Quick Answer
There are a few common reasons why you may not be able to send pictures on WhatsApp Web:
- Your browser doesn’t have permission to access your camera or photos.
- The WhatsApp Web app isn’t updated to the latest version.
- Your internet connection is slow or unstable.
- The photo file size is too large.
- Your browser cache and cookies need to be cleared.
To troubleshoot and fix this issue, you can try granting browser permissions, updating the WhatsApp Web app, using a faster/more stable internet connection, reducing the photo size, or clearing the browser cache and cookies. With one or more of those steps, you should be able to start sending photos through WhatsApp Web again.
Grant Browser Permissions
One of the most common reasons you can’t send photos on WhatsApp Web is because your browser doesn’t have permission to access your camera or photos.
When you first try using features like taking photos or uploading images in WhatsApp Web, your browser should prompt you to allow access to your camera and/or photos. If you accidentally blocked the site from accessing your camera or photos, it could prevent you from sending pictures.
To fix this:
- Open WhatsApp Web in your browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, etc).
- Look for a camera, microphone, or notifications icon in the address bar or on the left side of the address bar. Click it.
- Make sure the Camera and Microphone permissions are set to “Allow” or “Ask” instead of “Blocked.”
- Refresh WhatsApp Web and try sending a photo again.
Granting camera and microphone access permissions should allow WhatsApp Web to take photos or upload existing images from your computer for sending messages.
Update the WhatsApp Web App
If your browser has the right permissions but you still can’t send photos, another issue may be that WhatsApp Web itself needs to be updated.
The WhatsApp Web platform receives frequent updates to fix bugs, patch security flaws, and add new features. However, it doesn’t always automatically update itself on your computer.
If your WhatsApp Web app is outdated, it could be missing something required for sending photos properly.
To update WhatsApp Web:
- Close the WhatsApp Web browser tab/window completely.
- Reopen WhatsApp Web in your browser.
- Look for a pop-up that says a new version is available and click “Update.”
- If you don’t see an update popup, the app may already be up-to-date.
Updating to the latest version of WhatsApp Web may provide the fixes or improvements needed to start sending photos again. The update process only takes a moment.
Check Your Internet Connection
Sending photos on WhatsApp Web requires a reasonably fast and stable internet connection.
If your internet is slow or dropping in and out while connected to WhatsApp Web, it can disrupt features like sending media files.
Some things to check regarding your internet connection:
- Speed – Check internet speeds with a tool like speedtest.net to see download/upload rates.
- Connection stability – Note if the connection is dropping or inconsistent while using WhatsApp Web.
- Switch networks – Try different WiFi networks, Ethernet cables, cellular data, etc.
- Location – Move closer to your WiFi router, or boost signal with range extenders.
Improving your internet connection can help provide the bandwidth and stability needed for sending photos successfully. Consider upgrading your internet plan if speeds are consistently low.
Reduce Photo File Size
Large photo or image files may fail to send properly on WhatsApp Web, especially with slower internet connections.
WhatsApp has a maximum file size limit of around 64MB per image or video. Very large files can have trouble uploading.
If your photos don’t seem to send, try reducing the file size:
- Use photo editing software to reduce resolution or compress JPEG quality.
- Crop the image to remove unnecessary portions.
- Convert HEIC images from iPhone to JPEG.
- Use online compression tools before uploading.
Aim for files under 10MB whenever possible, as even smaller sizes upload and send quicker.
Here is an example of approximately how large common image sizes are:
| Image Resolution | Approx Size |
|---|---|
| 16MP (4608 x 3456px) | 3-8MB |
| 12MP (4000 x 3000px) | 2-6MB |
| 8MP (3264 x 2448px) | 1-4MB |
| 5MP (2592 x 1944px) | 0.5-2MB |
Clear Browser Cache and Cookies
Over time, stored browser data like cached files and cookies can sometimes disrupt sites and web apps like WhatsApp Web.
Clearing your browser’s cache and cookies can remove outdated WhatsApp Web data that may be causing issues uploading or sending photos.
To clear cache/cookies in common browsers:
Chrome Desktop:
- Click the 3 Dots menu > Settings
- Click “Privacy and Security” on the left
- Click “Clear browsing data”
- Select “Cached images and files” and “Cookies and other site data”
- Click “Clear data”
Firefox Desktop:
- Click the 3 Lines menu > Options
- Go to the “Privacy & Security” tab
- Under “Cookies and Site Data” click “Clear Data…”
- Select “Cached Web Content” and check cookies
- Click “Clear”
Chrome Mobile:
- Tap the 3 Dots menu > Settings
- Tap “Privacy” > “Clear browsing data”
- Select “Cached images and files” and “Cookies and site data”
- Tap “Clear data”
After clearing the browser data, refresh and restart WhatsApp Web to see if photo sending starts working properly again without any outdated cached files interfering.
Conclusion
If WhatsApp Web gives you trouble sending photos, try granting camera access, updating the app, improving your internet connection, reducing image sizes, or clearing browser data.
With one or more of these troubleshooting steps, you should be able to get photo sending working again in WhatsApp Web in no time. Reach out to WhatsApp support if the issues persist across devices.