How to Fix WhatsApp Download Failed (Ask That it Be Resent To)?

WhatsApp is the go-to messaging app for millions of users over the world. There are many things to like about this app and many things to dislike. Often, users might run into issues that they have no clue about. One such issue is the “Download Failed” message when downloading media. The message further tells you to ask the sender to re-send it.

If you are facing the same issue with some media files or perhaps every media being sent to you, you are in the right place. In this article, we will go over the best solutions to fix the Download Failed issue. This is a comprehensive guide, so you should be able to find the fix that works for you.

Fix 1: Try Downloading Again

If the media Download has failed, you should try downloading it again. Occasionally, the initial Download may have encountered an interruption or a transient issue. When you retry the Download, it is possible to determine whether the problem can be resolved without additional actions.

Fix 2: Ask the Other Person to Re-send

The most straightforward solution is to ask the other person to re-send the media file. Instead of going through all the hassle of troubleshooting and trying to fix the issue, you can ask the sender to re-send it, as suggested by the error message. If the sender does not have the media file, you can proceed to the following solutions.

Fix 3: Download from a Different Chat

Consider downloading the media from a personal conversation instead of the group chat from which it was originally sent, or vice versa. If the media was sent to you in a group chat or vice-versa, you might be able to download it from there.

Fix 4: Check Your Internet Connection

It is vital to ensure you have a reliable and stable internet connection. Unreliable or unstable internet connectivity may result in unsuccessful download attempts. If you are using Wi-Fi, then you can follow these troubleshooting steps:

1. Restart your router by turning it off and then back on.
2. Make sure there are no obstructions between your phone and your router.
3. Forget and reconnect to your Wi-Fi network.
4. Turn off Bluetooth to avoid any interference with the Wi-Fi signals.
5. Reset your router by pressing the Reset button on the back of your router.
6. Contact your ISP in case there is a service outage.
7. Use cellular or mobile data to download the media.

If you are facing issues with a cellular connection, you can try the following:

1. Move to a place where there is better cellular reception.
2. Toggle on and off the Airplane mode to reset the cellular network.
3. Check your data usage limit and data plans.
4. Reset your network settings. Check with your manufacturer for instructions on this.

Fix 5: Check For Server Outage

WhatsApp may encounter server disruptions or other complications on their end at random. This will help you determine whether the issue is with your device and not the servers. You can check for WhatsApp server status by one of the following methods:

1. Go to DownDetector.com and check the server status of WhatsApp.
2. Check the status of Meta servers, too, since WhatsApp is a part of Meta.
3. Go to Reddit and X (Twitter) to see if users complain about the server outage.

If the servers are down, you can only wait until WhatsApp fixes the issue from their end. If the servers are up and running and you still can’t download the media files, this means that there is an issue with your device or from your end.

Fix 6: Restart WhatsApp

If the servers are up and running, you should try troubleshooting the issues with your device. We can start by restarting WhatsApp. This means you close the app from the Recents or force stop it before opening it again. Restarting the WhatsApp application can resolve any issues or transient malfunctions that may be present. Follow the steps below:

On Android:

1. Swipe up from the bottom and hold to open the Recents menu for a few seconds. For those using navigation buttons, tap on the Recents button.
2. Swipe away the WhatsApp card from the Recents menu.
3. Now, open the Settings app.
4. Tap on Apps.
5. Then, tap on See all apps.
6. Tap on WhatsApp on the list. This will open the App info page of WhatsApp.
7. Tap on Force Stop and confirm when prompted.
8. Open WhatsApp again and try downloading the media again.

On iPhone:

1. Swipe up from the bottom and hold for a few seconds to open the App Switcher menu. On an iPhone with a Home button, double-press the Home button.
2. Swipe away the WhatsApp card from the App Switcher menu.

Fix 7: Clear the Cache of WhatsApp

You can also try clearing the cache to fix any temporary data storage-related issues on your device. This proves to be especially beneficial in cases where the problem stems from cache files that are flawed or obsolete. WhatsApp will regenerate these files automatically, and this does not affect your data in any way. Follow the steps below:

On Android:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap on Apps.
3. Then, tap on See all apps.
4. Tap on WhatsApp on the list. This will open the App info page of WhatsApp.
5. Tap on Storage and Data.
6. Now, tap on Clear cache and tap on OK.
7. Open WhatsApp and try downloading the media again.

Note: Some users might have to tap Clear Data first and then Clear Cache.

On iPhone:

There is no straightforward way to clear the cache of WhatsApp on an iPhone. However, you can restart your iPhone, which should do the same.

1. Press and hold the Side button and the Volume Up button simultaneously until the Slide to Power Off menu appears.
2. Drag the slider to the right to turn off your iPhone.
3. Once the iPhone has turned off, press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo.
4. WhatsApp’s cache has now been cleared.

Fix 8: Allow Access to Storage and Media

WhatsApp needs certain permissions to be able to function properly. So make sure WhatsApp has the required permissions to access the storage and media on your device. Perhaps the app cannot retrieve or store media files because you haven’t granted those permissions. Follow the steps below to allow access to storage and media for WhatsApp:

On Android:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap on Apps.
3. Then, tap on See all apps.
4. Tap on WhatsApp on the list. This will open the App info page of WhatsApp.
5. Tap on Storage and Data.
6. Tap on Permissions.
7. Tap on Photos and Videos and select Allow.

On iPhone:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Scroll down and tap on WhatsApp.
3. Then, under “Allow WhatsApp to Access,” tap on Photos.
4. Select All Photos.

Fix 9: Free Up Storage Space

Download issues may result from inadequate storage capacity on your device. Remove any unused applications or files to free up space. WhatsApp needs to have sufficient capacity to download and store media files efficiently.

