Moto E photo download

Up to now I have had no problems downloading photos from my phone. Yesterday I tried to download some new ones only to find that the phone was telling me I didn't have any to download/it couldn't find them. It sent me a message asking me to check the phone was unlocked. I've never locked the phone so how can this happen? I have searched everywhere to see how to do this but have had no luck. the only suggestion is to reset the phone but that means I lose all the data and photos I already have...

Moto E photo download

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