Hi Stephen,
Just to clarify - when you “link” the device - it doesn’t link it to the phone
- it links it to the “WhatsApp account”. Ie you have 2 devices connected to the
same WhatsApp account. Then once all working, he can “sign out/de-activate” the
second phone under the account.
So it’s not actually linking it to the itself. So that part will be fine. Eg,
you can “link” many devices to one WhatsApp account - ie you could be signed in
to a new iPhone, and old iPhone, your laptop, your iMac etc - so they is
technically not “one primary device” - it’s the WhatsApp account itself that is
the primary “device” - the other “things” just hang off this.
Also, as mentioned if he has a large amount of photos and videos, …it can take
quite a while to “re-sync” all the data. It does this in the background - so
you get the text parts, but if lots and lots of media,..that part can take a
lot longer to keep syncing - as it does that in the background. So it lets you
“keep chatting” while it’s working away in the background. Otherwise it would
be like,.."oh we’ve logged you into WhatsApp and we know you want to use it,
but it’s going to take a day or two to download “everything”. Just wait while
we do that,…..”. So they set it up to “sort of use it” while it’s doing other
things in the background. So could take a while to “fix” that part.
A few other things to try as well after a day or so if it doesn’t “Catch up”.
To fix WhatsApp media not showing on a new device, first ensure "Media
Visibility" is turned on in WhatsApp's settings, then check your device's
storage permissions for WhatsApp.
If that doesn't work, try re-installing WhatsApp and restoring your backup, or
check your internet connection and gallery refresh options.
Initial fixes
• Turn on Media Visibility: Go to WhatsApp Settings > Chats and ensure the
"Media visibility" toggle is on. This makes newly downloaded media visible in
your phone's gallery.
• Check permissions: Make sure WhatsApp has permission to access your
device's storage. Navigate to your phone's Settings and ensure WhatsApp has
been granted "Photos and videos" or "Storage" permissions.
• Refresh your gallery: Close your gallery app completely (swipe it away
from recent apps) and reopen it. For Android, you can also try refreshing the
gallery by swiping down from the top of the app screen.
Other solutions
• Update WhatsApp: Ensure you have the latest version of WhatsApp by
checking the Google Play Store or App Store for updates.
• Reinstall WhatsApp: If the issue persists, uninstall and then reinstall
WhatsApp. During the setup process, ensure you restore your chat backup from
Google Drive or iCloud.
• Check your internet connection: Make sure your phone has a stable
internet connection (Wi-Fi or mobile data) and that WhatsApp is not being
restricted by a data saver mode.
• Restart your device: A simple restart can resolve many temporary issues,
so turn your phone off and back on again
Also noted on the WhatsApp page -
/quote
There is a known issue for some linked devices not displaying up to one year of
chat history. We're working to fix this as soon as possible. In the meantime,
you can still see your chat history on your primary device. We encourage you to
keep WhatsApp updated on your linked device. Updates are released regularly and
may contain fixes for bugs and other issues.
/end quote
(Was on the same link I sent previously)
So I’d try those things, after perhaps giving it a day or two to “Catch up” and
then see how it goes.
Kind regards
Daniel
Sent from my iPhone 16 Pro
---
Daniel Kerr
MacWizardry
p : 0414 795 960
e : <daniel AT macwizardry.com.au>
w : <http://www.macwizardry.com.au>
**For everything Apple**
NOTE: Any information provided in this email may be my personal opinion and as
such should be taken accordingly, and may not be the views of MacWizardry. Any
information provided does not offer or warrant any form of warranty or accept
liability. It would be appreciated that if any information in this email is to
be disseminated, distributed or copied, that permission by the author be
requested.
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> On 20 Oct 2025, at 5:02 pm, STEPHEN CHAPE via WAMUG
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> Hi Daniel .. this is the reply from David.
>
> I am hoping you may be able to add to this.
> Hi Stephen,
> Thank you very much for posting the problem and forwarding Daniels
> response.
