How to Fix It When WhatsApp Images and Videos Are Not Showing in Gallery

 By default, pictures, movies, and other media shared in WhatsApp messages usually save to a WhatsApp folder within the Gallery or Photos app on Android and iOS. Unfortunately, sometimes these files can be hard to find, go missing, or don’t download.

Here’s what you need to know about how to save photos from WhatsApp to Gallery on Android and your Camera Roll or Photos app on iPhone and iPad.

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The Desktop and web versions of the WhatsApp app don’t feature an auto-download option for media though you can still manually save files via these apps if you like.

Cause of WhatsApp Media Saving Errors

WhatsApp pictures and movies not downloading properly can often be caused by the incorrect app settings being selected, a loss of Wi-Fi or cellular connectivity, and a damaged or corrupted SD card. Simply looking in the wrong location or folder is also a common cause of missing WhatsApp media files.

How to Save Pictures From WhatsApp on Android and iOS

Here’s how to fix all of the problems you may encounter when trying to work out how to save photos, videos, and files from WhatsApp on Android and iOS smartphones and tablets.

1. Are you checking the correct folder in Gallery and Photos? Photos and other media downloaded from WhatsApp don't go into the usual Downloads or Pictures folders as you might expect. Instead, they’re in a folder titled WhatsApp, located within the Internal Storage folder on Android smartphones and tablets and under the My Albums category in the Photos app on iPhone and other iOS devices.

2. Enable the WhatsApp default auto-save option. The easiest method for saving pictures from WhatsApp is to have all media from conversations save automatically to your device’s Camera Roll or Gallery app.

   On iOS, you can enable this option by going to the WhatsApp Settings > Chats > Save to Camera Roll. On Android, click Settings > Storage and data > Media auto-download and manually check which media you want to download on the various cellular or internet connections.

3. Check your WhatsApp download preferences. Both the Android and iOS WhatsApp apps allow you to specify what type of media files automatically download and what internet connections will trigger each download.

   For example, you may choose to allow photo uploads on cellular and Wi-Fi but restrict video to Wi-Fi only to save on data. On iOS, do this via Settings > Storage and Data. On Android, Settings > Storage and data > Media auto-download.

4. Enable general Media visibility on Android. To make sure pictures from WhatsApp discussions copy to Gallery in your file explorer on your Android tablet or smartphone, head to Settings > Chats and check you've turned on Media visibility.

5. Enable Media visibility for individual users on Android. If media from a specific user isn’t showing on your Android smartphone or tablet, from the chat with the user, tap their profile name and then select Media visibility > Yes > OK. If Yes is already selected, you don’t need to do anything.

6. Turn on specific user or group download settings on iPhone. Auto-downloading of media may have been disabled for particular users or groups. To check, tap their name and make sure that you set the Save to Camera Roll to either Default or Always.

7. Check your internet connection. If you've set your WhatsApp media download preferences to Wi-Fi-only, and you have Wi-Fi turned off or are connecting via your mobile provider’s 3G, 4G, or 5G signal, your media won’t upload.

8. Check your cellular connection. Likewise, if you’ve set media uploads to only happen over a cellular connection, they may not initiate when you’re connected to home or work internet.

9. Free up storage space. Why? WhatsApp won’t download media if there’s not enough space. You'll need to free up space on your iPhone or free up space on your Android phone.

10. Check if your SD card is damaged. A damaged SD card can prevent apps from saving data to it.

11. Disable read-only mode on your SD card. The read-only mode will prevent any new data from being written to your SD card.

12. Check your device’s time zone. If the time on your tablet or smartphone doesn’t match your real-world location, WhatsApp can disable the download of pictures, videos, and other media. You can fix this by setting your iPhone or Android smartphone to detect the correct time automatically, or you can change it manually.

13. Save photos from WhatsApp manually. Tapping on the share icon on a file in the WhatsApp app will let you save it manually. Doing so will also provide you with the option to send it to another location on your device or send it to a connected app such as Dropbox, OneDrive, or even a social media messaging app.

14. Save photos in WhatsApp as a screenshot. If all of the above solutions have failed, a sneaky way to save an image from a WhatsApp conversation is to take a screenshot of it. You can do this very quickly on iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac.

15. Save a WhatsApp video with a screen recording.

FAQ

• Why is WhatsApp not showing profile pictures?

  If you don't see any profile pictures on WhatsApp, you probably have a weak internet connection. Or, If you can't see an individual's profile photo, they may have changed their privacy settings.

