If you've bought a new device, you'll undoubtedly want to transfer all WhatsApp files from your old device to a new one. You just have to back up WhatsApp files to Google cloud or iCloud on your old phone before restoring the WhatsApp data. This sounds easy, but honestly, it is not. One of the issues users have reported while restoring WhatsApp files is that WhatsApp restoring media is stuck.
If you are experiencing this problem, this guide has answers. Keep reading to learn how to troubleshoot WhatsApp restoring media stuck problems.
There are various reasons why WhatsApp is stuck on restoring media. Check the most common reasons why you may encounter such a problem:
Network problems: To restore media files, you need to be connected to the Internet and use a stable connection. The process may fail if your phone is not connected to the Internet or if there are network problems.
Insufficient storage: WhatsApp media can take up a lot of storage on your device, and if the storage isn't enough, restoring media on WhatsApp will be stuck at 99%.
Corrupt files: As you restore files, there are 0-byte files that are created, which might cause the process to be stuck.
If you are experiencing WhatsApp restoring media stuck on Android, there are ways to fix the problem and, luckily, get your WhatsApp restoration process back on track. Here are some effective fixes if your WhatsApp can't restore media files.
A poor network connection is likely to interfere with restoring your WhatsApp backup. It would make the process incomplete and get stuck along the way. That's why you need to check your network connection first.
To check the internet connection, you have to follow the steps below:
Step 1: Head to Settings on your device and proceed to "Connections".
Step 2: Look for the "Wi-Fi" option and toggle it on, then connect to a stronger and more stable internet.
You might need: Can you fast back up WhatsApp messages from Android to Mac? If you need help, please read this article. It will tell you 5 proven ways.
If WhatsApp backup is still stuck even after checking the internet connection, there is a high chance that the problem is the phone number or Google account used on WhatsApp. Check to ensure the Google account is the same on your devices. Also, make sure you use the same phone number for logging into WhatsApp from all devices.
An incorrect phone number/Google account could make the restoration process get stuck. Even though it could not be the cause on your side, you still have to counter-check and ensure everything is correct. Here is how to check the Google account and number used on your WhatsApp:
Step 1: Open the WhatsApp application on your device and click on the three-dot menu at the upper right corner of your screen.
Step 2: Head to "Chats" and proceed to "Chat Backup". Then check if you're using the correct Google account.
Step 3: To check the phone number, navigate to "Settings" and click on the profile photo to see the number displayed. Just check if it's the correct one.
WhatsApp could restore media data on your Android phone and you tried several times? Actually, WhatsApp media files tend to take up a lot of storage space, and if there is not enough space to keep all the backup files, you'll find WhatsApp restore stuck at 99%. You must delete some unwanted files to create more space on your device. Do this to check storage space and delete applications you are no longer using:
Step 1: Open the Settings menu on your phone and head to the "Storage" option.
Step 2: Tap on "Internal storage" and check how much storage is left on your device. You can also see how much space each application is using.
Step 3: If you are out of storage, you should delete some apps by long-pressing the app, and hit "Uninstall" to remove the app from your phone.
Another possible reason for WhatsApp restore getting stuck is an outdated WhatsApp version. We must keep the app updated since the outdated version could have bugs or glitches that might interrupt the process. To update WhatsApp, do this:
Step 1: Open the Play Store and type in the search bar "WhatsApp".
Step 2: If WhatsApp isn't updated, you'll see the option for "Update". Click on it to update the app.
An outdated OS can also lead to WhatsApp restoring media stuck issues. Make sure you have the latest version of Android installed on your phone and check to see if the problem is solved. Here are the steps to update the OS of your Android to the latest version.
Step 1: Navigate to the "Settings" page, look for the "Advanced" option, then click "System Update".
Step 2: Check for updates; if you find any, install them instantly.
