6 Ways to Fix WhatsApp Media Download Failed Error on Phone

Quick Tips

• Open iPhone Settings > tap on WhatsApp > enable the Mobile Data toggle.
• Ensure WhatsApp has permission to store the media on your phone’s memory.
• Open your phone’s settings menu and set the date and time to update automatically.

Basic Fixes:

• Use a strong network connection: Large media files require a stable and strong network connection for a smooth download process in WhatsApp. You should ensure your phone is connected to a stronger network or 5GHz Wi-Fi frequency if on Wi-Fi.
• Check the WhatsApp server status: WhatsApp media download failed error might be due to server-side problems from WhatsApp. You can visit Downdetector to ensure the WhatsApp servers are running fine.
• Check phone storage: If your phone runs out of space, WhatsApp may fail to download and save videos. So, check and ensure at least 30% storage space is available on your phone.
• Leave WhatsApp beta: If download media failure is widespread in the beta WhatsApp builds, it’s wise to quit the beta program via the Play Store or the App Store and use a stable version of the app.
• Update or reinstall WhatsApp: The media download error might occur due to a buggy or older WhatsApp build on your phone. In this case, update WhatsApp to the latest version accordingly. You can also delete and reinstall WhatsApp if the issue persists.

Fix 1: Enable Mobile Data for WhatsApp (iPhone)

iOS lets you restrict mobile data use for certain apps from the settings menu. If the option is enabled for WhatsApp, you might not be able to download media on the iPhone. Here’s how to check and disable it.

Step 1: Open Settings and tap on WhatsApp. Enable the Mobile Data toggle.

Fix 2: Give Storage Permission to WhatsApp

WhatsApp requires relevant storage permission to save the media files to the device gallery. If this is not granted, you might face errors when downloading media. Here’s how to enable it on iPhone and Android devices.

On iPhone

Step 1: Open Settings → WhatsApp. Tap on Photos and select All Photos.

On Android

Step 1: Long-press the WhatsApp app icon > select the info option > Permissions.

Step 2: Open Photos and videos and enable the relevant permissions.

Fix 3: Check the Date and Time

Incorrect date and time settings on your phone may prevent you from downloading photos and videos on WhatsApp. Here’s how to set your phone to automatically update to avoid such issues.

On iPhone

Step 1: Open Settings and head to General > Date & Time.

Step 2: Enable the Set Automatically toggle and select the correct Time Zone.

On Android

Step 1: Launch Android Settings and go to System > Date and time.

Step 2: Enable the Set time automatically toggle.

Fix 4: Enable Background App Refresh

To download WhatsApp media files on an iPhone, allow the app to function properly in the background. Follow the below steps to do this.

On iPhone

Step 1: Open Settings > WhatsApp. Enable the Background App Refresh toggle.

On Android

Step 1: Open the WhatsApp app info menu > go to Mobile data & Wi-Fi.

Step 2: Enable the Background data toggle.

Fix 5: Save Downloaded Media to Phone Gallery

Do your downloaded photos and videos from WhatsApp fail to appear in your phone’s gallery app? You must tweak WhatsApp Settings to save WhatsApp photos to the gallery. Here’s how.

On iPhone

Step 1: Open WhatsApp on your iPhone > go to Settings.

Step 2: Select Chats > enable the Save to Camera Roll toggle.

On Android

Step 1: Launch WhatsApp on Android > tap the three-dot menu at the top > open Settings.

Step 2: Select Chats > enable the Media visibility toggle.

Also Read: How to fix WhatsApp images not showing in gallery on iPhone or Android

Fix 6: Reset Network Settings

Incorrect network settings on your iPhone or Android lead to errors like WhatsApp media download failed. In this case, reset network settings to ensure your device’s network settings do not interfere with WhatsApp’s media downloads. Here’s how.

On iPhone

Step 1: Open Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset.

Step 2: Tap Reset Network Settings.

Android

Step 1: Launch Settings > General Management.

Step 2: Select Reset > tap Reset network settings.

Follow the on-screen instructions to finish the process. Then, open WhatsApp and download any media to see if the issue has been resolved.