Staying connected with friends and family is easier than ever thanks to Facebook Messenger.
The handy app lets you send messages, photos, videos, and more to anyone in your contacts list. But what do you do when Facebook Messenger suddenly stops sending your pictures?
It can be frustrating when you try to share a cute photo or funny meme and get an error saying it failed to send.
Don’t worry – in most cases, it’s an easy fix. This guide will walk you through the top 10 ways to get Facebook Messenger sending your pictures again.
Why Won’t Facebook Messenger Send Pictures?
There are a few common culprits for Facebook Messenger not sending photos:
- Poor internet connection. If you’re on spotty Wi-Fi or slow cellular data, Messenger may struggle to send large image files.
- No permissions. Messenger needs access to your phone’s storage and camera to send pictures. If you denied permissions, it can’t attach photos.
- Full cache/data. Over time, cached data and logs can slow the app down. This prevents sending multimedia.
- Outdated app. An old version of the Messenger app may be buggy and disrupt sending capabilities.
How Do I Fix Facebook Messenger Not Sending Pictures?
Ready to start troubleshooting? Try these 10 fixes to get Messenger sending pictures again:
1. Check Your Internet Connection and Try Again
An unstable internet connection is the most common reason Facebook Messenger won’t send photos. Check that your Wi-Fi or cellular data signal is strong, then attempt to resend the image.
Switching from Wi-Fi to cellular data or vice versa may help if one network is performing poorly. Moving closer to your router improves Wi-Fi reliability.
2. Verify Messenger’s App Permissions
Facebook Messenger requires access to your phone’s storage and camera to attach photos. If you denied the app these permissions, it can’t send media.
On an Android, check the app permissions in Settings. Make sure Messenger is allowed access to storage and the camera.
On an iPhone, go to Settings > Messenger > Photos and enable “All Photos” access. Granting permissions should fix sending issues.
3. Clear the Cache and Data for Messenger
Over time, cached data and usage logs can build up and start to impair app performance. Clearing the cache and app data gives the Messenger a “fresh start” which may resolve sending problems.
On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Messenger > Storage > Clear Cache. You can also delete data by going to App Info > Storage > Clear Storage.
On an iPhone, you’ll need to offload the app, then reinstall Messenger to clear the cache and data. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Messenger > Offload App.
4. Restart Your Smartphone
Sometimes the simple solution does the trick. Restarting your phone clears out any glitches and resets the Facebook Messenger app.
To restart an iPhone 8 or earlier, hold down the Power button until “Slide to Power Off” appears. Power back on with the Power button.
On newer iPhones without a Home button, press and quickly release Volume Up, then Volume Down, then press and hold Power until the Apple logo appears.
For Androids, hold the Power button and tap Restart when prompted. Wait a few minutes for the reboot, then try sending photos again.
5. Update the Messenger App
An outdated version of the Messenger app can cause problems with sending media. Check that you’re running the latest release:
- Android: Go to the Play Store app > Menu > My Apps & Games > Updates available > Check for Facebook Messenger updates.
- iPhone: Open the App Store app > Tap your profile icon > Scroll down to see available Messenger updates.
Download the latest update and the fix may allow sending pictures properly again.
6. Uninstall and Reinstall the Messenger App
If updating didn’t help, the nuclear option is to completely uninstall and reinstall the Messenger app. This wipes the slate clean, removing any corrupt files or settings.
Delete the app from your home screen. On Android, tap and hold the icon then drag it to Uninstall at the top. On iPhone, tap and hold the icon then tap Remove App.
After uninstalling, power your phone off and back on. Then redownload Messenger from the Play or App Store and set it up again.
7. Try Messenger Lite Instead
Messenger Lite is a lightweight version of Messenger designed for areas with poor connectivity. It uses less data, making it more reliable for sending pictures in suboptimal networks.
You can run Messenger Lite alongside the regular Messenger app. Download it from the app store and see if it has better success sending photos and videos.
8. Disable Data Saver or Battery Saver Modes
Some Android devices have Data Saver or Battery Saver modes which restrict background data usage. This can interfere with Messenger’s ability to send pictures.
Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Data Saver and turn it off. You can also disable Battery Saver by going to Settings > Battery > Battery Saver and toggling it off.
9. Reduce the Photo Size Before Sending
Messenger limits sending large image files over 15MB. Try compressing photos to reduce the size below 15MB before attaching to your message.
On Android, use the built-in Photos app to compress images. On iPhone, use an app like ImageSize to optimize and shrink pictures. Sending smaller photos should succeed.
10. Contact Facebook Support
If you still can’t get Messenger to send photos after trying these fixes, reach out to Facebook Support for further troubleshooting.
In the Messenger app, tap your profile pic > Settings & Privacy > Help Center. Or visit Facebook’s Help Community online to start a support ticket.
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FAQ’s
Why can’t I send videos or photos on Messenger?
Several reasons could prevent sending videos or photos on Messenger, like a weak internet connection, large file size, app issues, or server problems.
Why Does My Messenger Keep Saying Messages Failed To Send?
Your Messenger might fail to send messages due to internet issues, outdated app, server outage, or account restrictions.
Why is Facebook Messenger not sending my photos?
Facebook Messenger might not be sending your photos due to weak internet, large photo size, app issues, or permission problems.
How do I fix Messenger not showing pictures?
Check your internet connection, app permissions, and update the app; if that fails, try restarting your phone or reinstalling Messenger.
How do I fix Messenger not sending?
Check your internet, restart Messenger, or clear the app’s cache.
How do I fix FB Messenger problems?
Check your internet connection, update the app, or try restarting your device.
How do I reset Messenger?
Unfortunately, there’s no direct “reset” function in Messenger. However, you can try restarting your device, clearing the app cache, or reinstalling the app to potentially fix any issues you’re facing.
Final Thoughts
Sending pictures is an important way to stay in touch on Facebook Messenger.
But sometimes there are problems and your photos won’t send. This article explained 10 fixes to try when Messenger is not sending your pictures.
Checking your internet connection and Messenger’s permissions are good first steps. Clearing the app cache, updating the app, and restarting your phone can also help.
If issues continue, try Messenger Lite, reduce photo size, or contact Facebook support.
Following the 10 tips in this article will help you solve problems with sending pictures on Messenger. You’ll be back to sharing photos with friends and family in no time.