• Why are my WhatsApp pictures not delivered?

  If WhatsApp says your pictures can't be delivered, there is an issue with your internet connection. Switch to Wi-Fi or mobile data to get a better signal.

• How do I download pictures from WhatsApp?

  To download pictures from WhatsApp, go to the conversation with the picture and look for the download icon (the down arrow) next to the file size (i.e. 56KB). Tap the download icon to save the picture to your gallery. Alternatively, you can create a backup of all your WhatsApp chats and photos.

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How to Restore WhatsApp Messages

 What to Know

• Create a backup by going to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup. Delete WhatsApp on the old device.
• On the new device, download WhatsApp and follow the prompts. Enter your phone number > Done.
• Next, tap Restore History. Data will download from the cloud service associated with your smartphone.

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This article explains how to restore WhatsApp messages and account information if you have to reinstall the app or if you're switching to a new device. Instructions cover WhatsApp for iOS and Android.

How to Restore WhatsApp Messages

Before you can restore messages in the WhatsApp app, you will need to check a few things first:

• Check that you’ve made a backup of your WhatsApp account.
• Make sure your account and your device have the same phone number. You cannot restore WhatsApp backups from a different account or phone number.
• Ensure the account and device have the same iCloud or Google Drive account.

Once you’re ready, follow the steps below.

1. Check that you have a backup saved to either iCloud or Google Drive by going to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup.

2. If you haven’t made a backup of your WhatsApp chat history, or you need to make a more-recent one, do so now.

   You may want to connect to a Wi-Fi to speed up the process and reduce data usage.

3. Delete WhatsApp from your iPhone or remove if from your Android device.

4. On your existing smartphone, or on your new smartphone, download the WhatsApp app from the appropriate app store.

   Reinstalling the app is important as it’s impossible to restore account data once a WhatsApp app has been fully set up on a device.

5. Open WhatsApp, then tap Agree & Continue.

   

6. The WhatsApp app will ask you if you want to let it send you notifications. Tap Don't Allow or Allow. The choice is yours.

7. Enter your phone number and tap Done.

   Remember that this must be the same number that's associated with your existing WhatsApp account.

8. Tap Restore History. Your data will begin to download from the cloud service associated with your smartphone. This may take a few minutes depending on the number of WhatsApp chat messages in your backup and your internet connection.

   

9. Tap Next.

10. Enter your name, add a profile picture, then tap Done.

    

    Your image and name may be automatically completed from your backup but you can change it here and at any time in the future if you want.

11. Your WhatsApp account will now be fully restored.

    If your iPhone or Android smartphone asks you for permission to access your contacts or address book, tap Allow. This is needed to connect with your WhatsApp contacts again after the restore has completed.

How to Restore WhatsApp Chats to a Different Phone Number

If you want to restore WhatsApp messages on a smartphone after changing to a different phone number, you don’t actually need to restore from a backup. Instead, simply open the WhatsApp app and go to Settings > Account > Change Number to migrate all of your WhatsApp account data to your new number.

The Change Number feature only works if you’re using the same smartphone. You can’t transfer your account to a different device with a different phone number. Additionally, you will need SMS to be functional on your new phone number to transfer your WhatsApp account to it.

Can You Restore WhatsApp Messages When Changing Phones?

Managing WhatsApp accounts with different hardware and numbers can be a little confusing. Here’s a brief rundown of each possible situation you may encounter and how your WhatsApp messages and accounts are handled.

• Switching from iPhone to iPhone or Android to Android with same number: Simply download the app onto your new phone and log in. All of your data and messages will transfer seamlessly.
• Switching from iPhone to Android or Android to iPhone with same number: Downloading the app will transfer your account data and contacts but your messages and chat history will stay on your old phone.
• Switching to a new phone with a new number: You’ll be unable to transfer your WhatsApp account data or messages and will need to make a new account for your new phone number.

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How to Change Phones Without Losing WhatsApp

 What to Know

• Back up your WhatsApp conversations to Google or Apple’s servers.
• Install the WhatsApp app on your new smartphone.
• Restore your chats from the WhatsApp backup you created.

Transferring your WhatsApp chats from an old smartphone to a newer model is relatively straightforward and only takes a few minutes. This page explains how to move your WhatsApp conversation and contact data from iPhone to iPhone and from one Android smartphone to a newer Android device.

How Do I Transfer My WhatsApp Account to a New Phone With the Same Number?

