunky]

I believe Berry answered the question of Samsung Gallery exactly correctly. There is no specific folder called Gallery or Samsung Gallery, it searches most folders, not all, for pictures and videos. I'm not sure where the divide is between where it searches and where it doesn't, but it searches the DCIM Camera folder for sure so if you move anything into this folder it will find it. It searches the DCIM Screenshot folder for sure. So you really just have to get the picture into a folder that it searches.

A little later in your reply you ask, how can different versions of Android be so different? Like everything Android evolves and Google in their wisdom, usually in their total disregard for user's feelings, change and update things how they see fit. What are you referring to with this statement? Is there something specific?

 

[Alan0354]

Not that I personally know of.

You didn't find any .nomedia files?

There's a couple of things to try.

• If you go to the My Files app & navigate to the sd card files, can you select a photo & open it? Not just view the thumbnail, but actually see it in full screen. Just checking to see if the SD card is functioning okay. Is it a new card? Was it used on a prior device?

(Side note, when I had photos on my SD card, I kept them in folders within the SD card DCIM folder.)

• Try going to your phones settings & search for the Samsung gallery app. Force stop it. Under the storage setting, clear the cache, then data. Shutdown & restart your device. That should make the gallery rebuild its catelog. (I can't suggest anything with Google Gallery as I've never used it)

• I'm guessing that your texting app is the Samsung message app that came with the device. See if Google Messages is available for your J3V. I'm not sure what Android version you are on. Google Messages has an option to browse through folders to select a picture.

I can use My Files to go to SD Card and open photos in full screen. I can open video using HD Video. The SD card is working.

I move my video to DCIM in SD card, and then to Internal DCIM. I check in Samsung Gallery, it's not showing the video.

I went to Setting>Apps> find the Samsung Gallery, I force stop it. I cannot find how to clear the cache. I turn power off after force stop, remove the battery, put it back in and power up. The stuffs inside Samsung Gallery is the same as before and my video does not appear in the Gallery.

Thanks

 

[Alan0354]

I believe Berry answered the question of Samsung Gallery exactly correctly. There is no specific folder called Gallery or Samsung Gallery, it searches most folders, not all, for pictures and videos. I'm not sure where the divide is between where it searches and where it doesn't, but it searches the DCIM Camera folder for sure so if you move anything into this folder it will find it. It searches the DCIM Screenshot folder for sure. So you really just have to get the picture into a folder that it searches.

A little later in your reply you ask, how can different versions of Android be so different? Like everything Android evolves and Google in their wisdom, usually in their total disregard for user's feelings, change and update things how they see fit. What are you referring to with this statement? Is there something specific?

How come Android is so inferior compare to Windows? One has no control to attach photo from anywhere they want. Somehow has to be in the Gallery before you can attach. Then people don't have control what is in the gallery!!

I tried putting my video into DCIM on both the internal storage and in the DCIM of the SD card, I Forced stopped the Gallery, it won't update.

I cannot find where to clear the cash of the Gallery.

It's like Android change so much so fast, I went online and looked, nothing works, I went on youtube, nothing works. All I want is to attach some photos and video to text to send out. I've been sweating on this for two days and still going nowhere.

I am new on Android, but I've been around computers my whole life, I was an EE even wrote some programs. I never have issue on Windows. I know there's a learning curve, but I have to get some correct answers before I can learn. Nothing works for such a simple action.

 

[VidJunky]

You're using a very old version of Android, you actually can attach a photo from nearly anywhere with the current version. I opened an SMS and used the share option and have 20 locations I can attach photos from and would have more if I used more apps. And that's just photos and videos. I also have 7 other options for other attachable data. You have to image things evolve.

Have you tried directly from Files? Again, and this may be just something that has come along later, but long pressing, which highlights them, images from nearly anywhere on my device offers me the option to share that image, from my browser to apps, like FB, Insta, and Pinterest. I think part of the reason why we're struggling to help you with your issue is sharing is so ubiquitous these days that it's not even a second thought in today's Android OS. Anything we can highlight has a share option.

The only other work around I can think to offer you, which would be work, but that should work, would be to get a photo editing app and share from there. Don't edit the photo but open the photo with the app and that app should have a share option from which you can then share the image. I'm still confused why it doesn't just work for you because I remember back in the day not understanding what the hype was around iOS and people talking about how easy it was to share images and videos with it since I was able to do the same thing. I do remember it being a couple of extra steps but there was never a time when I couldn't share something I wanted to. For large files I could upload them to Google Drive and share link, for downloads I could share from My Files app, there was always a way.

 

[Alan0354]

You didn't find any .nomedia files?

I actually did search and found a lot of .nomedia files. I deleted all of them. It did not help.

 

[VidJunky]

I just realized that the locations cannot be read in the image showing the locations of the photos.
They are;
Favorites
Camera
Videos
Screenshots
Downloads
Messages
Polish
GifStudio
Documents
QRcode_generator
Google Maps
InstaFit
Eraser
myAir
Messages (different app)
Pictures
AzScreenRecorder
Facebook
Daddy's angel (folder I created somewhere)
1 (also a folder I created somewhere)

Looking at the list you can see more than a couple of apps where photos were found and I would say that most of these were found by Google Photos since I don't use the Samsung Gallery app at all, but they could also be part of the SMS app I'm using.

