User's Manual & FAQ for Android
Move photos
In the Utiful app, use the "Add Photos" button to move photos from the standard Android gallery to your Utiful folders.
In the Gallery app, Camera app, and Photos app, select the images you want to move to Utiful, tap the "Share" button and choose Utiful from the list of apps.
Move photos between Utiful folders: Select the photos and tap the "Folder" button to choose the target folder.
Rearrange photos in a folder: Select the photos and tap the "Rearrange" button (the button with the four arrows). Then choose their new position.
Selecting from-to also known as drag-select: When you are in a folder and want to easily select a large number of photos without having to tap on each one of them, place your finger on the starting photo and then drag your finger to the ending photo.
Save photos from Utiful back to the standard Android gallery: Select the photos in Utiful, tap the "Options" button and choose "Save to main gallery".
- Select several photos at a time by pressing and holding on a photo to activate the multi-selection mode, then tap the rest of the photos to add the to the selection.
- Original resolution and EXIF metadata of photos moved to Utiful are preserved.
In the Gallery app, Camera app, and Photos app, select the images you want to move to Utiful, tap the "Share" button and choose Utiful from the list of apps.
- Filing photos from other apps to Utiful works in the same way.
Move photos between Utiful folders: Select the photos and tap the "Folder" button to choose the target folder.
Rearrange photos in a folder: Select the photos and tap the "Rearrange" button (the button with the four arrows). Then choose their new position.
Selecting from-to also known as drag-select: When you are in a folder and want to easily select a large number of photos without having to tap on each one of them, place your finger on the starting photo and then drag your finger to the ending photo.
Save photos from Utiful back to the standard Android gallery: Select the photos in Utiful, tap the "Options" button and choose "Save to main gallery".
Manage folders
Create folders with the "New folder" button.
Manage a folder using the folder menu. To activate the folder menu, press and hold on a folder.
Delete folders with caution as the deletion cannot be undone. To delete a folder, press and hold on it, then tap "Delete". To delete multiple folders, tap the "Options" button and choose "Select".
Create subfolders using the Options button on the "Folders" screen. In the Options menu, tap "New group" to create a new folder group and then move folders into the new folder group. This way, the folders become subfolders of the folder group. You can also create new folders within a folder group as well as sub-groups.
Rename a folder or change its appearance by choosing "Edit" in the folder menu. To open the folder menu, press and hold on the folder. You can do the same also while inside the folder - simply tap on the folder icon.
Disable the default emoji icon for new folders by pressing and holding on the "New folder" button until a menu appears. Choose there "Options" > "No emoji".
Rearrange folders on the screen: Select the folders and tap the "Rearrange" button (the button with the four arrows). Then choose their new position.
Managing folders from computer / Exporting folders to computer
Connect your Android device to your computer and navigate to directory /Pictures/Utiful. Feel free to manage your Utiful library directly from your computer. You can add or delete photos, move them around in folders, add new folders, copy folders from Utiful to your computer, or delete folders. The only thing you need to do after you're done is to start the Utiful app on your Android device, go to Settings and choose "Sync Utiful with file system" and Utiful will synchronize itself with the changes you have made.
Manage a folder using the folder menu. To activate the folder menu, press and hold on a folder.
Delete folders with caution as the deletion cannot be undone. To delete a folder, press and hold on it, then tap "Delete". To delete multiple folders, tap the "Options" button and choose "Select".
Create subfolders using the Options button on the "Folders" screen. In the Options menu, tap "New group" to create a new folder group and then move folders into the new folder group. This way, the folders become subfolders of the folder group. You can also create new folders within a folder group as well as sub-groups.
Rename a folder or change its appearance by choosing "Edit" in the folder menu. To open the folder menu, press and hold on the folder. You can do the same also while inside the folder - simply tap on the folder icon.
Disable the default emoji icon for new folders by pressing and holding on the "New folder" button until a menu appears. Choose there "Options" > "No emoji".
Rearrange folders on the screen: Select the folders and tap the "Rearrange" button (the button with the four arrows). Then choose their new position.
