Fix: “Can’t Download. Please Ask That It Be Resent To You” WhatsApp Error

The “Can’t download. Please ask that it be resent to you.” error appears when the media file has expired, been deleted by the sender, or when your device’s storage permissions block the app from accessing it. This issue often occurs while trying to open older photos, videos, or documents.

Keep in mind, this issue only appears when the file no longer exists on the server or the sender’s device. In such cases, there is no guaranteed way to fully recover the file. The methods below only help if the file still exists somewhere on your device or in a backup.

1. Check WhatsApp Media Folder

WhatsApp stores a local copy of received media in a specific folder. Sometimes, the app fails to link a file even though it is still saved on your device. By inspecting this folder, you may find images, videos, or documents that the database did not display. Moving these files back into their correct location can make them accessible again.

1. Open the File Manager on your phone.
2. Go to Internal Storage > Android > media > com.whatsapp > WhatsApp > Media.
3. Open the relevant subfolder (for example, WhatsApp Video or WhatsApp Audio) and look for the missing files by name or date.

2. Use Google Photos

If cloud backup is turned on, services like Google Photos, OneDrive, or iCloud may still have a copy of your media even after it was deleted locally. Restoring the file from the cloud provides a fresh copy that WhatsApp can open. Also, cloud platforms usually keep deleted files in the trash/bin for a limited period, increasing the chance of easy recovery.

1. Open the Google Photos app.
2. Tap on Collection.
3. Open the Bin and search for any deleted photos or videos.
4. If you find the missing file, select it and tap Restore.

3. Explore Device Gallery’s Trash

Many Android gallery apps move deleted files into a temporary Recycle Bin instead of deleting them permanently. These files remain there for a few days, giving you a chance to restore them. Once restored, they reappear in your media storage, and WhatsApp can access them normally.

1. Open your phone’s Gallery or Photos app.
2. Look for the Recycle Bin or Recently deleted option, usually found in the Albums section.
3. Search for the missing file.
4. If found, tap Restore.