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WhatsApp: The File Format is Not Supported

WhatsApp: The File Format is Not Supported

By Madalina Dinita 118 Comments

If you can’t send photos, videos, or other files via WhatsApp, the file format may indeed not be supported. This could also be a temporary glitch caused by running an outdated app version or using incorrect date and time settings.

In this quick guide, we’ll bring you five solutions to solve this problem.

Fix WhatsApp File Not Supported Errors

Check the File Format

There are certain file formats that WhatsApp does not currently support. For example, the platform does not support AVI video files. However, WhatsApp does support MP4, MOV, and MKV files.

On the other hand, whether or not you can send and open certain types of files also depends on your terminal. In other words, if your device does not have the necessary codecs, you won’t be able to open that file or send it to another person.

Change the File Location

One quick workaround to get rid of this error is to simply change the location of the problematic file.

In other words, copy the file and then save it somewhere else on your phone. For example, if the problematic file is an image or video, open the Gallery and create a new album. Then add the file to the new album.add new album gallery android phone

When you try to send it again via WhatsApp, make sure to navigate to the new file location.

Check Your Date and Time Settings

If your date and time settings are not correct, your terminal won’t connect to WhatsApp’s servers and download the files your contacts sent you.

Go to Settings → System → Date & time. And set your phone to configure time zone information automatically.

android date time settings

Update WhatsApp

If you’re running an outdated WhatsApp version, the list of potential glitches and errors is endless. And it includes the file format error.

Open the Play Store app and search for WhatsApp. If there’s an Update button next to the app, tap it.update whatsapp android

Restart your phone after updating the WhatsApp app. Check if the error is gone.

Check Your SD Card

Not being able to send or receive files via WhatsApp may indicate your SD card is corrupted. In this case, you only have two main choices: format the SD card and erase all the content, or get a new SD card. Check if WhatsApp still says the file format is not supported.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. J Taylor says

    Certain videos I cant send via WhatsApp it comes up file not supported?! Anybody know why? It’s soooo frustrating as this is the way I send videos to family members

  3. Amila says

    Same with we. Cant send images from sencond. Any fix? It was running very well and today i faced this problem for first time.

  4. Peter says

    You have to screenshot the photo from the dual whatsapp and then you can send it. Absolutely appalling by samsung.

  5. Tarek Ibrahim says

    Same problem here.
    1st watsapp works
    2nd (dual watsapp) cant send pics from gallery nor directly through camera.
    Note: i am using dual watsapp for more than a year, and it used to work till almost 2 months back..
    Could it be due to some bad update.
    Pls fix this bug…

  6. Hakan says

    I am using samsung galaxy S20 FE with dual sim. My 1st WhatsApp app running perfectly but 2nd Whatsapp app always shows file format not supported and pics, videos won’t transfer. What would be the reason.? It is frustrating.

  7. Dan says

    Yup, I confirm that’s a bug with the _dual_ whatsapp – it “doesn’t support” plain old .jpg’s on my phone, whereas the _regular_ version works like it should.

  8. Anas says

    I am having the same problem,

    There is hidden dual whatsapp folder, they moved the other whatsapp folder to Android data.
    I can’t send photos inside the dualwhatsapp, and I have issues with sending voice record
    If any one can help it would be appreciated

  10. ARMY 7 says

    IT DOESN’T WORK. IT’S I THINK A WORLD WIDE ISSUE AND SHOULD BE RESOLVE ASAP, IAM NOT ABLE TO SEND BTS OR ANY TYPE OF VIDEOS TO OTHER IN A VIDEO FORM IN MY LAPTOP… PLEASE LOOK INTO THE ISSUE…..

  12. Abraham Lazaro says

    Samsung user here having the same problem “file not supported in my dual whats up”

  13. Sanjeev Kr Arora says

    My 1st WhatsApp app running perfectly but when i inserted 2ñd sim and installed 2nd WhatsApp on ßame device … 2nd WhatsApp app always shows file foŕmat not supported ànd pics, videos won’t transfer. What would be the reason.?

  14. Vinit bukka says

    Tried everything, but the issue still not resolved. I cannot see the dual whatsapp folder. When found, it does not have anything in it. Quite frustrating.