Managing folders from computer / Exporting folders to computer
Connect your Android device to your computer and navigate to directory /Pictures/Utiful. Feel free to manage your Utiful library directly from your computer. You can add or delete photos, move them around in folders, add new folders, copy folders from Utiful to your computer, or delete folders. The only thing you need to do after you're done is to start the Utiful app on your Android device, go to Settings and choose "Sync Utiful with file system" and Utiful will synchronize itself with the changes you have made.
Access from other apps
You can easily access your Utiful folders and pick images from there also while being in other apps such as e.g. Instagram.
An exception of this is Facebook because the Facebook app only allows access to your standard Android gallery. To post photos from Utiful to Facebook, open Utiful, select the photos, tap "Share" and choose Facebook.
- Instagram: Tap +, then tap on "Gallery", choose "Other..." and then Utiful.
- Instagram Chat: Tap on the camera button in the chat, then tap on the small thumbnail image in the lower left corner, then tap on "Gallery", choose "Other..." and then Utiful.
- Gmail: To attach to a mail, tap the Attachment button, then "Attach file", choose Utiful.
An exception of this is Facebook because the Facebook app only allows access to your standard Android gallery. To post photos from Utiful to Facebook, open Utiful, select the photos, tap "Share" and choose Facebook.
Backup
The photos you keep in Utiful are not part of the automatic backup of your Android device. You should hence ensure that you regularly back up your Utiful photos to a computer in order to prevent data loss, if your device gets broken or if you upgrade to a new device.
BACKUP: Creating a backup of your Utiful folders to your computer
To back up your Utiful folders with all photos and videos inside them, please proceed as follows.
IMPORTANT: We recommend that you create a backup of your Utiful folders once every month.
When you create a new backup, you can delete older backups, if they occupy space on your computer.
RESTORE: Restoring a Utiful backup from your computer to your Android device
You will need to restore a backup of your Utiful folders, if your Android device gets broken and you have a new Android device. The same applies when you are upgrading to a new Android device.
To restore a Utiful backup from your computer to your Android device, proceed as follows:
Transferring Utiful when upgrading to a new Android device
When you are upgrading from an old Android device to a new Android device, you need to create a backup of your Utiful folders from the old device and restore it onto your new device, as described above.
Restoring, if you unintentionally delete the Utiful app
If you unintentionally delete the Utiful app, your folders and the images inside are still kept on your device. To view them, simply install the Utiful app again. Start the app, go to Settings and choose "Sync Utiful with file system".
Transferring from Android to Utiful for iPhone/iPad
If you decide to move from Android to an iOS device, you can move your Utiful library, too. To this end, create a backup of your Utiful folders from your Android device to your computer as described above. Then proceed as described in the Utiful iOS User's Manual, see there "Importing folders from computer".
BACKUP: Creating a backup of your Utiful folders to your computer
To back up your Utiful folders with all photos and videos inside them, please proceed as follows.
- Connect your Android device to your computer and navigate to directory /Pictures/Utiful.
- Make a copy of the whole Utiful directory to your computer.
IMPORTANT: We recommend that you create a backup of your Utiful folders once every month.
When you create a new backup, you can delete older backups, if they occupy space on your computer.
RESTORE: Restoring a Utiful backup from your computer to your Android device
You will need to restore a backup of your Utiful folders, if your Android device gets broken and you have a new Android device. The same applies when you are upgrading to a new Android device.
To restore a Utiful backup from your computer to your Android device, proceed as follows:
- Connect your new Android device to your computer.
- Copy the whole Utiful directory, which is the latest Utiful backup you created, from your computer as a subdirectory of the /Pictures directory on your Android device, so that after this operation your Utiful folders are available in directory /Pictures/Utiful on your new Android device.
- Make sure that the Utiful app is installed on your new Android device. Start the app, go to Settings and choose "Sync Utiful with file system".
Transferring Utiful when upgrading to a new Android device
When you are upgrading from an old Android device to a new Android device, you need to create a backup of your Utiful folders from the old device and restore it onto your new device, as described above.
Restoring, if you unintentionally delete the Utiful app
If you unintentionally delete the Utiful app, your folders and the images inside are still kept on your device. To view them, simply install the Utiful app again. Start the app, go to Settings and choose "Sync Utiful with file system".
Transferring from Android to Utiful for iPhone/iPad
If you decide to move from Android to an iOS device, you can move your Utiful library, too. To this end, create a backup of your Utiful folders from your Android device to your computer as described above. Then proceed as described in the Utiful iOS User's Manual, see there "Importing folders from computer".
