The default option in WhatsApp is to automatically download photos and save them to the photo gallery on your mobile device.
If WhatsApp Photos are not showing in Gallery, the problem could simply be due to Media auto-download option not being enabled or due to WhatsApp lacking the permission to access the Photos App on your Android Phone.
Apart from this, the problem could be due to a temporary glitch in WhatsApp, lack of storage space on your mobile device or the SD Card becoming faulty or damaged.
Fix For WhatsApp Media Not Showing in Gallery
In most cases, the problem can be fixed by allowing WhatsApp to access the Photos App and enabling the Media Auto-download option on your device.
If this does not help, you can try to fix the problem using other methods as provided below in this guide.
1. Allow WhatsApp to Save Photos to Camera Roll
In case of iPhone and certain Android phones, the Media Auto-download option needs to be manually enabled.
On iPhone: Open WhatsApp > go to Settings > Chats > move the toggle next to Save to Camera Roll to ON position.
Android Phone: Open WhatsApp > go to Settings > Chats > move the toggle next to Media Visibility to ON position.
After this, you should find WhatsApp automatically downloading Photos to the Camera Roll on your phone.
2. Provide WhatsApp with Access to Photos App
WhatsApp won’t be able to save photos to Camera Roll, if it does not have the permission to access the Photos App on your iPhone or Android Phone.
On iPhone: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Photos > WhatsApp > select All Photos option.
The steps to provide WhatsApp with access to Photos on an Android phone vary, depending the manufacturer of your Android device.
Method 1: Go to Settings > Apps & Notifications > WhatsApp > Permissions and select the required option.
Method 2: Go to Settings > Apps > Manage Apps > WhatsApp > App Permissions or Other Permissions and select the required option.
Now that WhatsApp has access to Photos App, it will allow you to manually download Photos & Videos to the Photos App on your mobile device.
3. Check Storage Status
WhatsApp won’t be able to download photos to gallery, if your mobile device is lacking in storage space. Hence, make sure that enough storage space is available on your phone.
iPhone: Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage > check the amount of storage space used and available on your device.
The steps to check the status of storage space on Android Phones vary, depending on manufacturer of your Android Phone.
Method 1: Go to Settings > Battery & Device Care > tap on the Storage option.
Method 2: Go to Settings > tap on Storage option
If your device is lacking in storage space, you need to make efforts to Free Up Storage Space on your mobile device.
4. Clear WhatsApp Cache
Sometimes, the problem is due to a corrupted file in WhatsApp cache, preventing the display of WhatsApp images.
Android Phone: Go to Settings > Apps > Manage Apps > WhatsApp > Storage > tap on Clear Data option.
On iPhone: Go to Settings > General > Shut Down and allow iPhone to completely Power OFF. After 30 seconds, restart your device.
5. Update WhatsApp
Make sure that the lastest version of WhatsApp is installed on your mobile device.
On iPhone: Open App Store > search for WhatsApp > tap on the Update option located next to WhatsApp Messenger.
Android Phone: Open Play Store > tap on your Profile icon > Manage Apps & Devices > select the Update option next to WhatsApp.
Note: Update option will be available only if an Update is available for WhatsApp.
6. Sent WhatsApp Photos Not Appearing in Gallery
The problem of sent WhatsApp Photos not appearing in the Gallery is specific to Android Phones and this can be fixed by deleting the .nomedia folder.
1. Open the File Explorer App on your Android Phone.
Note: File Explorer App should be available under Tools > My Files. If this App is not available, you can download ES File Explorer App from Google Play Store.
2. From My Files Screen, navigate to Device Storage > WhatsApp > Media > WhatsApp Images > open Sent Folder.
3. In Sent Folder, tap on More (or 3-dots icon) and select the Edit option in drop-down menu.
4. On the next screen, scroll down to bottom > select .nomedia file and tap on the Delete option.
Now, if you open the Photos App on your phone, you should be able to see sent WhatsApp Photos.