Quick Info
  • WhatsApp can fail to download images and media due to several reasons, such as a weak internet connection, not enough storage space, and incorrect date and time settings.
  • First, you should check the WhatsApp server and find out whether there are any problems. If there are none, you can try out various solutions.
  • Solutions include force-stopping the app and relaunching it, ensuring you have enough storage space, updating to the latest version, etc.
  • If nothing else works, try removing WhatsApp from your device and reinstalling it.

Check WhatsApp's server status

Before trying out various solutions, you should check whether WhatsApp servers are functional. You can do so by visiting websites like DownDetector. In case there is any problem with the servers, the website will let you know. You can wait for some time until the problem is resolved and then try downloading media from WhatsApp again.

Fix 1: Check your internet connection

If you're unable to download images and other media from WhatsApp, the first thing to do is to check your internet connection. Check that your WiFi or mobile data does not have any network issues. The easiest way to check this is to open other apps on your phone that require internet connectivity and see whether they are working properly or not.

In case other apps are also having problems, put your phone on airplane mode, wait for a few seconds, then turn airplane mode off. Try downloading media from WhatsApp again. You can also try switching between different internet connections if you have access to more than one network.

Note: You can also open WhatsApp web on a desktop platform to check whether the problem is device-related or server-related. If the app also has problems downloading media on the desktop, the issue is most likely related to the servers. On the other hand, if it works fine, the problem might be specific to your device.

Fix 2: Force stop WhatsApp and relaunch it

Another possible solution is to force close WhatsApp, which can help solve the problem if the app keeps getting stuck when downloading images and media.

  1. Go to the Settings page on your Android and tap on Apps.
  2. Then tap on WhatsApp in the list of apps.
  1. Finally, tap on 'Force Stop' to stop the app.
  1. If you have an iPhone, swipe up from the bottom to the middle of the screen to open App Switcher where you can view your recent apps.
  2. Then swipe up on WhatsApp to close it. Once you've closed the app, relaunch it and try downloading media files again.

Fix 3: Check your phone storage

If you're running out of storage space on your device, WhatsApp may not be able to download media files. You can check whether you have storage space left by going into the settings.

  1. On Android, open the Settings app and then tap on 'Storage'.
  2. Depending on your device, you may need to tap on Storage again to view how much storage space is free on your device.

iPhone users can go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. In case you don't have enough free space left, you will need to delete some files and clear up your storage to be able to download media from WhatsApp.

Fix 4: Grant WhatsApp storage permissions

You may not be able to download files from WhatsApp if it cannot access your device's storage. To grant the app the required permissions,

  1. Open the Settings app on Android and then on the 'Apps' section.
  2. Tap on WhatsApp in the list of apps and then tap on 'Permissions'.
  3. Tap on 'Storage' and make sure it is allowed. Depending on your device, the storage option may be replaced with 'Photos and Videos'. In that case, grant WhatsApp the permission to access those.
  1. On iPhone, open the Settings app and tap on 'Privacy and Security'.
  2. Then, tap on 'Photos'.
  1. Next, select 'WhatsApp' from the list of apps.
  2. You can choose to provide 'Full Access' or 'Limited Access' to the app by tapping on the option you prefer.

Fix 5: Update WhatsApp to the latest version

If you're using an outdated version of WhatsApp, it may fail to download images and other media, especially if there is a bug causing the issue. Updating to the latest version can get rid of the bug and solve the issue.

  1. On Android, you can open the Play Store and check for updates. If an update for WhatsApp is present, it will show up here and you can install it.
  2. Similarly, you can search for an update for the app on the App Store on your iPhone.
  3. After updating to the latest version, try downloading media files from WhatsApp again.

Fix 6: Enable 'Save to Camera Roll' on iOS

Check that the 'Save to Camera Roll' option is enabled on your iPhone and enable it if it is not.

  1. Open WhatsApp, tap on 'Settings', and go to 'Chats'.
  2. Then tap on the 'Save to Photos' toggle to enable it.

You can also allow WhatsApp to automatically save media files from group and individual chats.

  1. Open the individual or group WhatsApp chat on your iPhone and tap on the Chat name at the top to go to the Info page.
  2. Next, tap on the 'Save to Photos' option.
  3. Then, select the 'Always' option.

Fix 7: Check your device date and time settings

If the date and time settings on your phone are not correct, WhatsApp may be unable to communicate with its servers and thus, fail to download media files. Check the date and time settings and ensure they are updated automatically.

  1. On your Android device, open the Settings page and then tap on 'Additional Settings' or 'General Management', whichever option is available.
  2. Then tap on 'Date and Time'.
  1. On the Date and Time page, check that the 'Set Time Automatically' option is enabled. If it is not, tap on it to enable it. It is also a good idea to keep the time zone updated automatically.
  1. If you're using an iPhone, open the Settings app, then go to General > Date and Time.
  2. Check that the 'Set Automatically' option is enabled. Tap on it to enable it if it is disabled.

Fix 8: Reset network settings

If your device has network problems, it can prevent WhatsApp from downloading media. To fix this, consider resetting your network settings.

  1. Open the Settings page on your Android device and tap on 'Connection and Sharing' or a similar option.
  2. Look for 'Reset Network' or something similar and tap on it.
  1. Finally, tap on 'Reset Settings'. You will need to enter your device password or PIN before you can reset your network settings. After resetting them, you can add your Wifi networks again and try downloading media files from WhatsApp.

Fix 9: Clear WhatsApp cache

You can clear WhatsApp cache on Android and then try downloading media files again.

  1. Open the Settings page and then tap on 'Apps'.
  2. Tap on Whatsapp to select it and then on 'Storage and Cache'.
  3. Finally, tap on 'Clear cache'.

Fix 10: Reinstall WhatsApp

If nothing else works, the only option is to uninstall WhatsApp and reinstall it on your device. Back up your WhatsApp messages so you can restore them once you reinstall WhatsApp.

  1. To uninstall WhatsApp from an Android device, tap and hold the Whatsapp icon and then tap on the 'Uninstall' option.
  2. On iOS, follow the same steps but instead of the Uninstall option, you will get the 'Delete App' option.

Things to know

  • In addition to the above methods, you can try restarting your phone and updating it to the latest software version available.
  • If the problem is only occurring on your phone, you can use Whatsapp Web to download the media files on your desktop.
  • You can sign up for Whatsapp beta and then wait for an update that fixes the issue. Alternatively, if you are already a beta user, you can leave the beta program and try downloading media files again.