Tap to download is an excellent feature that allows you to quickly and easily download files from the internet. It’s a great way to save time and is even more convenient when working correctly. You can also modify iPhone settings to get iMessages on your Mac. But what happens when the ‘tap to download’ feature is not working? In this blog, we’ll look at why the tap to download feature on iMessage can lag and provide tips and tools to help you troubleshoot the issue.
Why Do Pictures in iMessage Say Tap to Download Not Working?
Seeing that dreaded ‘Tap to Download’ iMessage error can be highly frustrating, especially when all you want to do is see the photo. Don’t worry; your photo is still waiting for you – all you have to do is tap it, and you should be able to view it just fine.
But why are you receiving this message in the first place? It could be due to a few reasons – your storage might run low, or the Wi-Fi signal might not be strong enough. Your phone needs more time to process and download the photo from iMessage. Therefore, if the “tap to download” feature is not functioning in iMessage, try giving your phone a few extra minutes before trying again.
Related Article: Want to hear iMessages on your iPhone 13 through Siri? Read out the article “How to Activate Siri on your iPhone 13”.
Bug
It’s frustrating when you’re trying to download a photo that was sent to you on iMessage, and it just won’t work. You’re tapping away, but nothing is happening. Unfortunately, this issue affects many Apple users as the company services billions of people – there are bound to be some bumps along the way.
When technology systems have bugs, various industries and apps can be affected. It’s essential to stay aware and take necessary precautions like downloading updates and ensuring your system is up-to-date to ensure that these issues don’t arise. If you face a similar situation, it might be worth double-checking your system before jumping to conclusions.
No Internet Connection
If you are having trouble tapping to download an image, it may be because your internet connection is not working correctly. Wi-Fi often goes out for a few minutes at a time, so feel free if this occurs. You can try resetting your connection to get it working again, or you can check to make sure you are connected in the first place. Additionally, if you are using cellular data, that may be causing issues as well. Look into all of these factors before assuming the photo is the issue, and keep in mind that a quick reset of your connection may do the trick and get everything back up and running, it can get the tap to download feature to work again.
iCloud Services Down
In addition to internal issues such as bugs, iCloud itself may be down, which could be the reason why your photo isn’t appearing. iCloud is Apple’s service that stores and shares various types of content, including photos, videos, and contacts. If the iCloud system is temporarily down, Tap to download will not work until the iCloud’s service returns to function correctly. Use iCloud to recover any data that you have shared with someone else from being downloaded, as these are stored in iCloud. Users need to remember that this issue only affects images and videos sent outside an iMessage, as those are sent via a different service. If you’re still getting an annoying message of Tap to Download, it is best to contact Apple Support for further assistance.
How To Fix Tap To Download Not Working?
If you are having issues with tap to download not working on your phone, it is essential first to identify the root of the problem. Once you have identified the cause, you can focus on finding a solution. Below are some simple solutions that you can try out. You can start by first checking your internet connection, as poor or weak signals may be the reason behind this issue. Alternatively, you can restart your device and then attempt to download again. If these solutions do not work for you, then it is best to contact an expert for further help and advice.
Sign Out and Sign in with Your Apple ID
Many users have found that signing in and out of their Apple ID to be effective when the tap to download is not working. This process refreshes the entire account and removes any existing issues that might be causing the issue. For example, if the app store was not loading or there were errors when downloading content, signing out and back into the Apple ID can resolve these issues. Additionally, this can be done with any Apple services, such as iCloud, iTunes or iMessage, which could all be causing Apple ID problems. Therefore, signing in and out of your Apple ID is a great way to quickly troubleshoot any issues you may be having with your account.
- Go to iPhone Settings
- Click the owner’s name at the top
- Tap the Sign Out button
- Then, Sign In again after a few seconds
Check Storage Space
When you get the “Not enough space” notification, it’s crucial to take action quickly. The first step is to check and remove any unwanted files and applications that are taking up storage space. Start by going through your apps and seeing which ones could be removed. Then, look for other large files like videos or photos you no longer need. Once you’ve cleared out these items, you should have more storage space available and the ‘Tap to Download’ feature should start working again.
