As a popular messaging app, iMessage has high expectations. However, just like any other app, it can sometimes encounter errors or crashes. One of the recent issues with iMessage is the inability to download attachments such as photos, videos, and audio files by clicking on them in a message thread.

Fortunately, there are some troubleshooting steps that you can take to fix this problem. This article will guide you through some simple solutions to fix Click to download not working in iMessage on iPhone.

1. Check your internet connection

If the Click to Download feature in your iMessage app is not working, one of the essential steps is to check your network connection. It is very important to make sure that the network connections are strong enough to download the multimedia message.

You can check the network by checking the upper right corner of your iPhone. Alternatively, you can also bring up the Control Center and make sure your iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi or cellular data.

Make sure your iPhone is connected to a Wi-Fi or cellular network.

If you are having trouble uploading shared media, especially HEIC photos, to your iMessages, you should check if iMessage is enabled on your device. To confirm its status, follow these steps:

Make sure iMessage is turned on

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Select a message from the list.
  3. Make sure iMessage is enabled.

    Turn on iMessage on the iPhone

2. Check the website on your iPhone

Insufficient storage space on your iPhone can cause several issues, including the inability to download photos in iMessage running on iOS 16. And when your device runs out of storage space, new media cannot be downloaded. Check the storage on your iPhone to solve this problem.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Find and select General.
  3. Select iPhone Storage and see how much space you have available.

    Go to Settings, General, iPhone Storage and check the available space.

If you do not have enough space, you can easily solve this problem. You can obviously buy more storage for your iPhone, as well as free up space on your iPhone or free up more space on your device.

Once you have enough free space, try clicking Download again to see if it works.

3. Sign out and sign in to your iMessage

Signing out and back in again can help if you’re having a “click to download” issue with iMessage. This process reconnects your device to the iMessage servers, which can prevent data corruption and downtime. It also ensures that your iMessage settings are correct and that your account is up to date. To sign out of iMessage, follow these steps.

  1. Launch the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Scroll down and select Messages → tap Send & Receive.

    Click on

  3. Locate the ID displayed next to your Apple ID.
  4. Select Sign Out from the popup menu.

    Sign out of your iMessage on iPhone

After signing out, you can still use Messages like a regular messaging app, but you won’t be able to access iMessage features. Sign in again and turn iMessage back on. Here’s how:

  1. Open Settings → Go to Messages.
  2. Click Send and Receive.
  3. Tap Use Your Apple ID for iMessage → Select Sign In.
    Please wait a moment before login is completed.

    Sign in to your iMessage on iPhone

NB. If your iPhone does not have a SIM card, follow steps 1 and 2, then check the box next to your profile icon → enter the desired Apple ID → press Enter on your keyboard to finish.

4. Restart iMessage

Another easy and effective fix for Tap to Download not working on iPhone is to restart the app. Restarting the Messages app is a simple process. You just need to close the app and remove it from the app switcher; You can then use the Messages app by restarting it.

5. Other fixes:

  • Restart your iPhone. If photos in iMessage won’t load on your iOS 16 device, one of the easiest and most effective solutions is to restart your device.
  • iOS Update: Updates on your iPhone can fix any existing bugs. If there is a bug that prevents HEIC photos from loading in iMessage, the latest iOS version will most likely fix it. Updating your iPhone is a simple process, but there are a few things you can do to get your device ready for the latest update.
  • Reset network settings. It is very possible that a poor or unreliable network connection is causing the Click to Download feature to not work on your iPhone. To perform a network settings reset on your iPhone, go to Settings → Select General → Go to Move or Reset iPhone → Tap on Reset → Select Reset Network Settings → Enter password if prompted → Confirm, tap Reset Set network settings.
  • Reset iPhone: Consider resetting as a last resort after all other options have been exhausted. However, before proceeding with the reset process, it is recommended to backup your iPhone to keep your data safe and secure. If you encounter any problems, you can find help in our article on how to reset your iPhone to factory settings.
  • Contact Apple Support: If you are frustrated with all previous attempts, you may need to visit the Apple Store. If necessary, you can refer to our article on contacting Apple Support.

That’s it!

I am sure the above methods helped you to solve the problem. If you have any other issues with your iPhone, please leave your questions below and I’ll be happy to be of assistance.

Read more:

  • How to fix “iMessage must be enabled to send this message” error
  • How to set up iMessage on multiple devices
  • How to sign out of iMessage on Mac