Fix: Google Photos shows blank photos

Google Photos is popular because it’s convenient. It allows you to access all your photos from all your devices with literally one tap. The idea is simple in design, and it should work flawlessly, right? Well, issues occur, more or less often. Because Google Photos on your Android phone is still just an app. The particular problem we’re talking about in this article is when Google Photos shows blank photos.

It may not be a big and complicated issue, but it sure is annoying. So, if you just see blank containers when you open Google Photos, check out the following solutions. I hope you’ll resolve the problem.

Table of contents:

1. Change the page style
2. Check your internet connection
3. Check the Data Saver
4. Clear the app cache and data
5. Update Google Photos
6. Reinstall Google Photos

Solution 1 – Change the page style

Sometimes, solving the problem could be as simple as changing the Gallery layout. A certain bug might have occurred, causing photos to appear blank. Just try a different layout, and the problem might magically disappear.

To change the Gallery layout in the Google Photos app, tap the three dots in the search bar, go to Layout, and change one of the Layouts (Day view, Month view, or Comfortable view).

Solution 2 – Check your internet connection

If your internet connection is unstable or ‘weak’, Google Photos might not be able to display all your photos properly, especially if they’re all on the cloud, and not in your device storage.

So, before moving on, make sure you’re properly connected to the internet. If you notice any Wi-Fi issues, check out this article for additional solutions.

Solution 3 – Disable Data Saver

Speaking of the internet connection, if you’re on a cellular network with the Data Saver on, Google Photos might not work properly, because it’ll try to save as much data as possible. So, if you want to access your photos while using cellular data, go on and disable Data Saver.

Just keep in mind, accessing Google Photos without a data saver can eat up a huge chunk of your data if you have a lot of photos/videos to upload, so handle it with care.

Here’s how to disable Data Saver in Android:

1. Go to Settings > Network & internet.
2. Tap Data usage > Data Saver.
3. Disable the Use Data Saver option.

Solution 4 – Clear the app cache and data

I know clearing the app cache and data is a generic solution, but it definitely helps sometimes. So, it won’t hurt if you try it, in case no other workaround resolves the issue.

Here’s how to clear the Google Photo cache in Android:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Head over to Apps or Apps Manager (depending on your phone).
3. Find Photos.
4. Tap Storage.
5. Tap Clear cache.
6. If clearing the cache doesn’t resolve the problem, you can come back and Clear storage (data). Just keep in mind this will completely reset the app, and you’ll have to set it up from scratch again.
7. While in App Info settings, you can also tap on the 3-dots menu and uninstall updates if clearing data didn’t solve your problem.

Solution 5 – Update Google Photos

Updates solve problems! That’s the main purpose of an update, besides improving an app’s functionality and features. There’s a chance the problem with blank photos was caused by the very last update you installed, and the next update will deal with it. So, just make sure the Google Photos app and all other Google apps are up to date.

That’s about it. I hope at least one of these solutions helped you resolve the problem with blank photos in Google Photos. If you have any comments or questions, feel free to write them down in the comments below.

Solution 6 – Some additional solutions

Finally, we have a few more steps to suggest. Check them out and, if nothing helps, report the problem to Google.

Some additional things to check:

• Check Trash and Archive.
• Check Storage permission for Google Photos in Settings > Apps > Google Photos > Permissions.
• Inspect device folders that are set to back up. Open Google Photos > Profile icon > Photos settings. Once there, open Back up & sync > Back up device folders.
• Wait until Google sorts things out. Some users report that they stopped seeing blank photos after some time. Your photos are, Google Support claims, completely safe and this is a temporary problem specifically present on Google Photos for Web.

This article is a part of our Google Photos coverage. If you want to learn more about Google Photos tips and tricks, or you have a certain problem with this app, visit our Google Photos Hub for more content.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published in May 2019. We made sure to revamp it for freshness and accuracy.