  16. Daniel says

    I formated my note9 almost because of this.had settings and apps since oct 2018… i needed the format anyway..this dual whatsapp issue was the ripoing point. Formated. Reinstalled whatsapp , ewcovered the backup and…. still got the issue!! Only on the dual version…the standard Whatsapp works fine.
    Will try the Whatsapp business version, according to latest post here…

  17. jennifer says

    Well… clear cache + reboot seemed to be only a temporary solution. The problem came back and the trick isn’t working anymore.

  18. jennifer says

    Same issue on my dual WA on my A50. Clear cache like proposed here + phone reboot solved the issue for me.

  19. David says

    Dual app misbehaving not taking photos. Started after June security update. They have hidden the dual whatsapp folder and moved the other whatsapp folder to Android Data. Can anyone help find the Dual App folder?

  20. David says

    They have hidden the dual whatsapp folder after the last update. I’m on Android 11 UI 3.1. They moved the other whatsapp folder to Android data. Can anyone find the dual whatsapp folder?

  21. Misbah Nadeem says

    Nope this didnot help, even if we do back up and restore the data but still some of the data is missing , really frustrating .. do any one have any other solution rather then uninstall and then reinstall…

  22. Jatin Mittal says

    it seems to be a worldwide issue after latest update.
    We all are using samsung handset.

  23. Saeed says

    This glitch happened today morning after i updated my WhatsApp i went to the WhatsApp gallery for videos and images and noticed they all have “file not supported” pop up message ive tried to create more space but still haven’t been to able to get my media back. Help

  24. Haider says

    Dear All,

    I have tried everything. The best solution is to make your back up on google drive. Then delete your dual whatsapp. Now install whatsapp Business and recover your back-up in whatsapp Business. In this way your all problems will be resolved including file format error and display of 2nd whatsapp media files in gallery.
    Thanks.

  28. Narendra says

    If whats is not listening all such problems, they simply don’t want any more customer, simply switch to another app.

  30. Debbie says

    Same issue, im using samsung note 10. Cant forward or open anythg from my dual whatsapp. Work fine on the other whatsapp

  31. Suji0911 says

    Nothing as yet with so many users facing the same issue , are you going to start charging for the dual watts app ..
    This is frustrating ..all.my official messages are through the dual watts app.

  32. Joe says

    Did anyone find a solution to this?
    It’s my dual WhatsApp too. Main one seems fine second doesn’t.

  33. Sajjad Yasin says

    1. In android Settings, go to apps
    2 Locate whatsapp and select
    3. Select sotrage and press “clear cache data”

    This solved my issue instantaneously.

    Note: there are 2 options “clear data” and “clear cache”. Do not use “clear data” or you will loose all previous chats, pics etc.

  34. Mark says

    I have the same problem with my A40. Duel sim, one WA can send and work ok but the other one has stopped sending or saving to the gallery it won’t take pictures with camera. I just get file not supported. All the settings are the same and nothing on my phone has changed. Any help will be appreciated

  38. Wendy says

    I thought I was the only one with this problem.
    My dual WhatsApp can take photos within the app, or videos. Can’t forward media either. Can’t edit and upload.

    Device Samsung A70

  39. Mo Malek says

    I have same problem on my dual whatsapp when I want to take picture or video by app camera but I can send pic choosed from gallery. Also I can’t send gif files and I can’t add stickers to my favourites.

  40. Vikram Bhandari says

    I have the same problem. I uninstall my dual whatsapp and re install but still the same. Direct camera photo is not support to send I can’t send any thing directly I have galaxy S10+

  41. Pradbpat says

    Same problem in my dual whatsapp ! For all videos and documents its showing the same message. Done all actions suggested above. The problem persists. seems to be a problem with Samsung Phones only. .
    Device : Samsung M31S

  42. Haider says

    Yes same problem with my dual whatsapp. Started few days back. Please suggest a solution bas it is really annoying.

  43. Patriciah says

    I thought I was the only one with this problem on my dual whatapp,, I have tried all the above.

  44. Abeo says

    Did anyone get help? I am having the same problem with my second what’s app, and now reading these comments I also did update my phone recently. I really need help on this.

  45. oscar says

    Same issue here Samsung S20+ dual messenger I reinstall the app and it works yesterday but today the issu re appear again.

  47. Georgina Belas says

    Having the same problem with dual whatsapp. Can’t upload pics and videos. No pics or videos are being saved. And I can’t find them in my internal storage.

  48. Adi says

    This is a problem with dual WhatsApp. There doesn’t seem to be a solution to this till Android or WhatsApp rolls out an update. No option but to wait and watch.

