Receiving photos instantly is one of the perks of modern messaging, but when iMessage displays 'Tap to Download' and the image never downloads, it can be quite frustrating. This issue prevents images from loading properly despite repeated attempts to download them.

A preview of the error | Imgur

Thankfully, there are effective solutions to resolve this problem. Follow the steps below to get your iMessage attachments downloading properly again.

Reset network settings

Sometimes, network issues can prevent iMessage from downloading attachments. Resetting your iPhone's network settings can often fix this. Note that this will reset all your Wi-Fi networks and passwords, cellular settings, and VPN and APN settings back to default.

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone and tap on General.

Step 2: Scroll down and select Reset.

Step 3: Tap on Reset Network Settings.

Step 4: Enter your iPhone's passcode when prompted.

Step 5: Confirm the action by tapping Reset Network Settings again. Your iPhone will restart.

Note: Resetting network settings will erase saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords. Make sure you have this information before proceeding.

After your device restarts, check iMessage to see if the images are downloading correctly.

Sign out and back in to iMessage

Re-authenticating your Apple ID in iMessage can resolve issues caused by corrupted data. Signing out removes existing data and signing back in downloads fresh data from Apple's servers.

Step 1: Open the Settings app and scroll down to tap on Messages.

Step 2: Tap on Send & Receive.

Step 3: Tap on your Apple ID at the top of the screen.

Step 4: In the pop-up menu, tap on Sign Out.

Step 5: After signing out, tap on Use your Apple ID for iMessage.

Step 6: A prompt will appear; tap on Sign In to log back in with your Apple ID.

Once you're signed back in, try downloading the images in iMessage again to see if the issue is resolved.

If neither method works, the problem might be on the sender's end, due to network issues, or it could be a temporary glitch with Apple's servers. Occasionally, bugs in iOS can also cause this issue, which may be fixed in future software updates. As a last resort, restarting your iPhone might help resolve temporary system glitches.