WhatsApp image file names

Hi there,

I'd appreciate assistance with the following question about how WhatsApp names image files saved to an iPhone's Photos folder.

My iPhone 7 (iOS11.4.1) saves photos taken by the camera sequentially, following the format IMG_0001.JPG with ascending numeration.

When someone sends me a picture via WhatsApp, I have it set to save automatically into my iPhone's Photos folder.

The problem occurs when I download my image files to my Windows desktop. When I view the file names of the downloaded images, the images taken by me (using the iPhone's camera) implement the IMG_XXXX.JPG naming format -- but the photos that originated from WhatsApp have random names such as AJXQ8273.JPG.

This didn't used to happen in previous versions of WhatsApp/iOS -- back then, the images from WhatsApp that were saved to my iPhone's Photos folder and then downloaded to my PC were also named sequentially, using the IMG_XXXX.JPG naming format. Something however has changed and the WhatsApp image file naming is now random.

Does anyone know why the WhatsApp file names are getting random names? Is there any way to have the WhatsApp images stored on my iPhone with the IMG_XXXX.JPG naming format and not the random file names it currently uses?

Thanks in advance,

David