  49. Mihir H. Pandya says

    I’m also having the same problem. Not able to attach direct photos taken thru what’s app.
    Even on Internal storage Dualapp, there is no folder of whatsapp on it. Images and videos are in whatsapp but not on physical memory irritating.
    Cannot take photo from whatsapp or open pdf or send photo.
    Samsung A9 2018.
    I even Uninstalled and reinstalled dual whatsapp.

  53. JR says

    Same issue with S20+ secondary dual messenger, file format not supported any time trying to take picture through the app. Can’t upload any pictures either. Every day WhatsApp is backing up different sizes one day could be 2gb or 9gb. However no WhatsApp pictures or videos have saved since Saturday 19th.

  54. Mamta says

    I have same problem with my 2 nd whatsapp after I update my software. Pls some one resolve

  55. Mamta says

    I have same problem with my work nd whatsapp after I update my software. Pls some one resolve

  56. ... says

    Same problem in my dual whatsapp ! For all videos and documents its showing the same glitch .
    Device : Samsung M31S

  58. Di says

    I am having the same issue using mote 20 ultra with dual whatsapp. Does anyone have a fix? I updated restart and still the same error file not supported pops up can’t upload pics or crop them

  59. SUMAN says

    Same problem, I CANNOT TAKE DIRECT PHOTOS OR VIDEOS IN MY DUAL WHATSAPP.
    I ALSO CANNOT OPEN or ATTACH PDF FILES IN DUAL WHATSAPP.

  61. vivek chaturvedi says

    Dual whatsapp not supported by any media storage and can’t retrieve or send the pictures and videos
    It states that the file format is not supported
    Kindly advise it’s very urgent

  64. Ahmed essa saleh says

    i can’t take photos with whats app camera and the error is always the file format is not supported and i restarted and cleared the caches and checked the date and there’s no updates available what should i do ?!

  65. Shreyash shukla says

    Whats the solution for this?…It occurs on Samsung after new update of software…A51

  66. Tanya Jeyasingham says

    This has started to happen to me also this week. I have dual SIM and two whatsap accounts.
    I cannot take photos . share photos. Or a gif
    I’ve no idea how to resolve this issue.
    Is there anyone I can report this to?
    It’s so annoying!!

    On the plus glad it’s not just me as being a tech novice I thought I’d done something!!🙈

  67. alex tanzw says

    Havin problem with Dual Whatsapp as well in Samsung Note 9. Uninstall and installed numerous time but still the same. Anyone with solution to this?

  68. NaseerAhammed G Md says

    I have the same problem. I uninstall my dual whatsapp and re install but still the same. Direct camera photo is not support to send with Samsung M30

  69. Chandan kumar says

    S32 5G model … I am also facing same issue … can’t take photo in dual watsapp.

  70. Llowellyn Albertus says

    Same problem with my S10 Samsung.

    file format not suported..for whatsapp2.cannot foto direct

  71. Jananitha says

    I have the Same Problem, My Dual Whatsapp is showing file format not supported and my phone is Samsung A71. I think this is not Whatsapp problem, it is Samsung Dual messenger feature problem. I’m facing this from 18th June.

  74. kedar says

    not able to forward images or download them properly, and this is happening only with images, started few weeks back

  75. Marc says

    I am experiencing the same things after update, dual whatsapp doesn’t work to ßend direct pics or grabbing them through archive.

  76. John Doe says

    Im facing the same issue on on Dual WhatsApp, however its working on the regular one. Im also not able to crop the photos.
    Using Note 9

  77. Jack Tan says

    YES EXACTLY ! I CANNOT TAKE DIRECT PHOTOS OR VIDEOS IN MY DUAL WHATSAPP.
    I ALSO CANNOT OPEN PDF FILES iN DUAL WHATSAPP.
    WHAT IS GOING ON !?!!?

  79. Haris says

    I have samsung A70 ihave the same problem.my dual whatsapp is not working means I cannot attach photos

  80. Tri Kurnia Prasetia says

    I have same problem.
    After update my samsung s10 software.
    Try to uninstall my whatsapp but still have same problem

  82. shariq says

    I have Samsung s10+ can’t able to send any media or file it says couldn’t attach failed and file format not supported as above other comments can you please help me ?

  84. Nicole says

    Same thing with my Dual WhatsApp. It’s literally failing. Cleared cache even but to no avail

  85. Abdelrahman says

    same problem for all above i cannot take photo through WhatsApp it give “file format not support” and i cannot open pdf files also any help ?

