Fix WhatsApp Not Sending Pictures with 9 Ways [Tested]

by Anna Sherry   Updated on 2023-01-04 / Update for  WhatsApp

There have been several reports of people being unable to download or send media files from their WhatsApp app — and it’s a deal breaker for many!

Sending and receiving media, like images and videos, is one of the most popular uses of WhatsApp. Your experience with this app will be ruined if this core functionality doesn’t work for you.

But you already know that, and you’re looking for a fix to get rid of the problem.

Lucky for you, we have sorted out the best solutions you could use to fix the WhatsApp not sending pictures problem.

1. 9 Ways to Fix WhatsApp Not Sending Pictures Issue

Way 1: Check your Internet Connection

The first thing you need to do is check your internet connection. It’s very likely that your internet connection is not working properly and that’s the reason you aren’t able to download media.

To check whether your internet is working fine, open up your browser and visit a webpage. If the webpage opens up just fine, it means there’s nothing wrong with your internet.

If the webpage doesn’t open, try connecting to a different network connection.

Way 2: Restart Your Device

If you still have the WhatsApp photo send problem, you should try restarting your phone. Doing this will eliminate all the temporary glitches.

If you’re on an Android, follow the steps.

  • Press and hold the power button on your device.
  • Select the Restart button, then tap it again to confirm.
restart samsung

For iPhone users:

  • Press and hold the power button and volume up button at the same time.
  • Drag the slider to the right.
  • Wait 30 seconds, then turn the phone back on.
restart iphone

Way 3: Check if your device's date and time is correct

If your device’s date and time are incorrect, you won’t be able to connect to the WhatsApp servers, hence your media won’t send or download.

To check whether your time is correct, follow the steps.

  • Open the Settings app.
  • Go to Date and Time and make sure the correct time zone has been selected for your area.

    iphone date and time

Way 4: Check and clear device storage

If WhatsApp images not sending even now, you need to check whether your device has enough storage. If it doesn’t, you should delete some media or apps from it that you don’t want.

To check your storage, head into the Settings app, then select the Storage option.

Way 5: Clear WhatsApp Cache (Android)

If you’re on an Android, you should try clearing the cache of your WhatsApp app. Doing this will remove all the temporarily glitched files from the WhatsApp app.

To do this, follow the steps.

  • Tap and hold on to the WhatsApp icon.
  • Select the “i” icon to open the App page.
  • Select to clear the cache from there.

    iphone date and time

Way 6: Update the WhatsApp app to the latest version

If you still have the WhatsApp photo send problem, you should also check whether you’re on the latest version of the WhatsApp app.

To do this on Android or iPhone, follow the steps.

  • Open Google Play Store on Android or App Store on iPhone.
  • Search for WhatsApp.
  • If you see an “Update” button next to the WhatsApp app, tap it and wait for the update to complete.

    update whatsapp

Way 7: Reset Network Settings

Resetting your network connection will completely reboot the internet connection of your device. This is helpful when your device is having problems connecting to a server.

To reset your network settings on iPhone:

  • Go to Settings and tap on General.
  • Scroll down to find the “Transfer or Reset iPhone”.
  • Then tap on Reset and choose “Reset Network Settings”.

    reset network settings

Related read How to Reset Network Settings on Samsung.

Way 8: Update your device to the latest version

The next thing you must try is updating your device’s OS to the latest available version. Doing this will fix all the system bugs the manufacturer has released fixes for.

To update your iPhone:

  • Open the Settings app.
  • Go to General > Software update.
  • If there’s an update available, download and install it.

For Android users:

  • Open the Settings app and select Software Update.
  • Click Check for Updates.
  • If there’s an update, install it.

Related read Fix iPhone iOS 16 Update Stuck.

Way 9: Check WhatsApp Permission

If WhatsApp not sending pictures 2023 even now, you need to check whether your WhatsApp app has permission to edit media storage.

On iOS:

  • Open the Settings app.
  • Go to WhatsApp > Photos.
  • Make sure “All Photos” option is selected.

On Android:

  • Tap and hold on to the WhatsApp icon.
  • Select the “i” icon.
  • Select Permissions.
  • Make sure the media/photos and videos permissions are allowed.

    check whatsapp permission android

2. FAQS about WhatsApp Pictures

1. Where are WhatsApp photos stored?

On iOS, WhatsApp media files are stored directly in the Apple Photos app.

On Android, WhatsApp media files are stored in Internal Storage > Android > Media > com.whatsapp > WhatsApp > Media.

2. Are pictures private on WhatsApp?

Yes. WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption to send your pictures to your contacts. So, they’re completely private, and not only Meta can see them.

3. How can I download WhatsApp images in my gallery?

WhatsApp images appear automatically appear in your gallery when you download them. To download an image, simply tap the download icon on the image preview.

Bonus: How to Transfer WhatsApp Pictures from Android to iOS

Normally, transferring your WhatsApp photos/videos, or even your chats from Android to iPhone will require you to reset your iPhone. However, there’s a way you can do this job without that limitation — and it’s called Tenorshare iCareFone Transfer.

iCareFone Transfer is a popular WhatsApp/GBWhatsApp/WhatsApp Business data transfer, backup, and restore tool!

With iCareFone Transfer, you can move your WhatsApp data from Android to iPhone in no time! Here’s how it works.

  • Download and install iCareFone Transfer on your computer. Connect both the devices, i.e., your old Android smartphone and your new iPhone to the PC. Click the “Transfer” button at the bottom, then confirm the action.

    transfer android whatsapp to ios
  • Open WhatsApp on your Android device, go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup — and create a new backup on the spot.

    transfer android whatsapp to ios
  • Select the data you want to transfer. In this case, you want to select Images.

    transfer android whatsapp to ios
  • Now your Android WhatsApp Images have been transferred to your iPhone successfully!

    transfer android whatsapp to ios

The Bottom Line

And there you have it — that’s how you can get rid of the WhatsApp images not sending issue.

We recommend following all the methods in a sequential order to maximize your chances.

Lastly, if you’d like to move your WhatsApp photos from Android to iPhone, Tenorshare iCareFone Transfer is your friend.