How to resolve the error 'Sorry, this media file doesn't exist on your SD Card/internal storage'?

WhatsApp media file missing, how to recover? Translation: WhatsApp media file is missing, how can it be recovered?

"My WhatsApp saved media, such as videos and photos, continually vanishes. Whenever I attempt to open them within WhatsApp, I receive an error message stating, 'Sorry, this media file does not exist on your SD Card.' Is there a solution to recover my lost data?"

Similar to the above scenario, some users have reported encountering an error message that reads, "Sorry, this media file doesn't exist on your SD Card" or a variation like "Sorry, this media file doesn't exist on your internal storage," when attempting to access WhatsApp to view videos or pictures. These files appear distorted and seemingly vanish without any apparent reason.

Are you one of those victims? Here, we provide some troubleshooting steps and a reliable WhatsApp media recovery solution to assist you!

How to resolve the error: "Sorry, this media file doesn't exist on your SD Card/Internal Storage"

Step 1. Copy the missing media files to the original WhatsApp folder

By default, all media files such as images and videos received on your WhatsApp Messenger are automatically saved in the Gallery under the WhatsApp folder. Therefore, when you encounter an error message stating "Sorry, this media file doesn't exist on your SD Card/internal storage," first check if you can locate these files in the Gallery. If you do find them, it indicates that they might have been moved to a different folder.

To rectify this issue, attempt to access the missing images and videos on your phone's memory. Copy and paste them into the WhatsApp folder, and subsequently, try opening those media files within WhatsApp once more. You'll be pleasantly surprised to discover that the problem has been resolved.

Step 2. Attempt to recover missing WhatsApp media files using specialized recovery software.

If you can't locate the missing WhatsApp media files on your phone in Step 1, it indicates that the files might be corrupted or deleted. In this case, try using specialized Android recovery software to recover them.

Step 1. Connect your Android device to the PC, launch the Android recovery software, and then click the "Scan" button.

Note: Ensure that your phone or tablet is rooted for the software to recognize and connect to it.

Step 2. Allow the software to scan the device and locate all lost data.

Step 3. Preview all the recoverable WhatsApp pictures and videos, and then select the ones you want to retrieve by clicking the "Recover" button.

Useful tips to prevent the 'Sorry, this media file doesn't exist on your SD Card' error

1. Ensure that there is sufficient free space on your SD card to save WhatsApp media files.

2. Make sure your SD card is not set to read-only mode, which prevents saving WhatsApp media files on the card.

3. Ensure that your SD card is in good health and functioning correctly. A corrupted SD card will not be able to save any files onto it.