WhatsApp video media download issues

[nRiTeCh]

Off-late I have been observing that whatsapp is getting itself choosy to not to download select videos which are forwarded in groups or kept as peoples status (not porn but anything)

No matter to which network I connect- mobile data/wifi/hotspot or at friends place...only these select forwards/status updates aren't getting downloaded at all.

If kept for downloading then this is how it looks like with zero progress even after hours... not even 1% progress!

Has/ is anyone facing similar issues ?

What I tried is updating whatsapp to the latest ver., clear cache/data as well, phone reboots etc.
Disable phones battery saving mode.

This is happening only for specific forwarded/status update videos, rest other media got no issues.

**Dont say like sd cad is corrupted and all as I dont use sd card and if the flash storage has any issues, I"m capturing videos from camera app which has zero corruptions.

 

[gourav]

The only thing I can think off, which I have noticed in my case, is this. When a video is sent to a group, and the sender is not in my contacts, then the video won't download automatically. Afaik, there's no setting for this, you can't change this behavior.

However, if the sender is in your contacts and it's still not getting downloaded, then might be something else.

 

[nRiTeCh]

The only thing I can think off, which I have noticed in my case, is this. When a video is sent to a group, and the sender is not in my contacts, then the video won't download automatically. Afaik, there's no setting for this, you can't change this behavior.

However, if the sender is in your contacts and it's still not getting downloaded, then might be something else.

I have dont use aka turned-off automatic downloads for everything as there are some people who have no work who keep forwarding crap every now and then which eats up storage and wastes bandwidth.

Its happening to both my contacts groups as well as generic community groups.
Just observed its not even downloading/loading video status of my friends though not all. Its all a random thing happening and driving me crazy though I'm least bothered but things should work as they are expected is what I believe in.

But these videos are all getting downloading fine on desktop whatsapp app on Win 10.

I'm unsure what this fuzzy behavior.

 

[SirVer]

I've noticed media handling issues like this on rare occasions with WhatsApp, but I don't remember how I resolved them. Some combination of clearing the cache and a reboot, I think. As an aside, do the files download when you wait for it to finish before leaving the chat?

EDIT: Speak of the devil, got what seems like the same issue literally right after posting this. This could indicate that it's a WhatsApp bug. Will troubleshoot and let you know what I find.

EDIT 2: Tested a bit, and it seems to be happening regardless of whether it's in a group or DM. Interestingly, this doesn't seem to happen with stuff that I send or forward - the other person/group is receiving them just fine. Don't have any good theories at this time.

Thoughts?

 

[joniloco]

Hi..im having the same problem.

Cant retrieve video that was sent by others..regardless the sender is in my contact list or not in my contact list. Either chat in group or 1:1 chat

Tried the below:
- restart
- uninstall
- install new whatsapp

But the problem still persists.

Dont think that problem with my storage as still got lots of free space

 

[vishalrao]

What are your ISPs? I'm willing to bet it's a ISP side issue. I've sometimes seen my WhatsApp weekly backups take ages and sometimes complete in a jiffy.

 

[nRiTeCh]

What are your ISPs? I'm willing to bet it's a ISP side issue. I've sometimes seen my WhatsApp weekly backups take ages and sometimes complete in a jiffy.

Mine is same as yours as you know it...& this isn't the case with my wifes whatsapp as on same wifi every video gets downloaded just perfect on her whatsapp. We both are part of few common groups and here I'm strugling while she has zero issues.
I was on custom rom, well today I flashed the stock rom and issue still persists!

As sad by few members above, seems there's some a/c specific issue at whatsapp side.

Need to tweet them about this or if there's any direct support email/platform.

 

[joniloco]

Just realised that mine is running on BETA version. Opt out from beta user. Uninstall and install back the apps..now can download and view the video

 

[nRiTeCh]

Just realised that mine is running on BETA version. Opt out from beta user. Uninstall and install back the apps..now can download and view the video

I just thought so that might be the issue... I'm also on beta.
When you uninstalled whatsapp, did it wiped your whatsapp data?

 

[joniloco]

I just thought so that might be the issue... I'm also on beta.
When you uninstalled whatsapp, did it wiped your whatsapp data?

I did backup before uninstall. When re-install, WhatsApp will ask you to restore from the backup or you want to fresh install.

 

[SirVer]

Oh wow, forgot I was on beta - thought they'd have revoked that ages ago since I've never filed a report or anything.

 

[rkkaranrk]

It's a bug with the BETA Version opt out and install the stable one.

 

[nRiTeCh]

I wrote to Whatsapp support yesterday and here is their hopeless lame response..

I'm sure this response was definitely from some fresher level L1 support person sitting out there not performing his duties duly...

 

[jmaniac]

There is a new version of beta app from the Play Store v2.23.8.25. The version fixed that media issue. I had this issue and after this update, all videos are downloading and playing nice as before.

 

[nRiTeCh]

There is a new version of beta app from the Play Store v2.23.8.25. The version fixed that media issue. I had this issue and after this update, all videos are downloading and playing nice as before.

I finally ditched beta and now on stable ver. all issues resolved! F* beta is all what I can say for now based on this bitter exp.


Whatsapp took a good 6 hrs to take backup of 2.7gb on google drive!

I hope the next backups will be only incremental...

 

[SirVer]

I finally ditched beta and now on stable ver. all issues resolved! F* beta is all what I can say for now based on this bitter exp.


Whatsapp took a good 6 hrs to take backup of 2.7gb on google drive!

I hope the next backups will be only incremental...

I've wondered why it takes so long to back up the first time even on fast connections; my guess is that it's not backing up a tarball or archive or anything like that, but is instead uploading each individual media file one at a time, which can be a painfully slow process if they are small but numerous (like images). There should be much more efficient ways of doing this (if that is what they're doing) and the only reason I can think of not to do it is that they potentially don't play nice with Google Drive.

 

[nRiTeCh]

I've wondered why it takes so long to back up the first time even on fast connections; my guess is that it's not backing up a tarball or archive or anything like that, but is instead uploading each individual media file one at a time, which can be a painfully slow process if they are small but numerous (like images). There should be much more efficient ways of doing this (if that is what they're doing) and the only reason I can think of not to do it is that they potentially don't play nice with Google Drive.

I too. feel it uploads bit-by-bit a single file. I have around 19k images incl. received/sent/pvt (dont even know whats this Private folder) so 2.53gb is this images and rest media comprises only 200mbs making it 2.7gb.

I just now performed another gdrive backup and it happened in 5-6 mins (incremental)

Fear is, if I delete say 2k images then will it also delete those 2k images from gdrive just like how a normal sync works? I dont want those deleted images restored back during next restoration process on a new phone or after format!

 

[SirVer]

Fear is, if I delete say 2k images then will it also delete those 2k images from gdrive just like how a normal sync works? I dont want those deleted images restored back during next restoration process on a new phone or after format!

From what I understand about the backup system, that should be how it works, and how I would expect it to - WhatsApp seems to err on the side of how a normal user of any given feature would expect it to work, and since the backup system is primarily for switching phones, most users probably expect WhatsApp on their new phone to be exactly like the old one, including storage space taken.