WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps, used by over 2 billion people worldwide. It allows you to send messages, photos, videos, documents and Voice Messages to your contacts. However, sometimes you may encounter issues with media files not properly sending or displaying in WhatsApp.
A common problem many users face is getting the message “This media file appears to be missing” when trying to view a photo, video or other media file sent to them on WhatsApp. This frustrating error essentially means the media file is not displaying properly and WhatsApp cannot locate it.
There could be several reasons for this error occurring. The good news is there are also a number of troubleshooting tips you can try to resolve the issue and successfully view the media file on WhatsApp.
Why am I Getting the “Media File is Missing” Error on WhatsApp?
Here are some of the common causes for this error message:
- The file was deleted or moved from its original location on the sender’s device after it was sent. So WhatsApp no longer has access to the original file to display.
- There was an interruption or weak internet connection when the media file was being transferred. This corrupted the file transfer.
- The file size exceeds WhatsApp’s limit. WhatsApp has a maximum media file size of 100MB it supports.
- Your phone’s storage is full or the cache is corrupted, preventing WhatsApp from saving the incoming file properly.
- The media file format is not supported by WhatsApp, like .webp images or .mkv videos.
- There is a glitch or bug in WhatsApp causing issues displaying media files.
Knowing the potential causes will help you troubleshoot and narrow down why you cannot see the file sent to you on WhatsApp.
Step-by-Step Guide to Fix Missing Media Files on WhatsApp
Here is a detailed step-by-step guide on the various methods you can try yourself to resolve the “media file missing” error on WhatsApp:
1. Check File Size Limit
WhatsApp has a file size restriction of 100MB for media files you can send and receive. If the file being sent exceeds this size limit, it will fail to send properly or be corrupted.
To check if this is the reason you cannot view the file, ask the sender to confirm the file size. If it is over 100MB, request them to use a different sharing method or try reducing the size before resending.
2. Update WhatsApp
Having an outdated version of WhatsApp can also cause issues with sending and displaying media files. WhatsApp frequently releases new updates with bug fixes and performance improvements.
Go to your phone’s app store to check if any WhatsApp updates are available for installation. Updating to the latest version may resolve any software bugs causing missing media files.
3. Resend the File
A simple fix is to ask the sender to resend the media file that is not showing up on your device. Since the transfer was interrupted for some reason the first time, resending it could work.
Request the sender to resend the exact same file. Also, ensure you have a stable internet connection this time to complete the file transfer smoothly.
4. Clear WhatsApp Cache and Data
Accumulated cache and corrupt data on WhatsApp can also lead to issues with sending/receiving files. Clearing the cache and data will wipe any corrupt files causing problems.
To clear cache and data on WhatsApp:
- Go to Phone Settings > Apps > WhatsApp > Storage
- Tap on ‘Clear Cache’ and ‘Clear Data’ options
- Restart WhatsApp – your chat history will be erased with this method
Now check if the media file can be viewed properly in WhatsApp without any error messages.
5. Free Up Phone Storage
If your phone storage is completely full, WhatsApp will not have space left to save large incoming media files. This can lead to errors displaying them.
Check your phone’s storage usage in Settings and free up space by:
- Deleting unused apps and files
- Transferring photos/videos to cloud storage or computer
- Deleting large files like downloads, cached data, etc.
Having at least 500MB free space is recommended so WhatsApp can function properly.
6. Reinstall WhatsApp
If none of the above fixes have worked, the last resort is to uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp on your device. This will clear out any corrupted files or cache related to WhatsApp.
Before reinstalling, remember to backup your WhatsApp chat history to avoid losing your conversations.
Follow these steps:
- Uninstall WhatsApp
- Restart your phone
- Reinstall latest version of WhatsApp from the app store
- Restore chat history backup when prompted
Check if media files can now be viewed properly without any errors after the reinstallation.
7. Convert to Supported Format
Some media formats like .webp images or .mkv videos are not supported by WhatsApp. If the sender is using an unsupported file format, you will see errors trying to view it.
Request the sender to convert the media file into a compatible format supported by WhatsApp before resending, like:
| Media Type | Supported Formats |
| Images | JPEG, PNG |
| Videos | MP4 |
| Audio | MP3, WAV, AAC |
| Documents | PDF, DOC, DOCX, PPT, XLS |
Converting to an Open WhatsApp supported format can help resolve “media missing” errors.
How to Avoid “Media Missing” Errors in Future
Following certain best practices will help minimize issues with sending and viewing media files on WhatsApp:
- Always use stable WiFi or cellular data with good speed for transferring media files on WhatsApp. This prevents interruptions during file transfer.
- Regularly clear WhatsApp cache and data to delete temp files or corrupt data.
- Ensure your phone has adequate storage space available for WhatsApp to save incoming files.
- Keep WhatsApp updated to the latest version to get bug fixes and improvements.
- Double check media file sizes and formats before sending on WhatsApp.
- Backup your WhatsApp chat history regularly to a different source like Google Drive.
Conclusion
Seeing the message “This media file appears to be missing” can be annoying when trying to view files sent to you on WhatsApp. However, in most cases it can be fixed by following the troubleshooting methods outlined in this article.
Starting from simpler steps like resending the file, clearing app data, freeing up storage space to reinstalling WhatsApp if necessary can all help resolve the issue. You also need to check factors like file size limits, unsupported formats that could be causing the error.
Following the best practices suggested will help avoid running into missing media errors frequently when using WhatsApp in future. Using a stable connection, regularly backing up chats, keeping the app updated are some ways to have a seamless experience sharing and viewing media files on WhatsApp.