How to Fix Missing Media Problem on WhatsApp for Android

WhatsApp users are recommended to back up their content before proceeding with the steps to fix the problem.

Advertisement
By Jagmeet Singh | Updated: 23 April 2021 12:45 IST
Highlights
  • WhatsApp users have reported a missing media problem on Android
  • The issue seems to have affected users on recent WhatsApp versions
  • WhatsApp users can fix it manually by moving the media content folder
How to Fix Missing Media Problem on WhatsApp for Android

WhatsApp is yet to acknowledge the problem and bring a fix

Photo Credit: Reuters

WhatsApp for Android users are reportedly losing their media content on the app. The issue has affected some users and appears to have arrived with the recent WhatsApp updates. It has impacted users on WhatsApp for Android version 2.21.9.2 and 2.21.9.3. Some users on the latest version have also faced the issue. Although the instant messaging app is yet to acknowledge the problem and provide a fix, there is a simple workaround to bring back your media content.

As pointed out by WhatsApp beta tracker WABetaInfo, some users noticed that they were unable to find their media content, such as photos and videos, on the recent WhatsApp for Android versions. The content, however, existed on their phones and could be accessed through the photo gallery.

If you are among those users and are affected by the missing media issue on WhatsApp, you can follow few these steps to bring your media content back to the app.

How to fix missing media problem on WhatsApp for Android

WABetaInfo has shared the workaround to fix the missing media problem on WhatsApp for Android. However, before beginning with the process, users are recommended to back up their chats.

Advertisement
  1. Close WhatsApp on your phone and clear cache to make sure the app is not running in the background.
  2. Open your phone's native file manager and go to WhatsApp > Media.
  3. Now, move the content in the Media folder to Android > Media > com.whatsapp > WhatsApp > Media. Please note that you just need to move the content of the media folder and not the entire folder.
  4. You are also required to wait until all of the content gets moved to the destination folder. Then, open the WhatsApp app.

You'll be able to see your media content back on WhatsApp after following the aforementioned steps.

If you don't want to take the manual way, you can wait for WhatsApp to bring an update that fixes the problem. The update could move the content from the existing folder to the new one automatically.

Advertisement

Does WhatsApp's new privacy policy spell the end for your privacy? We discussed this on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts.

Affiliate links may be automatically generated - see our ethics statement for details.
 

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.

Advertisement

Related Stories

Popular Mobile Brands
  1. OTT Releases This Week: Pattth, Stolen, Jaat, Bhool Chuk Maaf, and More
  2. Nothing Phone 3 Rear Panel Revealed in New Teaser Ahead of June 1 Launch
  3. Motorola Edge 60 Will Launch in India on This Date
  4. Realme GT 7 and GT 7T Review
  5. Oppo K13x 5G India Launch Teased; to Go on Sale via Flipkart
  1. Google Chrome Gets 'Highest Ever' Speedometer Score; Company Reveals Optimisations Behind Improved Performance
  2. Nothing Phone 3 Rear Panel Design Teased; Suggests Departure From Signature Glyph Design
  3. Xiaomi Smart Band 10 Leaked Marketing Images Suggest Design and Key Features
  4. 'We're Not Done Yet': CD Projekt Red Confirms Cyberpunk 2077 Is Getting Another Update Later This Month
  5. Microsoft Introduces Copilot Shopping With Native Checkout Capability in App
  6. Vivo Y-Series Smartphone With Curved Display Said to Launch in India; Colour Options Leaked
  7. Uber Reportedly Exploring Stablecoin Adoption to Cut Cross-Border Transfer Costs
  8. Perplexity AI CEO Pans Google’s AI Rollout and Assistant Product
  9. Tecno Pova 7 Neo 4G Design Spotted in Leaked Hands-On Images; Key Features Surface Online
  10. PhonePe to Launch UPI Payments App for Feature Phones With P2P Transfers, Offline QR Payments
Gadgets 360 is available in
Download Our Apps
Available in Hindi
© Copyright Red Pixels Ventures Limited 2025. All rights reserved.