A photo or voice message will not open
Retry a failed photo from its message, check whether the conversation itself loaded and ask for help if a voice message still will not play.
1 min read · Updated August 28, 2026
In short
- When a chat photo fails to load, its message changes to a photo retry placeholder.
- Tapping that failed photo requests the conversation again and obtains a fresh photo address.
- A voice message can play only when its audio is available in the conversation.
Photos and voice messages are part of the conversation. If the whole thread shows a loading error, the media cannot be opened from that state. A failed photo has its own retry action; voice playback does not show a separate retry message.
- Open the conversation and wait for its messages to finish loading.
- Tap a failed photo message to request the photo again. The failed message shows a photo icon and retry wording instead of the image.
- Tap Play on a voice message and wait while the audio starts.
- If the item still does not open, include the conversation name and whether it is a photo or voice message in your request for help.
| The photo has been replaced by a retry message | Tap the message; Gloa refreshes the conversation and requests a fresh photo address. |
|---|---|
| The Play control is dim and does nothing | The conversation did not provide audio for that message. Include that detail in your request for help. |
| The whole conversation shows a loading error | Treat it as a conversation loading problem rather than a problem with one attachment. |