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Does a factory reset delete Google Photos?

A factory reset does not delete photos that Google Photos has already backed up. They live in your Google Account, not on the phone. Photos that exist only on the device are erased, and so are Locked Folder items that were never backed up. This is what to check before you reset.

What a reset erases

Google says a factory reset “erases all your data from your phone” and uninstalls all apps and their data. Its reset page tells you to make sure your data is in your Google Account first, because that is what can be restored afterwards. (Google: factory reset an Android phone)

So the question is not whether Google Photos is deleted. It is whether each photo has a copy in your account.

Check what is backed up

Open the Google Photos app and tap your profile picture or initial at the top right. Backup progress shows there. When every item is uploaded, it reads Backup complete. If it reads Backup is off, photos are on the device only. (Google: back up photos and videos)

Then look at individual items. The backup icons on thumbnails mean:

You may also see Not enough storage to back up. Your Google Account storage is shared with Drive and Gmail, so you may need to free some up. Do not reset until nothing is left in the queue.

Folders other than the camera

Photos only backs up the folders you choose. Go to Photos settings > Backup > Back up device folders and check the list. Screenshots, downloaded images and photos saved by other apps are often in separate folders. Turn on Back up all device folders if you want new ones included. (Google: back up photos and videos)

Locked Folder is the trap

Locked Folder items are not backed up automatically. Google says you will lose items you have not backed up if you uninstall Photos, clear its data, lose the device, or factory reset with backup off. Turn on Locked Folder backup, or back up items one by one, before you reset. Backed-up items can then be opened on other devices signed in to your account. (Google: Locked Folder)

For the full picture, see Google Photos Locked Folder: is it backed up?

Samsung Gallery is a separate app from Google Photos. Photos in it are only safe if Google Photos backup is on for those folders, or you use another cloud service you have checked yourself. Do not assume Gallery backs itself up.

Google’s reset page does not say what happens to a microSD card. Copy anything on it to a computer first.

Getting photos back after the reset

  1. Finish setup and sign in with the same Google Account. You need to be online, and you need to know the password.
  2. Open Google Photos. Backed-up photos and videos appear from your account.
  3. Photos that were not backed up are not recoverable from the account. Check your computer and any SD card copies.

If you are resetting to sell the phone, the whole routine is in how to wipe an Android phone before selling.

If you keep a vault app

VaultIt is a vault app that keeps its files on the phone, encrypted with AES-256-GCM, with a key from your pattern. A factory reset deletes the vault like everything else. Only the encrypted backup file you saved yourself, kept off the phone, survives. That backup file is what brings the vault back after the reset. VaultIt also has a 12-word recovery phrase, and nobody can reset your pattern for you, so keep the phrase somewhere safe.

Sources

Quick answers

Does a factory reset delete photos on Android? Yes, any photo that exists only on the phone. Photos backed up to your Google Account are not deleted.

Does a factory reset delete Google Photos backups? No. The backups are in your account. Only the app and its data on the phone are erased.

How do I know if a photo is backed up? Tap your profile picture in Google Photos and look for Backup complete. A cloud with a slash on a thumbnail means it is not backed up.

Will my Locked Folder survive a reset? Only if you turned on Locked Folder backup, or backed up items individually.

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