Got a funny meme or cool photo on WhatsApp, but can’t find it in your phone’s gallery? Don’t worry, Whatsapp Images Not Showing issue happens a lot and is usually easy to fix.
This guide will show you why WhatsApp images may not show up in your gallery. You will also see how to fix it on both Android and iPhone.
Why WhatsApp Images Don’t Show in the Gallery?
Sometimes, WhatsApp photos and videos don’t appear in your phone’s gallery. Here are the common reasons:
Also Read: How To Go Invisible On WhatsApp Without Deleting The App
- Settings are turned off: WhatsApp might not be allowed to show photos in your gallery or access your photos.
- Low storage: Your phone may not have enough space, or the files might be damaged.
- Slow internet: If your Wi-Fi or mobile data is weak, media might not download properly.
- Cloud backup issues: Google Photos or iCloud settings might be hiding the images.
- App bugs: You may be using an old WhatsApp version or full cache can cause problems.
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 issue.
- Go to the Play Store.
- Look for WhatsApp and click on it.
- Check 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 above alternatives work for you, back up your data and delete and reinstall WhatsApp.
Fix WhatsApp Images Not Showing Issue On Android
Method 1: Enable Media Visibility on WhatsApp
WhatsApp has a setting that controls whether photos and videos show up in your phone’s gallery.
Here’s how to turn it on:
For all chats
- Open WhatsApp.
- Tap the menu icon (three dots at the top-right).
- Go to Settings > Chats.
- Turn on “Show Media in Gallery.”
For a specific chat
- Open the chat.
- Tap the contact’s name at the top.
- Tap Media Visibility.
- Select “Yes” to show media in your gallery.
- Choose “No” if you want to hide it.
Now, open your gallery app (like Google Photos) and check if the WhatsApp images are visible.
Also read: Top Camera Smartphones
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.
Sometimes, a hidden .nomedia file in WhatsApp folders stops images from showing in your gallery.
Follow these steps:
- Open Files by Google or any file manager app.
- Go to: Internal Storage > WhatsApp > Media > WhatsApp Images
- Tap the menu in the file manager and enable “Show hidden files.”
- Look for a file named .nomedia in folders like: WhatsApp Images, WhatsApp Images > Private, WhatsApp Images > Sent.
- Delete the .nomedia file(s).
- Restart your phone and check your gallery again.
Also Read: 7 Recommended Settings To Keep You Safe On WhatsApp!
Method 3: Check Your Phone’s Storage Space
Sometimes, WhatsApp can’t save pictures if your phone is too full. You need to make sure there’s enough free space for new stuff like images or videos. For Android Phones:
- Open your phone’s Settings app.
- Look for Storage (it tells you how much space is left).
- Check the number—if it’s super low (like almost 0), your phone is full!
- Delete stuff you don’t need, like old apps, photos, or videos, to make more room.
Why? If your phone is packed, WhatsApp can’t add new pictures to your gallery.
Method 4: Look for a Hidden WhatsApp Images Folder
Sometimes, the folder where WhatsApp keeps your pictures might be hidden, so it doesn’t show up in your gallery.
- Download a file manager app like ES File Explorer or Files by Google (it’s like a tool to explore your phone’s files).
- Open the app and go to Internal Storage (where your phone keeps stuff).
- Look for a folder called WhatsApp, then tap Media inside it.
- Find the WhatsApp Images folder. If you see it but it’s hidden (like it has a weird “.nomedia” file or name), rename it to just “WhatsApp Images” (take away the dot and “.nomedia”).
Why? This makes the folder show up in your gallery again!
Method 5 – Restart Your Phone
If pictures from WhatsApp are not showing in Gallery, you can restart your smartphone. It is the easiest way to remove any minor glitch hindering WhatsApp’s functionality. Once your device restarts, check whether or not WhatsApp saves photos to your phone’s Gallery.
Method 6 – Clear WhatsApp Cache
Many times, malware or bugs are present in the WhatsApp cache files. That’s why the WhatsApp image folder is not showing in the Gallery. All you can do to resolve this issue is delete the WhatsApp cache. Besides, when you clear unwanted files, it improves your phone’s overall performance and frees up the extra storage. Here is how you can clear WhatsApp cache in Android.
- Go to Settings-> Apps -> Manage Apps.
- Search WhatsApp and click on it. After that, go to storage -> click “Clear Data.”
One thing to remember: these steps might vary according to the Android brands.
Fix WhatsApp Images Not Showing Issue 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.
- Navigate to the Settings app on your iOS device.
- Go to the section under “Privacy.”
- Click on the photos. You will then see a list of applications. From the list, select WhatsApp.
