WhatsApp Not Sending Photos? Account Stuck “Under Review”? What Happened on Aug 3 — and How to Fix It
Monday, Aug 3, was a bad day for WhatsApp. Two separate problems collided within hours: a photo-and-message sending failure that sent “whatsapp not sending photos” trending on Google, and a wave of account lockouts that left users staring at an “under review” screen for up to 24 hours.
Meta has acknowledged the account issue and says it has taken action to restore affected accounts. Here is the full picture: what broke, why accounts get flagged without warning, and exactly what to do if you are affected.
One Bad Monday: Two Problems Collide
- Reports start climbing on Downdetector. “WhatsApp not sending images” and “WhatsApp not sending photos” begin trending on Google. About 70 per cent of complaints involve sending messages; a smaller share cannot open the app at all.
- On X and Threads, users report a second, scarier problem: accounts suddenly locked with an in-app notice — “Your account activity and device info is being checked to make sure it follows our Terms of Service. We’ll notify you of the result typically within 24 hours.”
- Meta confirms to TechCrunch that it is working on restoring the affected accounts, without specifying regions or the root cause.
- Photo bug: no public fix timetable. Account reviews: typically resolved within 24 hours, per WhatsApp’s own notice.
We are always working to stay ahead of those trying to abuse our service and ban accounts to help keep other users safe. Sometimes we get this wrong, and if we do, we try to fix it as quickly as possible to get people back to chatting. We’ve taken action to restore affected accounts. — Meta spokesperson, to TechCrunch
With more than 3 billion monthly active users, even a proportionally tiny WhatsApp disruption strands thousands of people — many of whom, like X user Indrajit Deb Gupta, rely on the app for work: “It’s blocked for 24 hours and will affect my work directly.”
Why Accounts Get Flagged “Without Warning”
WhatsApp’s automated safety systems — plus user reports — flag accounts when activity drifts outside its Acceptable Use policy. This week’s wave appears to include false positives (“sometimes we get this wrong,” as Meta put it), but these remain the four classic triggers:
High-volume bulk messages, automated blasts, or suspicious promotional links — the most common trigger.
Scam behaviour, impersonation, or anything that compromises other users’ security.
Using GB WhatsApp, WhatsApp Plus or other modified clients is a fast track to a flag.
Sharing or transmitting content that explicitly breaches WhatsApp’s terms.
How to Fix It: Photo Problems & Account Locks
Try WhatsApp Web or Desktop. If web works but your phone doesn’t, it’s a device/app issue. If both fail, it’s the server-side outage — wait it out.
Queued photos can fire off in duplicate once the glitch clears. Check your connection, then retry later instead of hammering send.
Install the latest official WhatsApp build and reboot your phone — this clears stuck media pipelines more often than you’d think.
The in-app button on the notice screen is the ONLY official channel. There is no phone line, no live chat, no magic email.
Open the app anytime to see your appeal status. Contacting Meta through external channels or secondary accounts does not speed anything up.
If you’re on GB WhatsApp or WhatsApp Plus, migrate to the official app now — modded clients are ban magnets and put chat history at risk.
WhatsApp Aug 3 Issues: Quick FAQ
Is WhatsApp down right now?
Why can’t I send photos on WhatsApp?
What does “account under review” mean?
How do I appeal a locked account?
Will I lose my chats and backups?
The Bottom Line
Aug 3 was a reminder of how much of daily life — family chats, business orders, work coordination — runs through a single green app. The good news: Meta admits the enforcement wave caught innocent users and says restores are underway; the sending glitch, like most WhatsApp outages, should age out within hours. If you’re locked, file the in-app review, skip the scams, and give it 24 hours.
Could you not send photos on Aug 3 — or did your account get locked “under review”? Tell us what you saw and how long it lasted in the comments; reader reports help everyone gauge whether the fix has landed.
※ Photo courtesy of TechCrunch. This page will be updated when Meta confirms a full resolution.
