Older iMessages photos won't load up

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Level 1

22 points

Older iMessages photos won't load up

Dear community,

I am running on iPhone 11 Pro, iOS 15.4.1 and I can't see old iMessage photos. The thumbnail exists , but isn't shown in contact information under the Photos section.

Seems like all of my photos sent in iMessages before 2020 are not shown (thumbnails exists, clicking doesn't to anything). Older messages are shown. Newer photos are visible and seen under the Photos section.

I have tried logging in and out of iCloud. Network settings have been reset. MMS is enabled.

Seems like this have happened after the upgrade of the software. I was able to see older picture with this phone and I have not replaced the phone. Are there any success storys regarding this case or those pictures are forever gone?

iPhone 11 Pro, iOS 15

Posted on May 10, 2022 2:19 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Lissy_12

Community Specialist

Jun 2, 2022 6:17 AM in response to Ramirez010

Ramirez010,

Thank you for confirming. If you open the Messages conversations list, do you see a progress bar at the bottom which says "Downloading Messages from iCloud."? If so, connect your iPhone to a power source and Wi-Fi and wait for the sync to finish. Does the issue continue?

If there is no progress bar, go to Settings > [Apple ID] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Messages. Note the size occupied by Messages. Then tap on Messages. Note the size occupied by "Top Conversations". Is the size of "Top Conversations" significantly higher than the size of the total Messages?

Thank you.

Have a great day.

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Answer 2

ASTRO24

Community Specialist

May 11, 2022 7:10 AM in response to Ramirez010

Hi Ramirez010,

To check for the missing photos that don't show in Messages, check your available storage in Settings > General >iPhone Storage. If you're on low on storage, back up iPhone to iCloud or back up to your computer and remove content that you do not need readily available on iPhone. Restart your iPhone and check to see if you're able to view the photos. If it continues, open Messages, tap on one of the affected photo thumbnails and see if you're able to save it. Check Photos app to see if it appears there.

How to check the storage on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch

Regards.

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Answer 3

Lissy_12

Community Specialist

Jun 4, 2022 6:08 AM in response to Ramirez010

Ramirez010,

Alright, thank you for confirming. The next step will be that you reach out to Apple Support directly so that they can take a further look. Please reach out here:

Get Support

Take Care.

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Answer 4

Ramirez010 Author

Level 1

22 points

Jun 7, 2022 5:47 AM in response to Lissy_12

Thank you Lissy_12.

To everybody, who have the same problem:

I reached Apple Support, although I received controversial information. They told me that older photos (from 2017 for example) that I have, are deleted and not stored in the server.

I do not understand that very well, because in the Settings>Messages I have set the "Message History" to "Forever" (it always has been the same setting) and I thought messages are stored in my phone, too. All my older messages are there before and after photos. So it confuzes me a little, that as I understand, that to keep the photos I have to download them. I always thought photo sent as an iMessage, will be message.

Can anybody confirm that?

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Answer 5

Ramirez010 Author

Level 1

22 points

Jun 2, 2022 12:02 AM in response to ASTRO24

ASTRO24, thank you for the solutions, but unfortunately, they don't work.

I am not low on storage.

Photo thumbnail says "Tap to Download", which also doesn't work. Tapping on the thumbnail, doesn't give any option to save the photo. Interesting is, that the picture name is for example "IMG_xxxx.JPG.jpeg"

I have attached the picture as well.

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Answer 6

Ramirez010 Author

Level 1

22 points

Jun 4, 2022 1:42 AM in response to Lissy_12

No, I don't see progress bar at the bottom which says "Downloading Messages from iCloud."

If I go to "iCloud > Manage Storage", I can see that Messages take 8.5GB. If I go further to "Messages", then the Top Conversations size is "Zero KB"

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Older iMessages photos won't load up

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