- Open Settings on your iPhone
- Select General option
- Click on the iPhone Storage & look at the free storage space
If you are running low on storage, the first step is to delete any unwanted videos and apps. This method may come as a surprise, but those videos and apps can unknowingly take up a lot of space on your phone. Additionally, it’s essential to periodically review your downloads and remove any apps or videos that you no longer use. Doing this should help prevent the “tap to download not working” issue due to a lack of storage space.
- Tap & hold the unwanted app
- Press the Remove app button
- Select the Delete app option
- Again, click Delete from the confirmation tab
Make Sure You Are Connected to the Internet
It is essential to ensure that your internet connection is working if you want the tap to download feature to work on your phone. Ensure that your Wi-Fi or cellular data is turned on and the connection speed is fast enough. Different speed-checking websites, such as fast.com, can be used to check the speed of your internet connection. If you find that tap to download is not working on your phone, it could be due to a slow or unstable internet connection. Therefore, ensuring that your internet connection is up to speed for the tap to download feature to function correctly is vital.
If your internet connection is slow and the Wi-Fi speed is not improving, you may have to resort to using your mobile cellular data. You can do this by tapping the download button in the app if it is not working due to slow internet. However, it might be worth trying to restart your router by turning it off and on again, as this could improve the Wi-Fi speed. If not, mobile data may be your only option for downloading applications or data.
- Head to the iPhone settings app
- Select Wi-Fi
- Toggle on the Wi-Fi
- Choose the preferred network
- Provide the password and connect to it
Also, use the steps below to enable the Mobile Data on your device,
- Go to Settings
- Open Mobile Data option
- Then, enable Mobile Data
Restart your iPhone
Restarting your device can give it a ‘refreshment’ and eliminates any bugs causing issues. This method could solve common problems, such as when the tap to download feature on your phone is not working. Restarting your device can help clear out any software conflicts or glitches causing the issue. Restarting your device can also free up the phone’s memory and increase the device’s speed by clearing out any background apps. Therefore, restarting it is definitely worth considering if you’re experiencing any issues with your phone.
For iPhone 6,7 and 8:
- Long Press, the power button until the power off slider, prompts on your iPhone
- Pull the power off toggle to the right to switch off your iPhone
- Now, press & hold the power button until the Apple logo appears on the screen
For iPhone X, 11,12 and 13:
- Press and hold the volume up & down buttons along with the power button
- Wait a minute for your device to turn off
- Now, press the power button alone to turn on your iPhone
Reset Network Settings
Resetting the network settings can be a great solution if you’re facing problems like tap to download not working. You won’t lose any data during this process, so you don’t have to worry. It will restore all the network-related settings to the default factory settings, which should solve this issue. We recommend you do this if nothing else seems to be working.
- Navigate to iPhone settings
- Select General menu
- Then, go to Reset options
- Click Reset Network Settings
- Type your passcode to initiate the reset
- At last, tap the Reset Network Settings again to complete the action
Restart iMessage
If the issue persists, it could be a bug in the app or an issue with the environment it’s working. To address this, you can restart the app to refresh the environment and potentially fix any bugs. To do this, close and reopen the iMessage app. If the tap to download is not working even after restarting, you can try resetting the application settings or contact customer support for further assistance.
- Swipe up the iPhone’s home screen to access iMessage
- Click to Clear the iMessage
- Now, reopen the iMessage feature
Doing these steps will restart the iMessage app, and you may find the app is working correctly.
Update iOS If Available
If you find that the tap to download feature is not working, the most likely cause is that your phone’s software is out of date. Check for updates regularly and install them when they become available. It ensures your phone runs optimally and securely, as these updates are made after removing bugs from the previous version. To ensure your phone always has the most up-to-date version, turn on automatic updates. Doing this will help ensure that potential issues are resolved quickly and effectively. Updating your iPhone could resolve other network related issues.
- Head to iPhone Settings App
- Select the General option
- Click the Software Update
Conclusion
It is challenging to manage iPhone issues since they are annoying, persistent, and nearly impossible to terminate. It can be incredibly frustrating if you don’t comprehend certain features or if it’s difficult to download apps. Fortunately, there are several ways to get assistance with iPhone issues. You may contact the Apple support team or search for answers online. When all other options are exhausted, visiting the Apple store might be necessary. The technicians at the store can diagnose the problem and ensure your phone operates appropriately. You will no longer have to deal with tap-to-downloads that don’t operate with the help of an Apple expert.
