If you are unable to download videos from Whatsapp, there could be several possible reasons for this. Here are some things you can try to troubleshoot and fix the issue of Whatsapp not downloading videos on your device.
Check Your Internet Connection
The most obvious reason Why Whatsapp may not be downloading videos is if you have a poor internet connection or no internet connectivity at all. Whatsapp requires an active internet connection to be able to download any media files sent to you on the app. Make sure your wifi or mobile data is switched on and that you have a strong enough signal. Try downloading a video again when you have full signal bars and a stable connection.
Update to the Latest Version of Whatsapp
An outdated version of the Whatsapp app could also be preventing videos from downloading properly. Go to your app store, search for Whatsapp and check if there are any pending updates available for the app. Install the latest update and then try downloading a video again.
Check Your Storage Space
You may be unable to download Whatsapp videos if there is insufficient storage space available on your phone. Whatsapp requires free storage to be able to save any media files you receive. Go to your phone’s settings and check how much internal storage space you have free. If it’s lower than 500MB, try freeing up space by removing unneeded files and then attempt downloading again.
Clear Cache and Data
Over time, accumulated cache and data files within Whatsapp can cause performance issues that prevent videos from downloading correctly. Here are the steps to clear cache and data for Whatsapp on Android and iOS devices:
Android
- Open Settings > Apps > Whatsapp > Storage
- Tap “Clear Cache” and then “Clear Data”
- Restart Whatsapp and try downloading a video
iOS
- Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage
- Select Whatsapp and tap “Offload App”
- Reinstall Whatsapp from the App Store
- Try downloading a video again after reinstalling
Allow Whatsapp Access to Storage
Whatsapp requires permission to access media storage on your phone in order to download videos you receive. If you had previously disabled storage access for Whatsapp, it could prevent files from downloading. Here’s how to check and re-enable Whatsapp’s storage permissions:
Android
- Open Settings > Apps > Whatsapp > Permissions
- Make sure “Storage” permission is enabled
iOS
- Go to Settings > Privacy > Photos
- Make sure Whatsapp is enabled to access photos
Disable Battery Optimization
On Android devices, having battery optimization enabled for Whatsapp could stop videos from downloading in the background properly. Here’s how to turn off battery optimization for Whatsapp:
- Open Settings > Apps > Whatsapp > Battery > Battery optimization
- Select “Don’t optimize” or “All apps”
Don’t Have Auto-Download Enabled
If you have enabled auto-download for media in Whatsapp settings, this could sometimes interfere with manually downloading specific videos. Try disabling auto-download and then attempt to download a video you want.
On Android go to Whatsapp > Settings > Data Usage and disable “Auto-download Videos”. On iOS, go to Settings > Data Usage > Auto-download Videos.
Enable Whatsapp Downloads in File Manager
Some Android file manager apps require you to enable Whatsapp as a download source in their settings before you can properly save Whatsapp videos to your phone’s storage. If downloads aren’t working, open your file manager app and look for a setting to allow or whitelist Whatsapp downloads.
Don’t Have Download Restrictions Enabled
Whatsapp allows limiting downloads over mobile data or wifi networks. If you have enabled restrictions for downloading media only over wifi for example, you won’t be able to get videos on mobile data. Make sure any network download restrictions are disabled.
Re-Register Whatsapp Number
In some cases, re-registering your phone number with Whatsapp can help resolve issues with downloading videos and media. Here are the steps:
- Backup your Whatsapp chats
- Uninstall and delete Whatsapp
- Reinstall Whatsapp and register your number again
- Restore your backup during setup
After re-registering your number, check if video downloads are working properly again.
Update Your Phone Software
Having an outdated version of your phone’s OS could also lead to problems downloading Whatsapp media. Make sure you are running the latest software update on your Android or iOS device. Updating to the newest OS version can resolve compatibility bugs affecting Whatsapp.
Try Using a Different Internet Connection
In some cases, there may be an issue with your specific cellular carrier or wifi network that is preventing Whatsapp media from downloading. As a test, try using a different wifi hotspot or connecting to a friend’s mobile hotspot and see if you are able to download Whatsapp videos.
Contact Whatsapp Support
If none of the troubleshooting steps above have helped resolve your issue with downloading Whatsapp videos, you can get in touch with Whatsapp support for further assistance. Describe your exact problem and what you’ve tried already. They may be able to provide additional tailored troubleshooting tips or determine if it’s a wider technical issue.
Try Alternative Apps
In rare cases where Whatsapp downloads remain persistently broken even after trying all fixes, it could be an account-specific bug. As a workaround, consider using alternate apps like Telegram or Signal for downloading videos and media files from your contacts.
We hope these troubleshooting tips help you fix problems with downloading videos from Whatsapp on your device. Let us know in the comments if any of these solutions worked for you or if you have any other suggestions for fixing Whatsapp video download issues.