> Initially this looked promising as I was able to see all my chats on my
> new phone - whoop, whoop!!!! However, when I opened the chats on the
> new phone none of the photo/video files were present. Furthermore, none
> of the media files were listed when I viewed the chat details through
> Settings. When I clicked on the blank media file placard holder within
> the chats, the file downloaded but this isn’t a long term solution. I’d
> like to have all the files on the device and available for viewing
> offline.
> The other concern is what happens when I transfer my WhatsApp account
> to my new phone. By default, it now becomes the primary device and is
> therefore no longer “linked” to my old phone.
> Any further insights Daniel can offer would be very much appreciated.
> Thank you.
> Regards,
> Stephen Chape
> Mac by choice
> Windows because my employer knew no better
>
> On 20 Oct 2025, at 9:34 am, Daniel Kerr via WAMUG
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> Hi Stephen,
> If he just signed in to WhatsApp on the new iPhone - then goes to “Link
> New Device” - it should automatically sync all the chats from the old
> phone - without needing to “transfer it”.
> That’s the way I’ve done it for other clients. Just sign in to WhatsApp
> on the new iPhone and go through the steps to sign in again - and all
> their chats appeared automatically.
> Didn’t need to “back up” or do anything. That all worked.
> So I’d recommend perhaps trying that first and see how it goes.
> You can find the steps to it here -
> https://faq.whatsapp.com/1317564962315842/?cms_platform=iphone&helpref=
> platform_switcher
> • Go to Settings (the gear icon).
> • Tap Linked devices.
> • Tap Link device.
> • You may be prompted to verify your identity using your phone's
> passcode or Face ID/Touch ID.
> • Scan the QR code that is displayed on the new iPhone's screen.
> Otherwise some steps here also -
> https://faq.whatsapp.com/209942271778103/?cms_platform=iphone&helpref=p
> latform_switcher
> Other thing that could be causing an issue could be things like -
> 1. Some “corrupted” chat or data is blocking it.
> 2. If it’s a very large “chat history” and data, or photos (lots of
> photos).
> 3. Corruption of an image or attachment with in.
> 4. Privacy settings are set correctly on both iPhones.
> 5. Encryption of a particular chat is “blocking” it.
> 6. Not enough storage on either device - even though it’s going to
> iCloud - the old iPhone would still need enough storage on the iPhone
> to “save” it into iCloud Drive so it can be accessed on the new phone.
> So if the old phone has limited storage, it could be “stopping it”.
> But they would be some of the things I would try and work through
> first.
> Kind regards
> Daniel
> Sent from my iPhone 16 Pro
> ---
> Daniel Kerr
> MacWizardry
> p : 0414 795 960
> e : <daniel AT macwizardry.com.au>
> w : <http://www.macwizardry.com.au>
> **For everything Apple**
> NOTE: Any information provided in this email may be my personal opinion
> and as such should be taken accordingly, and may not be the views of
> MacWizardry. Any information provided does not offer or warrant any
> form of warranty or accept liability. It would be appreciated that if
> any information in this email is to be disseminated, distributed or
> copied, that permission by the author be requested.
> *** Avoid Scams! - Get my latest eBook to help protect yourself, your
> finances and what things to look out for. Grab your copy today from -
> https://ebooksonline.com.au/ ***
>
> On 19 Oct 2025, at 10:51 pm, STEPHEN CHAPE via WAMUG
> <[email protected]> wrote:
> My son bought a new iPhone 16 a few months ago.
> He has been able to transfer everything from his old iPhone except
> WhatsApp chats.
> Even his local Apple store could not help him.
> When transferring from phone to phone via WiFi it stops at 37%
> consistently.
> When uploading to iCloud (200GB capacity) the phone compresses the
> chats first.
> And stores the compressed folder on his old phone before uploading.
> Problem is that the old phone does not have the capacity to store
> the
> folder.
> Does anyone have another idea that might work please ?
> Regards,
> Stephen Chape
> Mac by choice
> Windows because my employer knew no better
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