Media Checking

Run Media Check

Clean, Reliable Photo & Video Routines

Photos and videos fail quietly at first: missing thumbnails, “can’t play” messages, or albums that load forever. Media Checking turns routine care into a simple sequence—keep storage breathable, avoid duplicate clutter, use stable formats, rebuild thumbnails when needed, and prove that your backups actually restore. No scare tactics and no extra apps required.

10–20% free spaceduplicate sweepformat sanitythumbnail rebuildrestore test

Heads-up: heat exaggerates glitches. Do long imports and exports on a cool surface and while plugged in.

Storage Headroom

Rendering, decoding, and indexing all need room. Keep 10–20% storage free to prevent “cannot save” and “cannot play” surprises, especially after an OS update. Archive large exports and older projects to dated folders (year/month) so cleanup is quick and reversible.

Dupes & Near-Dupes

Continuous-burst photos, messaging downloads, and cloud re-syncs breed duplicates. Tidy by project: keep the best set, remove truly redundant items, and stash alternates in an _alt subfolder so you can change your mind later.

Format Sanity

Stick to well-supported formats for long-term access. For photos, HEIF or JPEG; for video, MP4 (H.264 or H.265) with AAC audio. Keep originals of specialty formats (RAW, ProRes) in labeled project folders; export a viewing copy in a universal codec for daily use.

Thumbnail & Index Rebuilds

If an album stutters or shows broken previews, force a small rebuild: clear the app’s cache (not data), reopen the gallery, and let it sit on power and Wi-Fi. A fresh index often fixes “phantom” missing items without touching your originals.

Playback Diagnostics

When video won’t play, run a two-step A/B: try a private browser/profile to dodge stale cache, and then test on the other network path (Wi-Fi vs cellular). If one path works, you’ve isolated a local rule or congestion instead of a file problem.

Import Without Chaos

Before importing, make room and plug in. Group new media into a dated folder, then skim for obvious throwaways (screenshots, test clips). Keeping imports tidy saves hours later.

Edits & Versions

Save edited versions next to the original with a short suffix like -edit or -v2. If your gallery tracks edits internally, export a copy as well so you can view it on any device.

Share Without Surprises

When sending videos, prefer links or cloud shares over chat compression. If you must send in a message, consider a short “web copy” export at 1080p to balance quality and size.

Quick Media Checklist

Run Media Check

FAQs & Myths

Myth: Deleting cache deletes my photos. Fact: Cache is derived data; originals remain unless you choose “clear data” or delete files.

Myth: Bigger resolution always means better quality. Fact: Poor focus or heavy compression ruins quality regardless of resolution—keep a clean original.

Question: Do I need a cleaner app? Answer: Usually not. Built-in tools and this routine fix most everyday issues.

Question: Should I convert everything to one format? Answer: Keep originals; export universal copies for sharing.

Open Media Checking