What if the menu has no Manually add attachment or Add attachment?

The message already has a file, or the chat is from WhatsApp or LINE. To change a file on a message, tap Edit attachment if the menu shows it.

What if you picked the wrong photo?

Press and hold the message. Tap Edit attachment. Tap Replace from Photos or Replace from Files.

What if I see “Couldn’t add this attachment”?

Pick the file again. If it fails again, close the chat. Open it again and try once more.

What if TextPort couldn’t read the photo or video?

Save the photo or video to Files. Then pick it with Add from Files, or Replace from Files if you are changing a file.

What if the photo or video is too big?

The file is over 1 GB, or your iPhone cannot open it. Pick a smaller copy.

What if I see “This attachment changed”?

Close the sheet with the X. Open the chat again. Then do the steps again.

What if I see “Choose up to 5 files at a time”?

Pick five files or fewer from Files. For more photos or videos at once, tap Add from Photos or Replace from Photos.

What if the sheet says my attachment is saved but not added?

Tap Try again. To start over, tap Discard pending selection.

What if a Messages photo is missing, and you do not have a copy?

It may still be in iCloud. See Recover missing photos and attachments.

What if none of these problems match mine?

Email support@textportapp.com. Say which step you were on. Say what you saw. We usually reply within a day.

Which chats can I add attachments to?

Chats from Messages, on any gray Attachment unavailable box. Chats from screenshots or Scroll Capture, on any message without a file. You cannot add files to WhatsApp or LINE chats.

Where are the files I add kept?

On this iPhone. TextPort keeps its own copy for the chat.

Does removing it delete my photo?

No. Your photo stays in Photos or Files. Only the copy on the message goes away.

How to add a missing attachment by hand with TextPort

iPhone 5 steps · Updated Nov 10, 2026

Quick answer

In the chat in TextPort:

Press and hold the message.
Tap Manually add attachment (Messages chats) or Add attachment.
Tap Add from Photos or Add from Files.
Tap the photo or file.

The photo then shows on the message.

What you need

✓TextPort on your iPhone
✓A saved chat with a missing photo or file
✓The photo in Photos, or the file in Files

Steps

Press and hold the message

Open the chat. Hold the message for one second. A menu opens.

Chat from Messages

Tap Manually add attachment

It shows on a gray Attachment unavailable box. Add attachment opens.

Chat from screenshots or Scroll Capture

Tap Add attachment

It is in the menu. Add attachment opens.

Tap Add from Photos or Add from Files

Add from Photos (1) is for a photo or video. Add from Files (2) is for a file in Files.
Tap the photo or file

Find the right one. Tap it. TextPort shows Saving attachment….

You can pick more than one.
Check the message

The sheet closes. The photo shows on the message.

Done

The message has its photo or file again. It shows in the chat and in exports.

Problems

What you seeWhat to do

The menu has no Manually add attachment or Add attachment.: The message already has a file, or the chat is from WhatsApp or LINE. To change a file on a message, tap Edit attachment if the menu shows it.
You picked the wrong photo.: Press and hold the message. Tap Edit attachment. Tap Replace from Photos or Replace from Files.
Couldn’t add this attachment. Try again.: Pick the file again. If it fails again, close the chat. Open it again and try once more.
Couldn’t read this photo or video. Try choosing it from Files.: Save the photo or video to Files. Then pick it with Add from Files, or Replace from Files if you are changing a file.
Choose a photo or video up to 1 GB that can be opened on this device.: The file is over 1 GB, or your iPhone cannot open it. Pick a smaller copy.
This attachment changed. Close this sheet, reopen the chat, and try again.: Close the sheet with the X. Open the chat again. Then do the steps again.
Choose up to 5 files at a time.: Pick five files or fewer from Files. For more photos or videos at once, tap Add from Photos or Replace from Photos.
Your selected attachment is saved on this device. Try again to finish adding it to the message.: Tap Try again. To start over, tap Discard pending selection.
A Messages photo is missing, and you do not have a copy.: It may still be in iCloud. See Recover missing photos and attachments.
None of these match.: Email [email protected]. Say which step you were on. Say what you saw. We usually reply within a day.

Tips

To take a file off, press and hold the message. Tap Edit attachment, then Remove attachment. Tap Remove attachment again. The message stays.

Questions

: Chats from Messages, on any gray Attachment unavailable box. Chats from screenshots or Scroll Capture, on any message without a file. You cannot add files to WhatsApp or LINE chats.
: On this iPhone. TextPort keeps its own copy for the chat.
: No. Your photo stays in Photos or Files. Only the copy on the message goes away.