  86. Nicola says

    I have the exact problem. My files from whatsapp are not supported. I cannot post pictures or videos to my status, Instagram, FB. I took it to a technician who I think tried everything he could. He back up my files, uninstall whatsapp and reinstall. The problem remains the same.
    My phone is relatively new. It a samsung A71.
    Can someone please help me fix this problem.

  87. Tariq says

    Since 2 days, i have same problem
    Samsung galaxy A51
    Cant send photo bideo documents nothing at all
    There is written file format is not supported.
    Re-installed … cannot still… Nx to the addition to this problem, i cant backup my whstsapp history ss well

  90. Herion says

    Same program on dual whatsapp on samsung galaxy s10e only in one whatsapp format not supported

  94. Ravi Sankar Kandukuri says

    Even I have same issue, I think all of us who are facing this problem as per the comments are Samsung users. So problem might be with the recent update of Samsung. We might need to raise this issue in Samsung website

  95. flak says

    I have the same problem. It happen to dual whatapp.
    I uninstall my dual whatsapp and re install but still the same.
    From file folder, the dual whatsapp folder was having different folder inside. Direct camera and send photo is not support to send

  96. Reen says

    I also have same issue. In 2 days, for my dual whatsapp it appear the file format not supported when i want to sent photos or open any file, but for the main whatsapp works well. It already the latest version for whatsapp. I’m using samsung A30s, please help me to solve this issue.

  98. Faysal says

    I am using Samsung Galaxy A71 and facing this “file format not supported error” since last month, Have tried uninstalling and re-installing Whatsapp but in vain. facing same issue again, been looking for its solution but have yet succeeded.

  99. Yusuf says

    I have the same problem. I have samsung note 10+. The normal whatsapp works fine but the issue is with the dual whatsapp. Cannot take photo from whatsapp or open pdf or send photo

  101. ayyad k k abudaqqa says

    I have the same problem. I uninstall my dual whatsapp and re install but still the same. Direct camera photo is not support to send I can’t send any thing directly I have galaxy note 20 ultra

  102. Lourdes says

    fml, have same issue with dual whatapp app. If Anyone finds the solution please let me know.

  104. Cecilia Mapfunde says

    Dual Sim my second whatsapp also not taking direct photos or downloads. Started last week after an update. Changed phones and worked for a day but after some updates stopped working. Any help appreciated.

  105. siva rao says

    My self also having same problem when sending pictures it’s prompt file not supporting please guide me as well

  108. Gaurav sachdeva says

    Dual WhatsApp on Samsung. One works fine but second no longer allows direct photo. I can’t attach one without problem.

  109. Simoy says

    I have the same problem. I even uninstalled and reinstalled whatsapp and it’s not working. I have the note 10.. It’s a dual sim. One whatsapp is working just fine all of a sudden the other is saying files aren’t supported. I cannot even operate the camera, or open a pdf etc.

  110. Haroon Rashid says

    I’m also having the same problem. Not able to attach direct photos taken thru what’s app. Moreover not able to open pdf files. Samsung A9

  111. Ratheesh says

    I have same issue. In dual whats up number i cannot send photos or videos. I m using samsung m51.please fix this issue.

  112. Chandana says

    I have the same problem, but its for my whtsapp DUAL/ AM not able to send any photos or videos or not able to even click a photo in whtsapp. It says file not supported.
    Any idea how to get rid of this.

  113. Mat Sheikh says

    I am in the same boat as you guys are and it is extremely frustrating as it is my business account as well so unable to send/receive files has been a mini disaster of sort. Don’t really know what to do. Please if someone comes up with a solution then tell, very confused right now.

  115. Tom Findlay says

    Dual WhatsApp on Samsung. One works fine but second no longer allows direct photo. I can’t attach one without problem. This seemed to start after a Samsung update last week.

  116. Abc says

    I have the same problem. I uninstall my dual whatsapp and re install but still the same. Direct camera photo is not support to send

  117. Ilkin Gudratov says

    Since 2 days, i have same problem
    Samsung galaxy s10Plus
    Cant send photo bideo documents nothing at all
    There is written file format is not supported.
    Re-installed 6 times… cannot still… Nx to the addition to this problem, i cant backup my whstsapp history ss well

  118. Yasir arafat says

    All try but problem same..file format not suported..for whatsapp2.cannot foto direct

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