# How to add a missing attachment by hand with TextPort

## Quick answer

In the chat in TextPort:

1. Press and hold the message.
2. Tap **Manually add attachment** (Messages chats) or **Add attachment**.
3. Tap **Add from Photos** or **Add from Files**.
4. 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

1. Press and hold the message

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

### Chat from Messages

2. Tap **Manually add attachment**

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

### Chat from screenshots or Scroll Capture

2. Tap **Add attachment**

   It is in the menu. **Add attachment** opens.

### After that, on every path

Numbers continue from Chat from Messages.

3. Tap **Add from Photos** or **Add from Files**

   **Add from Photos** is for a photo or video. **Add from Files** is for a file in Files.

4. Tap the photo or file

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

   Tip: You can pick more than one.

5. 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 see | What 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](https://textport.com/guides/recover-missing-photos-and-attachments.md). |
| None of these match. | Email [support@textportapp.com](mailto:support@textportapp.com). 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

### 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.

## Next guides

- [How to recover missing photos and attachments with TextPort](https://textport.com/guides/recover-missing-photos-and-attachments.md): You will get the photos, videos, and files that were missing after a Messages import.
- [How to see all photos, videos, and files in a chat with TextPort](https://textport.com/guides/browse-photos-videos-audio-and-files-in-a-chat.md): You will see every photo, video, and file in one chat, and save the ones you want.
- [How to fix wrong text, times, or missing messages with TextPort](https://textport.com/guides/fix-screenshot-problems.md): Every message TextPort read wrong from a screenshot or recording will say the right thing.

TextPort guide for iPhone. Updated 2026-11-10. Web page: https://textport.com/guides/add-a-missing-attachment-by-hand