Manage your Utiful subscriptions
Free version compared to Subscription version
The Utiful basic version for Android is free to download and use. The advanced productivity features in the app target business and power users and require an active subscription.
Free trial
If you are a first time subscriber, you get a free trial period. You won't be charged anything during the free trial and you can cancel the subscription anytime from the app's settings > Manage Subscriptions. If you do not cancel the subscription before the expiration of the free trial, it will automatically renew to a paid annual subscription at the end of the free trial period. The free trial can only be used once per Google account.
Cancellation
You can cancel your subscription or turn off auto-renew anytime in the app's settings > Manage Subscriptions. If you cancel the paid subscription, the subscription will remain active until the end of the current subscription period, after which it will expire.
Renewal
Subscriptions automatically renew at the end of the subscription period. You can turn off auto-renew at least 24 hours before your billing period ends. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period.
Limitations for non-subscribers
If you do not have an active subscription, the advanced productivity features will be locked. Still, even without an active subscription, you can browse your Utiful folders, view your pictures and share and export them as you like, there's no lock-in whatsoever.
Reactivation after cancellation
If you have cancelled your subscription and would like to reactive it, you can do this anytime in the app's settings > Manage Subscriptions.
Manage subscriptions from your computer or another device
You can manage your Utiful subscriptions also from the following Google Play link.
The Utiful basic version for Android is free to download and use. The advanced productivity features in the app target business and power users and require an active subscription.
Free trial
If you are a first time subscriber, you get a free trial period. You won't be charged anything during the free trial and you can cancel the subscription anytime from the app's settings > Manage Subscriptions. If you do not cancel the subscription before the expiration of the free trial, it will automatically renew to a paid annual subscription at the end of the free trial period. The free trial can only be used once per Google account.
Cancellation
You can cancel your subscription or turn off auto-renew anytime in the app's settings > Manage Subscriptions. If you cancel the paid subscription, the subscription will remain active until the end of the current subscription period, after which it will expire.
Renewal
Subscriptions automatically renew at the end of the subscription period. You can turn off auto-renew at least 24 hours before your billing period ends. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period.
Limitations for non-subscribers
If you do not have an active subscription, the advanced productivity features will be locked. Still, even without an active subscription, you can browse your Utiful folders, view your pictures and share and export them as you like, there's no lock-in whatsoever.
Reactivation after cancellation
If you have cancelled your subscription and would like to reactive it, you can do this anytime in the app's settings > Manage Subscriptions.
Manage subscriptions from your computer or another device
You can manage your Utiful subscriptions also from the following Google Play link.
FAQ
I have accidentally deleted the app. Have I lost my data?
No, deleting the app does not delete the data. All your Utiful-folders and their contents are kept on the internal storage of your device in directory /Pictures/Utiful even if you delete the app. (Note: If you have chosen to use the external SD card instead, then they are in the respective directory on the SD card, where you chose to keep them.)
So if you accidentally delete the app, proceed as follows:
At any time, you can access your Utiful data also with a file manager app of your choice. If you need help, simply contact us with the contact form at the bottom of this page.
Is Utiful a complement to the Gallery/Photos app or a replacement for it?
Utiful is a complement to the Gallery/Photos app that enables you to store and organize photos in folders OUTSIDE your standard Android gallery - something that the Gallery/Photos app can't do. Utiful thus lets you get more out of your Android device. For example, you can move to Utiful all the pictures that don't really belong in your camera roll like e.g. work related photos, and your standard Android gallery will turn into an amazing, uninterrupted timeline of all your family vacation photos. The things that need to be easy to find on a daily basis you can neatly organize in Utiful folders for easy and fast access.
Does Utiful know my identity?
No.
Where does Utiful keep the photos?
Locally on your device, in directory /Pictures/Utiful.
What happens when I add an image to Utiful?
The image gets moved from your standard Android Gallery to Utiful. When prompted to confirm the operation, you can however also choose to copy the image instead to move it.
How can I move more than one photo at a time from the standard Android gallery to Utiful?
In Utiful, tap "Add Photos", press and hold on a photo, tap the rest, and choose "Open". Alternatively, from your Camera Roll or your gallery app, select the photos, tap "Export/Share" and choose Utiful.