If you lose your data because of WhatsApp restoring being stuck, Android Data Recovery is the ultimate solution to restore your lost data from an Android phone. You can use it to recover your WhatsApp files from Android phones and tablets, including WhatsApp messages and media data. If needed, you can also use it to retrieve your deleted contacts, photos, etc.
Download this recovery software below.
Use this software to recover lost WhatsApp data from Android:
01Install the program on your PC and launch it. Select "Android Data Recovery" from the list. After that, use a USB cord to connect the Android phone to the PC and let the software detect the device automatically.
02You'll be asked to allow USB debugging if you do not open debugging mode. The tool will then detect the version of your device. Once done, hit the "OK" tab to proceed.
03You'll see the file types on the screen. Just choose "WhatsApp" and "WhatsApp Attachments". Once done, hit the "Next" icon to scan the data.
04After the scanning procedure is finished, you can preview the files in the left panel. Choose all the WhatsApp data you wish to recover and hit the "Recover" tab to finish the recovery process.
If you are an iPhone user and you see your WhatsApp restoration isn't moving, it's just stuck at a certain percentage, you can try fixing the issue by applying the following solutions:
A stable internet connection is the most basic requirement for a successful data restoration from iCloud. If you are connected to a weak cellular network or Wi-Fi or aren't using a similar Apple ID, WhatsApp media restore is likely to get stuck. So, ensure your iPhone has a strong network connection.
Couldn't restore WhatsApp chat history on an iPhone? It's always recommended to use the latest version since new updates fix bugs or glitches in the system that could otherwise cause errors like WhatsApp media restoration being stuck.
If you last updated your WhatsApp to the latest version sometimes, then your restore process might get stuck due to the new version compatibility issue. You will need a recent iOS version for restoring and a current WhatsApp download for starting your restore.
To update your iPhone to the latest version, head to "Settings" > "General" > "Software Update". Afterward, click "Install".
To update the WhatsApp version, open the App Store and press the tab for "Updates" at the lower section of the screen. Then find the WhatsApp application and click on the "Update" icon.
Before you start the restoration process, make sure iCloud Drive is enabled. You can check if your iCloud Drive is turned on by going to Settings, selecting "iCloud", and then toggling on the "iCloud Drive" option.
If the iPhone device does not have sufficient space to accommodate the media files, WhatsApp media restoration will likely get stuck. You have to delete unwanted files to create more space.
Ensure you use the correct Apple ID and mobile number you used while backing up WhatsApp data on your previous phone.
To check the number used, open WhatsApp on your iPhone and click on the "Settings" icon to head to the settings menu.
From this menu, look at the top of the screen to find the username and phone number registered on WhatsApp. When you tap on your username, you'll see the profile page.
Once you find that you lost your WhatsApp data after restoring from your iCloud backup on your iPhone, you can try iPhone Data Recovery to recover the lost WhatsApp messages and media data. The tool can recover not only WhatsApp but also Viber, Kik, LINE, Safari history, and more. Besides, it can restore data from your iTunes and iCloud backups.
How to restore lost WhatsApp data from an iPhone using this software:
01Download the program on the computer. Open it, then connect the iPhone via a lightning cable.
02Unlock your iPhone and hit "Trust" as prompted. Next, tap the option for "Recover from iOS Device", then choose the "Start Scan" option, which will instantly begin downloading the files.
03After scanning, you'll see all files listed in the primary interface in categories. Choose "WhatsApp" to find the recoverable media files.
04Select all WhatsApp data you wish to restore and hit the "Recover" option.
That's it. You should now have a better understanding of why WhatsApp might be stuck while restoring media and how to fix it. If you've tried all the methods and still can't restore your data, tools like Android Data Recovery and iPhone Data Recovery are excellent options to recover lost WhatsApp messages and media.
For Android users, Android Data Recovery can help you recover WhatsApp data directly from your phone. For iPhone users, iPhone Data Recovery offers a reliable way to retrieve lost WhatsApp data from your device or backups.
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