Ensure you have enough storage space to download the media file. If the media file is too large, free up space and try again. Follow the steps below to check for available storage space on your phone:

On Android:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Scroll down and tap on Storage or System > Storage.

On iPhone:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap on General.
3. Then, tap on iPhone Storage.

Fix 10: Update WhatsApp

WhatsApp needs to be running on the latest version to work properly. Outdated versions of the app may occasionally contain flaws or incompatibility issues. Updating to the latest version means you have the latest enhancements and bug fixes, which may resolve the download issue. Follow the steps below to update WhatsApp:

On Android:

1. Open the Google Play Store and tap on your profile picture in the top right corner of the screen.
2. Tap on Manage apps & device.
3. Then, tap on See details under Available updates.
4. Find WhatsApp on the list and tap on Update next to it.
5. Once the app is updated, see if the issue has been resolved.

On iPhone:

1. Open the App Store and tap on your profile picture in the top-right/bottom-right corner of the screen.
2. Find WhatsApp on the list and tap on UPDATE next to it.
3. Once the app is updated, see if the issue has been resolved.

Fix 11: Restart your Phone

If none of the above solutions worked, you can try restarting your phone. While this may seem very basic, it can often resolve transient malfunctions or complications on your device that potentially hurt WhatsApp’s functionality. Follow the steps below:

On Android:

1. Press and hold the Power button and the Volume Up button simultaneously (or just the Power button on some devices) to bring up the Power Off menu.
2. Tap on Restart.

On iPhone:

1. Press and hold the Side key and the Volume Up button simultaneously to bring up the Slide to Power Off menu.
2. Drag the slider to the right to power off your iPhone.
3. Once the iPhone has turned off, wait for a few seconds and then press and hold the Side key until you see the Apple logo.
4. After the Restart, check to see if you can download the media now.

Fix 12: Update your Phone’s Date and Time

WhatsApp requires that your device’s date and time are precise to work properly. Misconfigured date and time configurations may give rise to synchronization issues, subsequently leading to download failures. Follow the steps below to update your phone’s date and time:

On Android:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Scroll down and tap on System.
3. Tap on Date & time.
4. Turn on the toggles next to Use network-provided time and Use network-provided time zone. 
5. The date and time will now be set as per your location.

On iPhone:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap on General.
3. Then, tap on Date & Time.
4. Turn on the toggle next to Set Automatically.

Fix 13: Update your Phone’s Software

It is also essential to update your phone’s operating system to the latest version for optimal device performance and compatibility. Outdated software may give rise to many complications, some of which may impact the functionality of apps like WhatsApp.

You might be able to resolve the download issue by updating the software on your phone to ensure that it has the latest system improvements and bug fixes. Follow the steps below to update your phone’s software:

On Android:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Scroll down and tap on System.
3. Then, tap on Software update.
4. Tap on Check for updates.
5. Your phone will now check for any available updates. If any are available, tap on Download & install.
6. Finally, tap on Restart.

On iPhone:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap on General.
3. Then, tap on Software Update.
4. Your iPhone will now check for any available updates. If any are available, tap on Download & Install.
5. Restart your iPhone once the update is installed.

Fix 14: Reinstall WhatsApp

Finally, if none of the above solutions worked, you can reinstall WhatsApp. You must first uninstall WhatsApp from your device and subsequently reinstall it from the app store. It can help resolve recurring problems within the application by essentially starting over. Before uninstalling, ensure you have a backup of your chats and data.

On Android:

1. Open WhatsApp and tap on your profile picture or the three dots on the top right.
2. Tap on Chats > Chat backup.
3. Tap on Back up. Once the backup is complete, note the account you have backed up to and proceed to the next step.
4. Tap and hold the WhatsApp app icon on the Home screen or the app drawer.
5. Tap on the Cross (x) or the Trash icon and tap on Uninstall.
6. Tap on OK to confirm.
7. Once the app is uninstalled, go to the Google Play Store and install WhatsApp.
8. Open the app and follow the on-screen instructions to log in and restore your data.

On iPhone:

1. Open WhatsApp and tap on your profile picture or the three dots on the top right.
2. Tap on Chats > Chat backup.
3. Tap on Back Up Now. Once the backup is done, move on to the next step.
4. Tap and hold the WhatsApp app icon on the Home screen or the App Library.
5. Tap on the “x” on the top-right corner of the app icon.
6. Tap on Delete App.
7. Tap on Delete to confirm.
8. Once the app is uninstalled, go to the App Store and install WhatsApp.
9. Open the app and follow the on-screen instructions to log in and restore your data.

Fix 15: Contact WhatsApp Support

You should contact the WhatsApp support team if you see the same error message on all the media files you try to download. This is because the issue is likely an internal error within the app that needs to be fixed.

You can contact WhatsApp support via their website. They should be able to help you with the issue and give you personalized guidance on further troubleshooting.

You can also contact WhatsApp Help from within the app itself. Follow the steps below:

1. Open WhatsApp and tap on your profile picture or the three dots on the top right.
2. Scroll down and tap on Help.
3. Then, tap on Help Center.
4. Tap on the Support bubble on the bottom right.
5. Tap on Contact WhatsApp Support.
6. Describe your issue and tap on Next.
7. WhatsApp should get back to you via a chat in some time.

Final Words

That’s it. We hope this article helped you fix the issue and download the media you wanted. If this error message keeps popping up on all media files, it is likely an internal issue with WhatsApp or your device. In this case, we recommend you contact WhatsApp support. Read this article to learn how to recover deleted WhatsApp messages. Let us know which solutions worked for you in the comments section below.