Speaking of which, have you tried a different SMS app? I guess you never said what app you're trying to share these images from. If we're talking straight up SMS/MMS, try Google SMS, or something else from the Play Store. Is it the Play Store for you? I don't know when they changed the name, but try a different app if possible.

 

[Alan0354]

You're using a very old version of Android, you actually can attach a photo from nearly anywhere with the current version. I opened an SMS and used the share option and have 20 locations I can attach photos from and would have more if I used more apps. And that's just photos and videos. I also have 7 other options for other attachable data. You have to image things evolve.

Are you telling me I need to get a new phone in order to get the newer version of Android?

I am thinking about it already. The reason I use this old phone is because it's cheap. Honestly, I don't even like to use the phone compare to computer. I am not the type that have the phone in my hands and play with it everywhere I go. Having if for video recording in emergency situation, or doing emergency call and using the GPS is the main thing I even use the phone.

I am on the computer all day long, I really don't have the urge to get on the phone. When I am out, I am glad I don't have to look at the screen.

Any way to update my old phone or that's it? I have been thinking about a new phone because the new cameras are so much better particular the anti vibration video recording. That's more my motivation for buying a new phone.

Thanks

 

[mustang7757]

Are you telling me I need to get a new phone in order to get the newer version of Android?

I am thinking about it already. The reason I use this old phone is because it's cheap. Honestly, I don't even like to use the phone compare to computer. I am not the type that have the phone in my hands and play with it everywhere I go. Having if for video recording in emergency situation, or doing emergency call and using the GPS is the main thing I even use the phone.

I am on the computer all day long, I really don't have the urge to get on the phone. When I am out, I am glad I don't have to look at the screen.

Any way to update my old phone or that's it? I have been thinking about a new phone because the new cameras are so much better particular the anti vibration video recording. That's more my motivation for buying a new phone.

Thanks

Welcome to AC!
A newer phone will keep your data safer and working with carriers 4g/5g network as 2g/3g is phased out, the only thing with newer phones most don't come with SD cards so you want get one with lots of storage or use cloud storage

 

[Alan0354]

You're using a very old version of Android, you actually can attach a photo from nearly anywhere with the current version. I opened an SMS and used the share option and have 20 locations I can attach photos from and would have more if I used more apps. And that's just photos and videos. I also have 7 other options for other attachable data. You have to image things evolve.

I am looking at new phones, what is the oldest Android version I can get and still get what I want, to attach photos from any folder in the phone?

I know my J3V is from 2014 and using Android Version 6 (Marshmallow).

Thanks

 

[BerryBubbles]

I actually did search and found a lot of .nomedia files. I deleted all of them. It did not help.

Thanks for confirming that you checked for the .nomedia files & that your SD card was functioning.

I'm sorry the problem persists. I don't have a device running Android 6 to dive further into the locations of the settings.

I can't suggest what would be the oldest version of Android to use to meet your needs. I would suggest finding a newer version phone within your budget, for the reasons @mustang7757 mentioned above, upgraded networks & security.

 

[VidJunky]

I truly believe you can do it with the version you have now. It will just take some playing around to figure out the how. Like I said I never had any trouble sharing images, it just took a few extra steps sometimes.

Where are these images on your phone? Since you say you're able to move them, I have to assume that you know where they are being stored. In this case screenshots would be helpful in a couple of ways. There might be something that we can see that you may be missing. It also may jog the memory for some of us, trying to remember how we used to do it.

Something else that occurred to me, how long have you been having this issue? Surely it hasn't always been this way. Which brings the question of what has changed? Did you start using a new app for something? Did you stop using an app?

Did you ever try to share from Google Photos? I know you said you were going to download it but that was the last we heard from you about it. What about from Files/My Files, have you tried to share from there?

What app are you trying to share to or through? An SMS app, WhatsApp or something else?

Here is a Google Help article from 2017 with advice on how to share images in text message.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwi88LaQkvSHAxVzg4kEHZMAEh0QFnoECBUQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fsupport.google.com%2Ffamilies%2Fanswer%2F6131416%3Fhl%3Den%26co%3DGENIE.Platform%253DAndroid&usg=AOvVaw0uKPm8if17EYq8I9ChdlN_&opi=89978449

This video is form 2018 sharing videos.

This one simply says using the Share button.

Disclaimer: I don't watch every video or read every article I pass along to the OP of a thread.

 

[Alan0354]

I think I found my problem. I know I cannot control what to put into Samsung Gallery. But I think my problem is the video that I cannot see in the Gallery no matter where I put ( DCIM, Download etal) is because it is in MPG format.

Out of desperation, I went online to find a converter to convert the video from MPG to MP4, It showed up in the Gallery. That really solve my problem for now.

I read more and experiment more tomorrow, it's getting very late here.

Thanks so much for all the help.