Why can't the Facebook and Instagram apps see anything in my Android gallery?

[Android Central Question]

My device is an LG V20.

I just noticed this today while trying to add a photo to a group on Facebook. Both the Facebook and Instagram apps think my gallery is empty. Facebook actually displays a page that says: "you don't have any photos or videos here." "Gallery" is displayed at the top. Instagram just displays no images.

As far as I can tell, the gallery is working fine. I can view all my pictures in the gallery and can use the share feature to add pics to Facebook or Instagram. This limits my ability to share multiple images.

I have run a Malwarebytes scan which discovered no issues.

Any ideas on where to start?

 

[SpookDroid]

Have you checked the permissions for each app (On your phone's Settings/Apps)and see if they have access to files/storage? If not, that might be the issue.

 

[rlsundberg]

I have this exact issue (phone and all) permissions are on. Doing the same for Facebook and Instagram. Any ideas out there?

 

[Keebs1123]

Having exact same issue. Just happened recently. Was there some update that screwed something up?

 

[aerial64]

I'm having the same issue. Same phone as well. Started within the last week. Very annoying

 

[SpookDroid]

Sounds like an app update to me, which in the case of FB, wouldn't be strange...their apps are buggy and, sometimes, on purpose.

 

[Crystal V]

Having same exact issue with both LG V20 phones (mine and husband's). Did the update last week, his IG started acting up two days ago and my IG and FB started acting up yesterday (he doesn't have FB). Did all the troubleshooting including app updates, permissions checks, restarting phone, etc and got nothing. Took my phone to a Verizon store today and they did all the same troubleshooting with no success, rep then googled problem and found this feed. Rep said maybe LG will come out with another update to fix the bugs soon but nothing that can be done at this time.

 

[SpookDroid]

Do any other apps show this problem? If not, the 'fix' might not lie with LG but with FB (remember, they own IG, too)

 

[mearle3]

I am having the same issue. happened after the last update on october 19, 2018. VS99520b.

thanks
marie
colorado

 

[mearle3]

VS99520b was the update. mine happened on Oct. 19, 2018

 

[mearle3]

my husband who has the same phone V20 updated his phone with the VS99520b on october 23, 2018 and is not having the same issue.

 

[SpookDroid]

Maybe the FB/IG app update coincided with the LG Update, but if the issue is not in all apps (and as mearle3 mentions, not on all devices), this might be a FB/IG issue.

 

[Kimberly Land]

V20. Last update (VS99520b on 10/22/18) completely messed up my phone access. So frustrating! I have a business and I can't afford to not be able to post pictures.

What's the fix?

 

[SpookDroid]

From the OP, it seems sharing directly from the Gallery still works, so that should do the trick for now.

 

[SAHPhoto]

Came here to say me too...

I can get it to work ONE time if I do it after an immediate reboot. But only once, so I have to choose between IG and FB

Today, it has intermittently worked.

Its like it can't find the image folders or something

Its been annoying because I can't do slideshows on IG or upload images to my page's gallery

 

[Greg2018]

It's sounds like it's definitely the LG update because the problem is with more than just Facebook and Instagram. I do promo on several social media apps.

This issue happens with Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter. With Snapchat and Twitter the apps completely crash when trying to access the Gallery.

Is there a way to revert an LG Update? This is not good!

 

[sabih517]

I am having a same issue, with Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp... Messenger is working fine...
I recently got an update for my LG G5, after the update first I started facing the battery issue, it started draining the battery abruptly... And now this issue...

 

[SAHPhoto]

I should add that the two messaging programs from verizon were also screwy when it came to adding in images. I downloaded a different app and that one works fine. I almost forgot about it since I "fixed" it

 

[Crystal V]

I'm still having the same issues. Both FB and IG apps have had an update since the LG update and still no progress. Will it ever be fixed?!

 

[Crystal V]

So I did a live chat with a Verizon rep through the current system update page. There really is no work around for IG that hasn't already been discussed...ie: sharing from gallery (but this is only one photo at a time). You can load multiple images to FB from actually launching it through your internet browser on your phone (I use Chrome), I tested it and it works.

**Reps answer/update re issue: "I did look more into this and it is a known issue. LG is looking into this but right now and working on an update to fix the issues"