Photos, videos or files won't download

What to do when media in a chat won't download or open.

AndroidiPhone & iPadWebUpdated October 6, 2026
On this page
  1. Tap to download. If auto-download is off for your connection, photos and videos show a download button.
  2. Check your connection. If Zaplog says No connection. Try again once you are back online, reconnect and tap again.
  3. Free up space on your phone. Downloads need room on your phone. See Manage storage on your phone.
  4. Ask the sender to send it again if you see Download failed repeatedly. The sender's upload may not have finished.
  5. Deleted for everyone? If the sender deleted the message, or it was view-once and already opened, it can't be downloaded.

Files that won't open

If Zaplog says No app can open this file, install an app that can read that kind of file. PDFs open inside Zaplog.

Videos that won't play

Some video formats can't play on every phone (That file isn't a video this phone can play). Ask the sender to send it as a standard MP4, or open it in another app.