5 Ways to Fix Click to Download Not Working in iMessage (iOS 16) 

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

Luckily, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can take to resolve this issue. This article will walk 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 isn’t working, one of the basic steps is to check your network connection. It is extremely important to make sure that the network connections are strong enough to download the multimedia message.

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

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

Make sure iMessage is on

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Select Message from the menu.
3. Make sure iMessage is enabled.

2. Check the location on your iPhone

Insufficient storage space on your iPhone can cause various issues, including the inability to download images in iMessage running on iOS 16. When your device’s storage space is exhausted, new media cannot be downloaded. Check the existing storage on your iPhone to resolve this issue.

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

If you don’t have enough space, you can easily solve this problem. You can visibly purchase additional storage for your iPhone, as well as free up space on your iPhone or free up other space on your device.

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

3. Sign out and sign in to your iMessage

Logging out and back in can help if you’re experiencing the “Click to Download”issue with iMessage. This process reconnects your device to the iMessage servers, which can prevent data corruption and crashes. It also ensures that your iMessage settings are correct and 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 → click Send and Receive.
3. Select the ID displayed next to your Apple ID.
4. Select Sign Out from the pop-up menu.

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

1. Open “Settings”→ go to “Messages”.
2. Tap Send & Receive.
3. Tap Use your Apple ID for iMessage → select Sign In. Please wait a while before signing in is complete.

Note. If your iPhone doesn’t have a SIM card, follow steps 1-2, then check the box next to your profile icon → enter your desired Apple ID → press “Enter”on your keyboard to finish.

4. Restart iMessage

Another easy and effective fix for Tap to Download app 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 images aren’t loading in iMessage on your iOS 16 device, one of the easiest and most effective solutions is to restart your device.
• Update iOS: Updates on your iPhone can fix any existing bugs. If a bug was preventing HEIC images from loading in iMessage, the latest version of iOS would most likely fix it. Updating your iPhone is a simple process, but there are some things you can do to get your device ready for the latest update.
• Reset network settings. A poor or unreliable network connection can very likely cause 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 Transfer or reset iPhone → tap Reset → select Reset network settings → enter your password if prompted → confirm, clicking Reset Network Settings.
• Reset iPhone: Consider resetting as a last resort after exhausting all other options. However, before proceeding with the reset process, it is recommended that you back up your iPhone to keep your data safe and protected. If you run into any problems, you can find help in our article on how to factory reset iPhone.
• Contact Apple Support: If you have been frustrated with all previous attempts, you may need to visit an Apple Store. If necessary, you can refer to our article on contacting Apple Support.

That’s all!

I’m sure the above methods helped you solve the problem. If you have any other problems with your iPhone, please leave your questions below and I will be happy to be your assistant.