Sometimes we want to download an image, video or audio in WhatsApp , and when clicking on the icon it remains loading, and then shows the error “Download failed” . Now we are going to try to locate the possible cause and solve this annoying failure.
We recently explained the possible solutions if we cannot install WhatsApp , and the problem of failed file downloads is also one of the most common. Especially since the text does not explain the reason for the error , and we must identify it on our own.
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The full text of the error says the following:
“Download failed. Download could not be completed. Please try again later.”
That is, a generic warning that does not indicate the cause of the failed download. So the solution will go through reviewing the most common problems , which are quite varied, until the error is found. Let’s see from the most common to the infrequent.
Check the internet connection
The “Download failed” error is common when the mobile does not have an Internet connection , be it via WiFi or mobile data. Surprisingly, WhatsApp does not detect it, and a generic message appears that may be due to any other reason.
At first, a rotating circle is shown indicating that it is trying to download the image, video or audio:
We must test if the rest of the applications or the web browser can access the Internet . If not, we are talking about a connectivity problem. The solution almost always involves contacting our mobile operator if we use data, since the rate may have been exhausted, have a line cut or suffer a fall.
If we use WiFi, the origin is usually similar, only in this case the person responsible is the operator of the associated fiber or ADSL line.
Check that the mobile has free space
WhatsApp also usually indicates that a download is unsuccessful when the phone has a full memory, and there is no free space . Although current smartphones have a lot of storage, at some point we could saturate it.
The solution is to check if the terminal memory is very full and, if so, delete photos, videos and other files . Of course, before we can upload them to a free cloud storage service if we do not want to lose them.
In Android it is possible to see the space and delete files from this menu:
Settings -> Storage -> Free up space
On iPhone, the route to follow is the following:
Settings -> General – iPhone Storage
Furthermore, WhatsApp now allows you to free up space with its own tool , which is also a valid solution if the “Download failed” error is due to a lack of free space.
Possible WhatsApp crash
One possibility to consider is that WhatsApp suffers a general crash , that it does not work for anyone. In this case, it is most likely that we will not be able to send or receive messages either, and other features will also fail.
However, sometimes technical incidents affect only some features of WhatsApp, and there are precedents of massive problems with multimedia (photos, videos and audios).
The solution, in this case, is to wait for the application servers to respond again , we can also delve deeper into the subject with the guide to find out if WhatsApp is down or only we are affected.
Correct date and time?
WhatsApp can suffer unexpected behaviors if the mobile has an incorrect date and time , as the servers expect it to be properly synchronized with the current time.
And one of the possible consequences is that we get the “Download failed” error, although not the only one. The solution is to set the terminal at the correct time or, better yet, let it synchronize automatically from the Internet.
If we have difficulties, we have explained how to solve the error “The date of the phone is wrong” that sometimes appears in WhatsApp , and that can even prevent us from using it completely.
Update WhatsApp
WhatsApp is gaining new features over time through application updates, so there comes a time when users of old versions lose functions , or can not use it directly.
The “Download failed” notice may be due to this, although most users have automatic updates activated in the Google Play Store (Android) or App Store (iPhone).
If this is not the case, we have explained how to update WhatsApp , even on mobile phones without access to official stores, including some Huawei and Honor models.
Is the mobile very old?
At some point, WhatsApp stops working on certain very old phones . Although it is normal for it to do so completely, there may be cases that certain unsupported models lose only certain functions, and hence the message of the failed download.
We have already indicated the mobiles where WhatsApp will stop working in 2021 , something that depends on the operating system. They are smartphones with many years old, specifically the following:
- Android prior to version 4.0.3.
- iPhone with iOS lower than iOS 9.
- KaiOS prior to version 2.5.1.
In this case, the solution is simple, but expensive: we will have to buy a new mobile , there are no other alternatives to continue using WhatsApp. In this list we select some good and cheap mobiles of 2020 that can serve to inspire us.
Clear cache and / or reinstall
Sometimes it is good to clear the cache of the apps , as it can fix certain strange behaviors . It is not a safe solution to the “Download Failed” warning, but it represents one of the last resources if we have already tried everything.
In our tutorials on clearing the cache on Android and on clearing the cache on iPhone we explain the process step by step, which is generally simple.
In addition, after clearing the cache it would be useful to uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp , to start with a clean application. It is a generic solution when the others fail, which on many occasions manages to resolve the failures.
In conclusion, it is difficult to identify the cause of the error “Download failed” in WhatsApp, but it usually has a solution , and in practically all cases it is easy to apply.
