WhatsApp comes equipped with a feature that automatically downloads sent photos and videos to the device’s gallery. However, there are instances where these files may fail to download or prove challenging to locate on the device. If you find yourself questioning why WhatsApp images not showing in the gallery, there’s no need to be concerned. This issue is a common occurrence for both Android and iPhone users. Fortunately, you can resolve the problem independently.
In the sections below, we will present six proven solutions to address the issue of WhatsApp photos not appearing in the gallery on your phone. Let’s explore these solutions together!
WhatsApp Media Saving Errors: What Causes Them?
The improper app settings, an interruption of Wi-Fi or mobile access, and a damaged SD card are all common causes of WhatsApp photos and videos not uploading correctly. In addition, missing WhatsApp file formats may also be caused by searching in the incorrect place or folder.
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The first essential troubleshooting step that you can do for both Android and iOS devices is to
- Check for the Play Store or App Store for the latest version of WhatsApp and in case any update is available, then update to the latest version.
- Restart your device and check if this fixes the issue.
- If nothing works, try to uninstall and reinstall the app from the app store. Make sure to back up your chats before uninstalling the WhatsApp app.
If nothing works, then go ahead and try the fixes mentioned below for Android and iOS devices, respectively.
Also Read: How To Share Location On WhatsApp!
Keep an eye out for updates
You may also check the Google Play Store to ensure that your WhatsApp is up to date as this may be the reason behind Whatsapp Images Not Showing.
- Go to the Play Store.
- Look for WhatsApp and click on it.
- Check to see whether the App has an Update button. The update should be selected.
As you can see, there might be a reason why WhatsApp videos aren’t preserved in the Gallery, or it could be a glitch. There are a variety of options available, and one of them should answer your issue. In addition, if none of the preceding alternatives works for you, make a backup of your data and delete and reinstall WhatsApp.
Fix WhatsApp Images Not Showing in the Gallery on Android
Method 1: Enable Media Visibility on WhatsApp
If you cannot find the WhatsApp images and videos on your phone’s gallery, maybe it is because of the media visibility in your WhatsApp. However, if it’s turned off, you can face issues like that. But, here is what you need to do-
Step 1– Open WhatsApp and click on the three vertical dots
Step 2- Go to Settings and open Chats
Step 3– Find the Media Visibility toggle and turn it on. This toggle option will turn on Media Visibility for all your WhatsApp contacts.
Step 4- Now go to your phone’s gallery, and you will find all the images.
Now, To turn off the media visibility of a particular contact, follow the below steps.
Step 5- Open the WhatsApp chat of the particular contact
Step 6- Click on Media Visibility and click on “Yes” to turn on the media visibility. But if you want to hide media from that particular contact, select “No” instead.
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Method 2: Delete the .nomedia File
If the previous methods don’t help, here is another way to fix media files not showing in your Android phone’s gallery. This method consists of deleting the .nomedia file from your WhatsApp directory.
When present in any folder, this “nomedia” file makes the contents of that particular folder skipped from being scanned or indexed by multimedia players, including Gallery. Now, if you delete this folder, it will help you find the hidden media files in your phone’s gallery. Here are the steps-
Step 1– Open the File Manager on your Android phone and go to Settings
Step 2– Now enable the ‘Show Hidden Media Files’ option and get back to your phone’s internal storage
Step 3– Find the WhatsApp folder, open it, and go to Media > WhatsApp Images.
Step 4– Now delete the .nomedia file from here. If needed, delete the file from the Private and Sent folder.
Also Read: 7 Recommended Settings To Keep You Safe On WhatsApp!
Fix WhatsApp Images Not Showing in the Gallery Error on iOS
Method 1: Grant Photos Permissions in Privacy Settings
WhatsApp won’t save the photos and media files if you don’t allow it to access the Privacy Settings. Though this is not a default setting, you may have mistakenly clicked on ‘Don’t Allow’ in the Settings menu. With the help of the below steps, you can set it to ‘allow’ again.
Step 1: Navigate to the Settings app on your iOS device.
Step 2: Go to the section under “Privacy.”
Step 3: Click on the photos. Here you will find a list of applications. Here, select WhatsApp.
Step 4: Now, under the WhatsApp settings, ensure “All Photos” is selected.
These methods are designed for iOS and Android users looking to fix the WhatsApp Images Not Showing in the Gallery. However, the steps mentioned above can help users fix this issue.
Also Read: What Is End To End Encryption In WhatsApp?
Method 2: Allow WhatsApp to Save Photos
After downloading a WhatsApp photo, it does not appear in the Photos app. Store to Camera Roll is a WhatsApp feature that you must activate if you want to save images automatically.
Step 1: Open WhatsApp on your iOS.
Step 2: In the lower right corner, click the Settings icon.
Step 3: Navigate to the Chat Options page.
Step 4: If ‘Save Incoming Media’ or ‘Save to Camera Roll’ isn’t enabled by default, flip the option next to it.
It’s done. You’ll be able to see your WhatsApp photos in Photos or any other gallery app starting today. Do a hard reset on your phone if this is not the case.
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How To See Deleted Messages On WhatsApp- Tricks You Need To Know
Clear Cache On WhatsApp
To clear the cache on Whatsapp, you can follow the below-mentioned steps for Android.
- Go to Settings > Apps > Manage Apps > WhatsApp to begin checking the parameters related to your instant messaging account.
- Tap Storage > Clear Data to remove the cache from your phone and improve the performance.
While this may be one of the steps involved in viewing WhatsApp images, this may not be the only step to achieve so. You may have to try and test multiple strategies to get things right on point. However, this step can definitely help you improve the overall performance of the application and make it even faster.
Final Thoughts
The challenge of WhatsApp images not displaying in the gallery on both Android and iOS devices is a common issue. However, the good news is that there are six proven solutions outlined in this guide that empower users to address this problem independently. By following these troubleshooting steps, users can ensure a seamless experience in accessing and viewing WhatsApp photos in their device galleries. Whether it’s issues with automatic downloads or file visibility, these solutions offer a comprehensive approach to resolving the issue and enhancing the functionality of WhatsApp media on your phone.
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