I've added an image from the standard Android gallery to Utiful but I still see it in the Android gallery - why?
One possible reason is that the image is synced by a cloud backup service like Google Drive or Dropbox. In such case, only the local copy is moved to Utiful but the cloud backup copy is not deleted and this is what you see in your standard Android gallery.
Another possible reason is that the image is in your standard Android gallery, which is on the external SD card. Some Android versions prevent third-party apps to write to the external SD card, so Utiful can't delete the original.
Also, it can be that when prompted to confirm the move-operation, you chose to copy the picture instead to move it.
When I delete a folder, does this delete the folder's images too?
Yes.
How can I move an image from one Utiful folder to another Utiful folder?
Select the image, tap the "Folder" button and choose the target folder.
When I change to a new Android phone, how will the Utiful library get transferred to it?
This is described in section "Backup" above.
Something seems not to be working with the app. Should I delete it and reinstall it?
If you delete the app and reinstall it, the photos remain in directory /Pictures/Utiful on your device, in subdirectories named after the folders you had in Utiful. When you reinstall Utiful, go to Settings and choose "Sync Utiful with file system" to sync back the folders to the app.
No, deleting the app does not delete the data. All your Utiful-folders and their contents are kept on the internal storage of your device in directory /Pictures/Utiful even if you delete the app. (Note: If you have chosen to use the external SD card instead, then they are in the respective directory on the SD card, where you chose to keep them.)
So if you accidentally delete the app, proceed as follows:
- Reinstall the app from the Play Store.
- Start the app, go to its settings, choose "Sync Utiful with file system" and confirm. This will restore all your data in the app. (Note: If you were using the SD card, please first turn on the switch "Use external storage", choose the directory where you keep your Utiful library, and use the sync function afterwards).
At any time, you can access your Utiful data also with a file manager app of your choice. If you need help, simply contact us with the contact form at the bottom of this page.
Is Utiful a complement to the Gallery/Photos app or a replacement for it?
Utiful is a complement to the Gallery/Photos app that enables you to store and organize photos in folders OUTSIDE your standard Android gallery - something that the Gallery/Photos app can't do. Utiful thus lets you get more out of your Android device. For example, you can move to Utiful all the pictures that don't really belong in your camera roll like e.g. work related photos, and your standard Android gallery will turn into an amazing, uninterrupted timeline of all your family vacation photos. The things that need to be easy to find on a daily basis you can neatly organize in Utiful folders for easy and fast access.
Does Utiful know my identity?
No.
Where does Utiful keep the photos?
Locally on your device, in directory /Pictures/Utiful.
What happens when I add an image to Utiful?
The image gets moved from your standard Android Gallery to Utiful. When prompted to confirm the operation, you can however also choose to copy the image instead to move it.
How can I move more than one photo at a time from the standard Android gallery to Utiful?
In Utiful, tap "Add Photos", press and hold on a photo, tap the rest, and choose "Open". Alternatively, from your Camera Roll or your gallery app, select the photos, tap "Export/Share" and choose Utiful.
I've added an image from the standard Android gallery to Utiful but I still see it in the Android gallery - why?
One possible reason is that the image is synced by a cloud backup service like Google Drive or Dropbox. In such case, only the local copy is moved to Utiful but the cloud backup copy is not deleted and this is what you see in your standard Android gallery.
Another possible reason is that the image is in your standard Android gallery, which is on the external SD card. Some Android versions prevent third-party apps to write to the external SD card, so Utiful can't delete the original.
Also, it can be that when prompted to confirm the move-operation, you chose to copy the picture instead to move it.
When I delete a folder, does this delete the folder's images too?
Yes.
How can I move an image from one Utiful folder to another Utiful folder?
Select the image, tap the "Folder" button and choose the target folder.
When I change to a new Android phone, how will the Utiful library get transferred to it?
This is described in section "Backup" above.
Something seems not to be working with the app. Should I delete it and reinstall it?
If you delete the app and reinstall it, the photos remain in directory /Pictures/Utiful on your device, in subdirectories named after the folders you had in Utiful. When you reinstall Utiful, go to Settings and choose "Sync Utiful with file system" to sync back the folders to the app.
What are your questions? Simply ask us.