Foolproof Ways to Save WhatsApp Photos on Android

menu_default hide_default

Have you lost or accidentally deleted photos you’ve sent or received via WhatsApp? Use this guide to find out how to save photos from WhatsApp for Android.

Photos are worth a thousand words. Whether it’s a selfie or graphic design concept, a vacation shot or product pic, sending and receiving photos is an important part of communicating with friends, family, and colleagues. With WhatsApp, one of the world’s most widely-used Android apps, it’s easier than ever to send multimedia messages to contacts all over the globe. Unfortunately, sometimes mistakes happen, and you may occasionally lose or accidentally delete files. If this has happened to you, you’ve come to the right place. Use this guide to learn how to save WhatsApp media from Android.

Part 1: Why Can’t I See Saved Pictures From WhatsApp on Android?

Normally, images you receive or send via WhatsApp are automatically saved in your device’s Gallery. If you don’t see them there, it may be because there is a .nomedia file in the Gallery folder. Here’s some information on how .nomedia files work and how you can delete them to see WhatsApp images in the Gallery.

1. Delete .nomedia File

The .nomedia file is designed to hide the files inside a folder. When a media scanner scans a folder with a .nomedia file, the scanner cannot detect what is inside that folder. To get rid of the .nomedia file and ensure media displays in the Gallery, go to your file manager and open the WhatsApp>Media>Sent Images file. Here, you’ll find all of the photos you’ve sent as well as the .nomedia file. Delete the .nomedia file. Now, you should be able to see the WhatsApp images in your Gallery.  If not, try restarting your device. If you want to hide certain images from your Gallery, but not all, you can organize these into a special folder with a .nomedia file inside.

delete .nomedia file on android

2. Enable Media Visibility Option

WhatsApp recently revived its media visibility feature. This gives users the option to prevent images sent or received via specific contacts from appearing automatically in the phone gallery. If you have opted to hide media from a particular person, you can reverse it. Go to the contact list and tap on an individual or group. In the top right corner, you’ll see three vertical dots. Click these and select “view contact.” Under "custom notifications," you’ll see media visibility. You’ll be asked if you want to have media received from this chat downloaded to your phone. Select yes, if you do.

enable media visibility option on android

Part 2: How To Save Photos From WhatsApp To Gallery Android Manually

Solution 1: Save WhatsApp Media On Android Via Google

Android devices are part of the Google ecosystem. Syncing your device with Google apps such as Photos and Google Drive is an easy and convenient way to back up data, including photos, video, and audio. You can even enable Google Auto Sync, which automatically saves items from your device to the Drive. Here is how to save photos to your device via Google.

Case 1: Save WhatsApp Photo On Android From Google Drive

Because your Android device is linked to your Gmail account, it is easy to use Google Drive to back up WhatsApp media. Here is how to do it.

  • Launch WhatsApp and navigate to Menu and Settings.

  • Go to Settings>Chats and Calls>Chat Backup. Tap on “Backup Data on Google Drive.”

  • save whatsapp photo on android via goole account

  • Select your preferred backup frequency from daily, weekly, or monthly.

  • save whatsapp images on android via goole drive

  • Choose the Google account you want to use and log in.

  • If you haven’t already linked an account, add one now.

  • Click on “Back up over” and select the preferred network.

Case 2: Save WhatsApp Photo & Video On Android With Google Photo

You can also save photos and videos in your Google Photos Cloud. If you delete media from the Cloud, it will be kept in the Trash for 60 days unless you empty the bin. Bear in mind media is only going to be in Google Photos if this is the destination you’ve designated in “Backup and Sync” and backup is enabled. Here is how to recover photos from the Trash:

  • Open Google Photos.

  • Navigate to the Main Menu (top left) and select Trash.

  • Select the media you want to recover.

  • Tap “Restore.”

  • You should now see the recovered items in your Google Photos Gallery in their original folder.

recover photo from google photo trash

Google is already integrated with Android devices, making it a convenient storage option. However, there are downsides to relying on Google.

For one, media saved in your Google Drive or Photos app may be visible to anyone on the Internet with the link, and data breaches are not unheard of. If you are not keen on taking the risk that someone could view your data without your consent, you might want to consider another way of organizing and storing media, like a secure third-party app.

On top of that, remember you can only use this method if your data has been in Trash for less than 60 days, after which it will automatically be deleted.

Solution 2: Save WhatsApp Media Via WhatsApp Web

WhatsApp isn’t just for phones. As you probably know, you can also use it on your PC. Likewise, you can save media from the app to your computer. Here is how to save WhatsApp media from Android via WhatsApp Web.

