WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps, used by over 2 billion people worldwide. A key feature of WhatsApp is that you can send and receive photos, videos, audio, documents and other media. However, one common complaint from WhatsApp users is that sometimes the media they receive disappears after a while.
Why does media disappear on WhatsApp?
There are a few main reasons why media can disappear from WhatsApp chats:
- Storage limits – WhatsApp has size limits for media attachments and total storage. If you exceed these limits, older media may get deleted.
- Sender deletes – If the sender deletes media from their device, it will also be deleted for you.
- Encryption – WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption, so media is not stored on WhatsApp’s servers. It’s only stored locally on each user’s device.
- Expiration settings – Senders can set media and messages to expire after a certain period of time.
- Device changes – If you change devices, switch numbers, or reinstall WhatsApp, media can be lost in the transition.
WhatsApp media storage limits
One of the main culprits of disappearing media is WhatsApp’s storage restrictions. Here are WhatsApp’s current media limits:
- File attachment limit – 100MB per file
- Photo limit – Photos can’t exceed 30MB
- Video limit – Videos can’t exceed 16MB
- Audio limit – Audio files can’t exceed 16MB
- Total media limit – WhatsApp only allows up to 12,000 media items to be backed up
If you hit these limits, WhatsApp will start deleting your oldest media to make space for new items. So if you notice old media disappearing, this is likely the reason.
When the sender deletes media
Another common reason media disappears from WhatsApp is when the sender deletes the media from their device. For example:
- Your friend sends you a photo, then later deletes it from their phone’s gallery.
- You receive a video from a group chat, but the sender removes it from their WhatsApp.
- Someone forwards you an audio file, but then they delete it.
Because of WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption, the app itself does not store users’ media. So if the sender deletes media, it will be deleted for recipients as well. The only way to prevent this is if you’ve saved the media to your own device.
How WhatsApp encryption causes media to disappear
To understand how WhatsApp’s encryption leads to disappearing media, let’s look at how the encryption works:
- Each user has their own unique encryption keys to encrypt and decrypt messages and media.
- Keys are exchanged directly between users when messaging.
- WhatsApp servers don’t have access to these keys and cannot decrypt messages or media.
- Media is encrypted and stored locally on each user’s device, not in the cloud.
This encrypted system has major privacy benefits. But it also means WhatsApp has no way to store or backup users’ media on their servers. So if media is deleted locally, it’s gone for good.
The pros and cons of WhatsApp encryption
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Strong privacy protection | No backups of deleted media |
| Messages/media not stored by WhatsApp | Lost media if sender’s device is damaged |
| Reduced hacking risks | Can lose media if you switch devices |
As you can see, WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption provides major security benefits. But it also means you rely entirely on your own device and the sender’s device storing media safely.
When media expires on WhatsApp
In addition to storage limits and sender deletions, media can also disappear due to WhatsApp’s expiring messages and media settings:
- Expiring media – Senders can make photos, videos or GIFs expire after the recipient views them once. This makes the media disappear from the chat.
- Expiring messages – The sender can make any message expire after a set duration, from 24 hours up to 90 days. This auto-deletes the messages and any media sent with them.
These expiring messages options are enabled in WhatsApp’s privacy settings. If someone you’re chatting with has enabled expiring media or messages, any media covered by these settings will automatically disappear once the duration is up.
How to tell if a chat has expiring messages
Here are a few signs the person you’re chatting with has expiring messages enabled:
- You see a notice that disappearing messages are enabled.
- Media you receive disappears after being opened once.
- Older messages from the chat disappear after a certain time period.
- You don’t see a “This message was deleted” placeholder for old messages.
If you want your media and messages to stick around, avoid using expiring content settings. Or save any important media from expiring chats before it disappears.
Losing media when switching WhatsApp devices
Finally, you may notice old WhatsApp media disappearing if you get a new device or reinstall the app. That’s because when you switch devices:
- Your encryption keys change, so your existing media can’t be decrypted and transferred.
- WhatsApp does not transfer over your local media from one device to another.
- WhatsApp only transfers your message history and profile information.
To preserve your media when moving between devices, be sure to create backups that transfer your media to another storage source, like Google Drive or iCloud.
Backing up your WhatsApp media
To make sure you don’t lose media when switching devices, follow these backup tips:
- Enable WhatsApp’s built-in chat backup, which saves your message history to Google Drive or iCloud.
- Regularly save media you want to keep to your phone’s storage outside WhatsApp.
- Use a third-party app to download WhatsApp media to your computer or cloud storage.
- Transfer important chats or media to a new device manually before switching.
With regular backups, you won’t have to worry about losing your favorite WhatsApp media.
How to recover disappeared WhatsApp media
If you notice media like photos or videos have disappeared from WhatsApp, here are some tips to try and recover them:
- Check your phone’s gallery – Media may still be saved there even if deleted from WhatsApp.
- Use file recovery software – Scan your phone’s storage to rescue deleted media.
- Retrieve from a backup – Restore missing media from a Google Drive or iCloud backup.
- Ask the sender – Contact the sender and ask them to resend the disappeared media.
Unfortunately, if the media is not recoverable through these methods, it may be permanently lost. Going forward, make sure to backup your WhatsApp media often to prevent this situation.
How to prevent WhatsApp media from disappearing
Here are some tips to stop your WhatsApp media from going missing:
- Frequently save media you want to keep to your phone’s gallery or cloud storage.
- Disable auto-downloads to prevent media from filling up your storage.
- Regularly back up your WhatsApp chats to Google Drive or iCloud.
- Export important chats to your computer or email to have copies.
- Turn off disappearing messages or set to longer durations.
- Remind friends/groups not to delete media you want to keep.
While WhatsApp’s encryption ensures your conversations stay private, it also means taking steps to preserve your messages and media. Following these best practices will help stop your favorite WhatsApp content from mysteriously disappearing!
Conclusion
WhatsApp media can disappear due to storage restrictions, sender deletions, encryption, expiring messages, and device changes. To keep your media safe, enable chat backups, save media to your phone or cloud storage, turn off disappearing messages, and transfer media when switching devices. With a few simple habits, you can hold on to those treasured WhatsApp memories.