- Now, under the WhatsApp settings, ensure “All Photos” is selected.
These methods are designed for iOS and Android users who want to fix the WhatsApp Images Not Showing in the Gallery issue. 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. To save images automatically, you must activate the Store to Camera Roll feature on WhatsApp.
- Open WhatsApp on your iOS.
- In the lower right corner, click the Settings icon.
- Navigate to the Chat Options page.
- Flip the option next to it if ‘Save Incoming Media’ or ‘Save to Camera Roll’ isn’t enabled by default.
It’s done. Starting today, you can see your WhatsApp photos in Photos or any other gallery app. If this is not the case, do a hard reset on your phone.
Also Read:
How To See Deleted Messages On WhatsApp- Tricks You Need To Know
Method 3: Clear Cache On WhatsApp
To clear the cache on Whatsapp, follow the steps below for Android.
- Go to Settings > Apps > Manage Apps > WhatsApp to check the parameters of 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 this. You may have to try and test multiple strategies to get things right on point. However, this step can help you improve the application’s overall performance and make it even faster.
Method 4: Check Your iPhone’s Storage Space
If your iPhone is running out of space, WhatsApp might not save pictures properly. You need to check if there’s enough room for new images. Here’s how:
- Open Settings on your iPhone.
- Tap General.
- Tap iPhone Storage to see how much space is left.
- If it’s almost full, delete apps or photos you don’t need to make more space.
This helps WhatsApp save your pictures so they show up in your gallery!
Method 5: Look for a Hidden WhatsApp Images Folder (For iPhone)
Sometimes, the folder where WhatsApp saves your pictures might be hidden on your iPhone, so it doesn’t show up in your gallery. Here’s how to check and fix it in simple English:
- Download a file manager app like Documents by Readdle or Files by Google (it’s a tool to see your iPhone’s files).
- Open the app and find the WhatsApp folder, then tap Media inside it.
- Look for the WhatsApp Images folder. If it’s there but hidden (like it has a “.nomedia” in the name), rename it to just “WhatsApp Images” (take out the dot and “.nomedia”).
Why? This makes the folder stop hiding, so your WhatsApp pictures can show up in your gallery again!
Bonus Tips to Keep WhatsApp Images Visible
- You should regularly update WhatsApp as it will ensure that you have WhatsApp with the latest features and bug fixes.
- If any of the above solutions don’t work, reach out to WhatsApp support. They will provide you with more specific assistance or troubleshoot the problem for you.
- Use the file manager app and go to the WhatsApp folder. After that, check if the images are stored correctly or not.
Final Thoughts
If your WhatsApp images aren’t showing in your gallery, don’t worry! This guide offers six easy solutions for both Android and iOS. These steps will help make your WhatsApp photos visible and ensure everything works smoothly.
Feel free to share this article with friends who are facing the same issue!
Also Read: Read This Before You Download Yo WhatsApp- Do’s And Don’ts
FAQs
Why is WhatsApp not showing pictures?
To fix this, go to the chat with the user, tap their profile name, and select “Media visibility” > “Yes” > “OK”. If “Yes” is already selected, there’s no need to do anything.
Why did all my WhatsApp images disappear?
Your WhatsApp images may not be appearing because the Media Visibility settings were turned off. This may be preventing them from appearing in the gallery. Also, if the files are corrupted or damaged, the gallery app may not recognize them, causing them to disappear.
How can I get my WhatsApp images?
To ensure WhatsApp images appear in your gallery, open WhatsApp, go to Options > Settings > Chats, and make sure “Show media in Gallery” is selected. Then, press “ENABLE” to ensure your WhatsApp images appear in your phone’s gallery.
Why are images not showing in the gallery?
If images aren’t showing in your gallery, try clearing the cache or data of the Gallery app in your phone’s settings under “Application Management” or “App”. This may help fix the issue of images not appearing in the Android gallery.
Why can’t I see display pictures on WhatsApp?
Several reasons could prevent you from seeing someone’s display picture on WhatsApp. They may have removed their picture, adjusted privacy settings, deleted your contact, blocked you, or deleted their account.
Why can’t I see someone’s picture on WhatsApp anymore?
Your WhatsApp images may not be showing because the Media Visibility settings were turned off, preventing them from appearing in the gallery. Additionally, if the files are corrupted or damaged, the gallery app may fail to recognise them.
If you’ve just bought a new phone and don’t know what to do with your old phone, then here’s your answer. Sell old mobile to Cashify and get the best price for it. If you are planning to buy a new phone, check out Cashify’s refurbished mobile phones. You can get your favourite phone at almost half price with six-month warranty, 15 days refund and free delivery.
