WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps in the world, used by over 2 billion people. It allows users to send messages, photos, videos and other media files to individuals or groups. However, sometimes when trying to send or view a media file on WhatsApp, users may encounter the error message “Sorry, this media file doesn’t exist on your device anymore”. This can be frustrating, especially if the media file is important. In this article, we’ll explore the main reasons why WhatsApp gives this error message and provide solutions to fix it.
Reasons Why WhatsApp Gives “Media File Doesn’t Exist” Error
There are a few common reasons why WhatsApp cannot locate a media file on your device:
The file was deleted from your device
The most straightforward reason is that the media file was deleted from your device’s local storage, so WhatsApp no longer has access to it. This could happen if you deleted the file directly on your phone, cleared your device’s cache/data, switched phones or deleted the WhatsApp chat history containing the media file. WhatsApp stores media files sent/received in its local database, so if the actual file is deleted, WhatsApp can’t retrieve it to send or display in chats.
File corruption or incomplete transfer
Sometimes file transfers via WhatsApp get interrupted or the file gets corrupted in transit. As a result, only part of the media file or a corrupted version of it reaches your device’s storage. Since the complete undamaged file is not available to WhatsApp, you get the error when trying to access it. Slow internet connections are often the culprit behind incomplete transfers.
You don’t have enough storage space
WhatsApp requires free local storage space on your device to be able to save media files sent/received via the app. If your phone is running low on storage, WhatsApp may not be able to properly save a media file, resulting in the error message when you try to access it later. This is especially common on phones with limited internal storage capacity.
Cache clearing apps
Some Android devices have cache cleaning and memory optimization apps that periodically clear an app’s local data and files to free up space. If such an app deletes WhatsApp’s media files cache, the app will be unable to find the file to display in chat. Using these apps aggressively can cause issues with recovering deleted files.
Bugs and glitches
In some cases, an actual bug or glitch in WhatsApp results in the media file error message, even though the file exists on the device. For example, this can happen after an app update before all bugs have been fixed. Closing and reopening the app or restarting your phone usually resolves these types of issues.
How to Recover and Fix “Sorry, This Media File Doesn’t Exist” Error
If you get the missing media file error in WhatsApp, there are several ways you may be able to recover or fix the issue:
Check if the file still exists on your device
First, check your device’s file manager or gallery to confirm if the media file still exists in storage. If it does, the issue is likely with WhatsApp’s access to the file rather than it being deleted. You can try resending the file in the chat which may resolve it.
Restore from backup
If the file was deleted but you have a backup of your WhatsApp chats, you can restore the backup to retrieve the missing media file. On Android, backups are saved to your Google Drive. On iPhone, you can find WhatsApp backups in the iCloud settings. Restoring from the most recent backup may bring back the deleted file.
Use file recovery software
If the file is not in your cloud backups, use dedicated data recovery software for your device. Software like iSkysoft for iPhone and EaseUS for Android can scan your phone’s storage for deleted files that can be recovered. If the media file was recently deleted, this software can often restore it.
Reinstall WhatsApp
In some cases, reinstalling WhatsApp may clear up issues with media files not being found by the app. When you reinstall, you’ll still have the option to restore your chats from a recent backup. Reinstalling should re-index files in the app’s database.
Clear app cache and data
Within your device’s app settings menu, you can clear the cache and app data for WhatsApp. This forces the app to fully re-index files and may resolve file errors, especially if it’s a bug or glitch causing the issue. Your chats themselves will remain intact.
Update WhatsApp
Make sure you’re running the latest version of WhatsApp as newer releases fix bugs and improve media file management. On Android you can update via the Google Play Store, on iPhone use the App Store to check for any WhatsApp updates.
Free up storage space
If your phone is low on storage, free up some space by removing unused apps, files and clearing cache. This will ensure WhatsApp has enough space to save media files properly without errors. You may need to upgrade to a device with more storage capacity.
Disable cache cleaner apps
Some Android cache cleaner tools are too aggressive and end up causing issues like deleting WhatsApp media files. Disable these apps or exclude WhatsApp from files that can be deleted. Only let reputable storage cleaners run when you need to manually free up space.
How to Avoid “This Media File Doesn’t Exist” Error
To avoid running into the issue of missing media files in WhatsApp in the future, follow these best practices:
– Back up your WhatsApp chats regularly so you have restore points in case files go missing.
– Avoid using dubious cache cleaning apps that make improper deletions causing app issues.
– Update WhatsApp frequently to get the latest improvements and bug fixes.
– Don’t delete WhatsApp media files directly from your device’s local storage.
– Make sure your phone has enough storage capacity and free space for WhatsApp to save media files.
– Use reliable WiFi or cellular data connections when transferring large media files via WhatsApp.
– Disable battery optimization for WhatsApp so the app can function uninterrupted.
Conclusion
While the “Sorry, this media file doesn’t exist” message in WhatsApp can be annoying, in most cases you can recover or restore missing media files. The issue is usually caused by deleted files, corrupt transfers, lack of storage or bugs. Checking your backups, reinstalling WhatsApp, freeing up storage and using file recovery tools can typically get your media files back. Avoiding dubious cache cleaners, updating WhatsApp and having sufficient free space will prevent the error occuring in the first place. With the right troubleshooting steps, you can get access back to your important WhatsApp media files.
| Reason | Solution |
|---|---|
| File deleted from device | Restore from backup, use file recovery software |
| Corrupted or incomplete transfer | Resend file, restore backup |
| Insufficient storage space | Free up storage space on device |
| Cache cleaner apps | Disable or exclude WhatsApp from cleaner |
| WhatsApp bug or glitch | Update WhatsApp, reinstall app, clear cache |
Preventing “Media File Doesn’t Exist” Error
| Tip |
|---|
| Back up chats regularly |
| Avoid dubious cache cleaner apps |
| Update WhatsApp frequently |
| Don’t delete media files directly from device storage |
| Ensure adequate device storage capacity |
| Use reliable WiFi/mobile data for transfers |
| Disable WhatsApp battery optimization |