WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 2 billion users worldwide. One handy feature in WhatsApp is the ability to pause and resume sending photos, videos, and other media. However, sometimes issues can occur when trying to restore media that was previously paused in WhatsApp.
Why does WhatsApp pause media transfers?
There are a few main reasons why WhatsApp may pause media transfers:
- Poor internet connection – A weak or unstable internet connection can disrupt media transfers in WhatsApp. The app will pause sending media until the connection improves.
- Large file size – WhatsApp has a file size limit of 100MB for photos and videos. If you try to send media over this size, the transfer will be paused.
- Phone storage full – If your phone storage is completely full, WhatsApp may not be able to save received media and will pause the transfer.
- App issues – Sometimes glitches in the WhatsApp app itself results in stalled media transfers.
By pausing the media transfer instead of failing it outright, WhatsApp gives you a chance to resolve the underlying issue and successfully send the media when conditions improve.
Fixes for resuming paused media
If you find your media transfers getting stuck in WhatsApp, here are some tips to help resume the transfer:
Check your internet connection
An unstable internet connection is one of the main culprits for paused media transfers in WhatsApp. Try the following fixes:
- Move closer to your WiFi router if you’re connected to WiFi
- Switch from WiFi to mobile data or vice versa
- Disable and re-enable your internet connection to reset it
- Try connecting to a different WiFi network
This prompts WhatsApp to recheck the connection and resume transfers if connectivity has improved.
Make space on your phone
If your phone storage is full, free up space for WhatsApp to save incoming media files and resume transfers:
- Delete old photos and videos from your camera roll
- Uninstall unused apps and games
- Transfer photos/videos to cloud storage or a computer
- Clear cached data and files from your phone’s storage
Having at least 100MB – 200MB free space is recommended to prevent stalled media transfers.
Limit media size being sent
When sending high-resolution photos, videos, GIFs, or other large files over WhatsApp, the transfer may pause on reaching the 100MB file size limit. To avoid this:
- Before sending, check the file size and reduce if needed
- Lower video resolution to reduce size
- Use a file compressor to reduce photo sizes
- Split videos into smaller parts before sending
This prevents the media from exceeding WhatsApp’s size limits and pausing during transfer.
Update the WhatsApp app
If all else fails, updating WhatsApp to the latest version can help resolve app glitches causing paused media transfers:
- On Android – Open the Play Store, go to WhatsApp and select Update.
- On iPhone – Go to the App Store, select Updates and update WhatsApp.
Updating provides bug fixes and performance improvements that can prevent issues with transferring media.
Try alternate solutions
If you still can’t get a paused media transfer to resume in WhatsApp, there are some alternate options to try:
Restart your phone
Restarting your phone resets all apps and connections, which can fix any underlying problems causing the paused transfer:
- On Android – Hold down the Power button and tap Restart
- On iPhone – Hold down the Side/Power button and slide to power off. Then power back on.
Once restarted, check if WhatsApp can now resume transferring the media.
Reinstall WhatsApp
As a last resort, uninstalling and reinstalling WhatsApp can clear out any glitches:
- Back up your WhatsApp chat history first
- Uninstall WhatsApp and delete any leftover files
- Reinstall WhatsApp from the app store and restore chat history
With all app data reset, this may resolve any issues that were interrupting media transfers.
Use an alternate sharing method
If you still can’t send the media through WhatsApp, use an alternative sharing method like:
- File sharing apps like ShareIt
- Cloud storage services like Google Drive or Dropbox
- Photo printing services to create physical photos
While not as convenient as WhatsApp, these options can help ensure the media gets delivered.
Avoiding paused media issues
To avoid hassles with paused media transfers in the future, keep these tips in mind:
- Check your connection speed and stability before transferring media.
- Limit file size of media, especially videos.
- Compress photos and videos before sending.
- Ensure you have adequate storage space on your phone.
- Keep WhatsApp updated to latest version.
- Be ready with alternate sharing options as backup.
Following these best practices helps minimize stalled WhatsApp media transfers.
Conclusion
Paused media transfers in WhatsApp can be annoying, but are often fixable. Check your internet connectivity, free up storage space, lower media size, update WhatsApp, restart your phone, and reinstall WhatsApp if needed. With some troubleshooting, you can get those stalled photos, videos, and files sending again.