  • Launch your web browser and go to https://web.whatsapp.com/.

  • Open the WhatsApp app on your phone.

  • Navigate to the Menu and tap on “WhatsApp Web.”

  • Use your phone to scan the QR code that appears on your computer screen.

  • Choose a contact.

  • Your chat history will now be displayed. Click the file to display a preview. Click “Download” (upper right). Now all media files in this chat will be transferred to your computer.

WhatsApp web can be a solid option, but it is not without its downsides:

For one, it is limiting. You can’t save text messages and audio to your PC.

Also, you’ll have to download files individually, which can be tedious and time-consuming.

see deleted whatapp messages from notification log

Solution 3: Save WhatsApp Media Via Email

Aside from WhatsApp and traditional multimedia messaging, email is another of the most common ways to transfer files between people and devices. Here’s how to transfer saved pictures from WhatsApp on Android to your PC via email:

  • Open WhatsApp on your phone.

  • Open your contact list or select a contact from your chats.

  • Once you’ve selected a contact click menu (upper right).

  • Tap “More” and “Email chat.

  • You’ll have the option to create an email with or without media. You can also add your email account here if you haven’t already linked one.

While this option does allow you to transfer text as well as photos, video, and voice, there are caveats:

First, you can’t preview the media before transferring it.

Secondly, you can’t select individual media. Instead, you will have to forward the entire chat log.

save whatsapp data from  email

Part 3: An Easy Way To Save WhatsApp Media On Android Via Software [100% Success Rate]

If you have not backed up your data or the above method does not work, don’t worry. There is another technique you can try. The easiest and safest way to save WhatsApp media from Android is with the free third-party app iMyFone D-Back for Android. This efficient, proven-effective tool is easy to use and provides a streamlined solution for restoring lost files and securely storing all sorts of data. User-friendly and risk-free, it works by deep-scanning the device to find and restore recoverable files, including WhatsApp pictures.  There are two recovery options: Android Data Recovery and Broken Android Data Extraction, which you can use to recover nearly any kind of data, including video, audio, texts, and contacts, whether data was accidentally or intentionally deleted or wiped by a virus, software malfunction, or another issue.

product-d-back-icon

1,000,000 Downloads

Features of D-Back Android
  • Useful for restoring all types of lost data on Android devices, including audio, call logs, text messages, video, pictures, and WhatsApp data.

  • It doesn’t require you to root your device.

  • It provides an efficient way to recover photos and other files from WhatsApp without overwriting media.

  • Useful for restoring data lost as a result of a device malfunction or virus or accidental file deletion.

  • User-friendly; no tech expertise required.

  • Applicable to forgotten password, virus-attacked, crack screen, and system crash Android phones.

  • Risk-free trial so you can try it before you buy it.

Download Now

Check out the guide below on how this software can be used to save pictures from WhatsApp on Android. To get started, follow these steps:

Step 1. Download and install iMyFone D-Back (Android) on your PC. Launch the app. Connect your smartphone to your PC with a USB cable. Keep it connected until the recovery process is complete.

Step 2. Go to the main menu. Note the 3 recovery options. Select “Android Data Recovery”.

android data recovery

Step 3. On the drop-down menu, input your device information, including the name and model. Click “Next” to continue. Double-check that the device details are correct. These indicate the specific firmware required to perform the recovery.

D-Back for Android device information

Step 4. Make sure you have a stable Internet connection and download the data package. Ensure the computer stays connected as the app downloads the firmware. Depending on your Internet speed, this step may take a few minutes.

D-Back for Android download data package

D-Back for Android connecet device

Step 5. Once the download is complete, click “Next.” Follow the steps on the screen. When asked which file types you want to restore, select “Gallery” and click “Next.”

D-Back for Android select data to recover

Step 6. You will now see all the files iMyFone D-Back has detected. Browse and choose the photos you want to restore. Then, click “Recover” The files will be on your computer.

save whatsapp photos with D-Back for Android

Final Thoughts

As you can see, iMyFone D-Back (Android) is the easiest way to save and recover WhatsApp photos from Android securely. Download iMyFone D-Back (Android) now to recover lost data and safely back up files from your computer. By taking advantage of the free, no-risk trial, you have everything to gain and nothing to lose.

Download Now

user

By  Trumpson Howwell , to Undelete Android

Posted on Jul 10, 2020  ( Updated: Jul 29, 2020 )