OneDrive File Issues

How to Recover Missing Phone Photos from OneDrive Camera Upload

John Wilson Oct 10, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to locate and recover specific photos and videos that failed to automatically upload to OneDrive from their phone.

How to Recover Missing Phone Photos from OneDrive Camera Upload

Product: OneDrive
Device & OS: Samsung (Android)
Scenario: Backing up phone media to OneDrive and discovering that files from a specific date are missing.
Observed behavior: Certain photos and videos remain on the mobile device and in Google Photos but are entirely missing from the OneDrive cloud storage.

Before you start

Ensure your mobile device is connected to a stable Wi-Fi network and verify that your OneDrive account has enough available storage space to receive new uploads.

Solution 1Recommended

Manually Upload the Missing Photos

Use this method if only specific files from certain dates failed to upload automatically and you know which ones they are.

Because OneDrive does not provide an automatic comparison tool to scan against Google Photos or your local gallery, identifying missing items and uploading them manually is the most reliable way to complete your backup.

Open the OneDrive app

Launch the Microsoft OneDrive application on your Samsung phone.

Tap the Add button

Locate and select the plus sign (+) icon, usually found at the top right or bottom center of the screen.

Select Upload

Choose the 'Upload' option from the pop-up menu.

Choose your files

Navigate to your device's gallery, locate the missing photos or videos from the specific dates in 2021, and select them to begin the manual upload.

Manual Comparison Needed: You will need to manually review your local phone gallery or Google Photos to identify exactly which files are missing from OneDrive.

Solution 2

Verify Camera Upload Settings

Check these settings to ensure future photos and videos are automatically backed up to OneDrive without interruption.

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1. Download the App: Visit the official WPS website or your device's app store to download WPS Office.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Why are some photos missing from my OneDrive Camera Upload?

This usually happens if the OneDrive app was closed in the background, power-saving mode restricted the upload process, or if there was a temporary network interruption during the backup.

Can OneDrive automatically find and upload photos I have in Google Photos?

No, OneDrive does not have a feature to sync or compare directly with Google Photos. You must manually identify missing items and upload them using the OneDrive app.

How can I easily check which photos are missing from a specific date?

The best approach is to log into the OneDrive website on a computer, sort your uploaded photos by date (e.g., the specific day in 2021), and compare them side-by-side with the gallery on your phone or Google Photos.

Document & File Issues