DCIM stands short for “Digital Camera Images.” It’s a folder that is automatically created on digital camera flash memory cards. The DCIM folder is a popular location for digital camera manufacturers such as Canon, Nikon, and Olympus, as well as some cell phones to save photographs taken with their cameras.
When importing digital photographs using photo-management software, they look for photos in the DCIM folder. JPEG images are typically found in the DCIM directory, but they may also contain subfolders and other files such as index files to keep track of the pictures taken by the camera.
Other data, such as texts or videos, can be saved on the camera’s card unless it is set to “read-only” if photographs are stored in the DCIM folder.
DCIM Folder on Smartphones
The DCIM folder is a newly discovered one on some smartphones that have yet to be fully understood.
There are many different theories about what the DCIM folder actually does. Some say it stores photos and videos taken with the device while others believe it’s more like a cache of sorts for data stored on the phone or tablet. Either way, there seems to be concern over what could happen if this folder is deleted or altered incorrectly; which leads us to ask…is there something we should worry about?
The only thing for certain at this point is that deleting or renaming these files will leave you unable to view pictures taken with the device. So for now, the DCIM folder seems to only be a problem if it’s removed or altered.
For many users, there haven’t been any issues with the DCIM folder at all. The phone acts completely normal and there isn’t any suspicious behavior or effect on storage capacity. All things considered, it seems like this folder isn’t necessarily “bad;” it just needs to be handled carefully.
Unopened cards still have plenty of room, so it’s better to take caution than risk running out of space on your next trip. That said, there doesn’t seem to be anything dangerous about the DCIM folder at all, but that hasn’t stopped some people from being wary about it.
If you’re not sure why this folder is even present in your smartphone or tablet, then now is a good time to look into what’s causing it and how to solve the problem if need be. Just remember that deleting this file won’t actually delete any photos or media; only make them inaccessible until they are re-added by connecting the device to your computer or laptop.
Take some time to better understand the DCIM folder and what it contains, but don’t let it stress you out too much! It’s not like this is a virus that will completely ruin your device; it’s just another thing to watch for when troubleshooting any possible problems.
