Last Updated on April 10, 2022 by Rick Darlinton
Whatsapp remains one of the preferred messaging apps right now. From chatting with family and friends to sharing multimedia files on WhatsApp groups, the Facebook-owned app does it all. Yet, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows for users. Whatsapp images not showing in gallery is a common problem for many. For anyone struggling with this situation, we are here to help you.
In this piece, we look at ways to resolve WhatsApp images not showing in gallery. These tips are applicable no matter your smartphone’s operating system. Let’s proceed.
Changing the Media Visibility
WhatsApp images not showing in gallery is often linked to the media visibility settings. By fiddling with this fixture, you can make those images show up in your gallery. Follow these steps to get this done:
- Click the three dots at the top right of your WhatsApp chat section.
- On clicking the three dots, a menu opens up. Select Settings from the menu.
- Selecting Settings leads to several options, including Chat, Account, Notification, Storage, and Help. Click the Chat option.
- Once the Chat option is opened, you should go on to toggle the media visibility. This makes it show newly downloaded WhatsApp images in the gallery.
Thus, the issue of WhatsApp images not showing in the gallery is resolved.
Remove .NoMedia File
Another way to resolve the WhatsApp images not showing in gallery is to remove a file named the ‘.nomedia’ file from your WhatsApp folder. This is important since the presence of such a file in that folder renders all media files in there redundant. Such files will not show in your gallery. Here are the steps to resolve this impasse:
- Download a file explorer on your device, and locate the settings option of the app. Depending on your smartphone, this should be at the top corner of the file manager.
- Tap the show hidden files toggle switch, so all hidden files on your device are revealed.
- Locate the WhatsApp folder on your device. Depending on your mobile phone, it might be in your phone or SD storage. Once you have found it, proceed to the WhatsApp images folder.
- Check for the .nomedia file in the WhatsApp images folder. Delete the file, and the issue of WhatsApp images not showing in the gallery should be solved.
Empty The Private Folder
If you are not able to see images downloaded through WhatsApp, then it might be due to the private folder in your phone.
With the private folder within your WhatsApp folder being the default storage of images downloaded through the messaging app, those pictures will not show up in your gallery. You have to either manually move them out of that folder then delete the folder. Follow these steps to get it done:
- Use a file manager/explorer to open the WhatsApp folder on your device.
- Locate the private subfolder within the WhatsApp images folder.
- Unload the private folder – emptying its content so images appear in your phone’s gallery.
Edit Folder Name
Sometimes, you are not able to see WhatsApp images due to the folder name. The folder name having a (.) as its prefix ensures the contained images do not appear in the gallery. Editing the folder name usually resolves this problem. Follow these steps to edit the folder name:
- Use your file explorer to locate the WhatsApp folder on your phone.
- Edit the dot (.) In the WhatsApp folder name using the file explorer toolset.
- View the WhatsApp images in the gallery.
Clear the Cache
The WhatsApp images not showing in the gallery might be caused by an overstuffed cache. Clearing the cache can solve the problem. Here are the steps to clear the cache:
- Navigate to your phone Settings and click the apps option.
- Locate the WhatsApp application amongst the apps, and click on it. This will reveal several options, including storage, data usage, and battery.
- Tap the Storage tab, then select Clear Cache. This will unload the WhatsApp cache, making it operate more fluidly.
Change App Permission Settings On Your iPhone
The iPhone is renowned for its numerous security gimmicks that require permission changes. However, this might be the reason why you are experiencing the WhatsApp media not showing in gallery problem. Fortunately, you can fix it by following the steps below:m
- Launch your iPhone’s Settings app.
- Select WhatsApp from the list of apps visible. Change the download permission of the app to Read and Write. This will allow the app download received media files.
Update WhatsApp
Often, the WhatsApp photos not showing in the gallery might be linked to an older version of the app. Updating the messenger app solves this problem. Below are the steps to update your WhatsApp messenger easily:
- Open the app store of your device – Google Play (Android) and Apple Store (iOS).
- Search for WhatsApp on the store and select update if any is available.
Closing Remarks
The problem of WhatsApp images not showing in gallery is quite common. Yet, you can resolve it using any of the solutions highlighted in this piece.
Related Posts