The easiest way to migrate your WhatsApp data from one iPhone to another is to create a cloud backup that’s associated with your account and saved on Apple’s servers. All you need is an active internet connection and the same Apple account in use on each smartphone.

If you are switching from Android to the iPhone, there is a separate process required to transfer your WhatsApp chats from an Android smartphone to an iPhone.

1. On your original iPhone, open WhatsApp and select Settings.

2. Select Chat.

3. Select Chat Backup.

   

4. Select Back Up Now.

5. Your WhatsApp chat backup will now begin. When it’s finished, the current time and date should appear next to Last Backup at the top of the screen.

   

   If your WhatsApp backup times out or stops, make sure that your iPhone is connected to a Wi-Fi or cellular connection.

6. Finally, uninstall the WhatsApp app from your original iPhone. 

7. On your second iPhone, install the WhatsApp app from the App Store.

   Download WhatsApp for iPhone

   Your second iPhone needs to use the same Apple account as the original iPhone.

8. Open WhatsApp on your new iPhone and select Agree & Continue.

9. Enter your phone number.

10. Select Yes to confirm that your phone number is correct.

    

11. You’ll now be sent a six-digit code as a text message. Enter it in the field shown.

12. Select Restore Chat History.

    The WhatsApp chat transfer process can take anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes.

13. Select Next.

    

14. Select your profile picture, enter your name, and select Done.

    You can change your name and picture at any time as many times as you like after this process is complete.

15. The transfer of the rest of your WhatsApp chat data will automatically begin. Once complete, your WhatsApp app should look as it did on your old iPhone with the same chat conversations and contacts.

    

How Do I Transfer My WhatsApp to My New Phone on Android?

Here's how to transfer your WhatsApp conversations and contacts from your old Android smartphone to your new Android mobile.

There is a separate process to transfer your WhatsApp chats from an iPhone to an Android smartphone.

1. Open the WhatsApp app on your original Android mobile and open the More options vertical ellipsis menu.

2. Select Settings.

3. Select Chats.

   

4. Select Chat backup.

5. Select Back Up.

   Your WhatsApp back up will now be created and should automatically upload to the cloud once complete.

   

6. Check that the Local and Google Drive times are the same to ensure the backup that's uploaded to the cloud is up-to-date.

   

7. When you're ready, uninstall the WhatsApp app from your original Android device.

8. On your new Android smartphone, install the WhatsApp app.

   Download WhatsApp for Android

   When setting up your new Android smartphone, make sure that it’s connected to the same Google account as your old one. This is required to access your WhatsApp backup.

9. Open WhatsApp on your new Android smartphone and select Agree and Continue.

10. Enter your phone number and select Next.

11. Select Continue to grant access to your new phone's media and contacts.

    

12. Select Allow to confirm access to your phone's contacts.

13. Select Allow to confirm access to media.

14. Select Restore.

    

15. Your WhatsApp backup will now begin to download and install. When prompted, select Next.

16. Select Restore Now.

    

17. Enter your name and select Next.

18. After a few moments, your WhatsApp chats and contacts should be completely transferred to your new Android smartphone.

    

What Happens to WhatsApp When You Get a New Phone Number?

If you need to, you can change the phone number associated with your WhatsApp account. When you change your WhatsApp phone number, all of your chats, profile information, settings, and groups are migrated to a new WhatsApp account. Your old account that’s connected to your old number is deleted.

There’s no need to inform your WhatsApp contacts of your new phone number as the transfer process will automatically update your contact information on their accounts.

Will I Lose My WhatsApp Conversations if I Change Phones?

You won’t lose your WhatsApp conversations or contacts when changing phones as long as you create a backup before you begin the transfer process. WhatsApp backups can sometimes be made automatically in the background but it’s best to manually back up your account before switching devices so that the backup data is up-to-date.

FAQ

• How many times can I change phones on my WhatsApp account?

  There's no limit to the number of times you can transfer your WhatsApp account between phones. However, you are limited to having an active WhatsApp account on one phone and up to four linked devices at one time.

• How do I use my WhatsApp account on two different phones?

  At the moment WhatsApp doesn't allow you to share your account with more than one phone number, but there is a way to circumvent this limitation—the trick is to use WhatsApp Web. Go to web.whatsapp.com on the phone you want to add, then select Settings > Desktop site or Request desktop site to receive a QR code. Next, open WhatsApp on your primary phone and select Settings > WhatsApp Web > Link Device, then scan the QR code from your other phone. Now you should be able to access WhatsApp Web via the browser on your other phone, in addition to using the app on your main phone.

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