diff --git a/web/apps/photos/src/pages/gallery.tsx b/web/apps/photos/src/pages/gallery.tsx
index 4f03254033..2d30b1a56b 100644
--- a/web/apps/photos/src/pages/gallery.tsx
+++ b/web/apps/photos/src/pages/gallery.tsx
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ import {
     getAllLatestCollections,
 } from "services/collectionService";
 import { syncFiles } from "services/fileService";
-import { preFileInfoSync, sync } from "services/sync";
+import { preCollectionsAndFilesSync, sync } from "services/sync";
 import { syncTrash } from "services/trashService";
 import uploadManager from "services/upload/uploadManager";
 import { isTokenValid } from "services/userService";
@@ -566,7 +566,7 @@ export default function Gallery() {
                 throw new Error(CustomError.SESSION_EXPIRED);
             }
             !silent && showLoadingBar();
-            await preFileInfoSync();
+            await preCollectionsAndFilesSync();
             const allCollections = await getAllLatestCollections();
             const [hiddenCollections, collections] = splitByPredicate(
                 allCollections,
diff --git a/web/apps/photos/src/services/sync.ts b/web/apps/photos/src/services/sync.ts
index 065fa45917..7101c3ca2d 100644
--- a/web/apps/photos/src/services/sync.ts
+++ b/web/apps/photos/src/services/sync.ts
@@ -1,11 +1,16 @@
+import { isHiddenCollection } from "@/new/photos/services/collection";
 import { isMLSupported, mlStatusSync, mlSync } from "@/new/photos/services/ml";
 import { searchDataSync } from "@/new/photos/services/search";
 import { syncSettings } from "@/new/photos/services/settings";
+import { splitByPredicate } from "@/utils/array";
+import { getAllLatestCollections } from "./collectionService";
+import { syncFiles } from "./fileService";
+import { syncTrash } from "./trashService";
 
 /**
  * Part 1 of {@link sync}. See TODO below for why this is split.
  */
-export const preFileInfoSync = async () => {
+export const preCollectionsAndFilesSync = async () => {
     await Promise.all([syncSettings(), isMLSupported && mlStatusSync()]);
 };
 
@@ -34,3 +39,37 @@ export const sync = async () => {
     // for it to finish.
     void mlSync();
 };
+
+/**
+ * Sync our local file and collection state with remote.
+ *
+ * This is a subset of {@link sync}, independently exposed for use at times when
+ * we only want to sync collections and files (e.g. we just made some API
+ * request that modified collections or files, and so now want to sync our local
+ * changes to match remote).
+ *
+ * A bespoke version of this in currently used by the gallery component when it
+ * syncs - it needs a broken down, bespoke version because it also keeps local
+ * state variables that need to be updated with the various callbacks that we
+ * ignore in this version.
+ */
+export const syncFilesAndCollections = async () => {
+    const allCollections = await getAllLatestCollections();
+    const [hiddenCollections, normalCollections] = splitByPredicate(
+        allCollections,
+        isHiddenCollection,
+    );
+    await syncFiles(
+        "normal",
+        normalCollections,
+        () => {},
+        () => {},
+    );
+    await syncFiles(
+        "hidden",
+        hiddenCollections,
+        () => {},
+        () => {},
+    );
+    await syncTrash(allCollections, () => {});
+};