# How to recover missing photos and attachments

## Quick answer

In the chat in TextPort:

1. Tap the gray box where the photo should be.
2. Tap **Open**. In Messages, open the same chat.
3. Tap the name at the top, then **Download Attachments in iCloud**.
4. Go back to TextPort. Tap **Check**.
5. Still a gray box? Tap **Still missing? Add it manually**.

The photos then show in the chat.

## What you need

- TextPort on your iPhone
- A chat imported with the TextPort shortcut
- Apple's Messages app on the same iPhone

## Steps

1. Tap the gray box

   Open the chat. The box says **Tap to check for this attachment.** A sheet opens.

2. Tap **Open**

   It is next to step 1 on the sheet. **Messages** opens.

3. Tap the same chat

   Find the chat in Messages. The chat opens.

4. Tap the name at the top

   It is at the top of the chat. The **Info** tab opens.

5. Tap **Download Attachments in iCloud**

   Scroll down to find it. Wait for the downloads to finish.

   Tip: If there is no such button, open each missing photo in Messages.

6. Go back to TextPort

   Open TextPort again. The sheet is still there.

7. Tap **Check**

   It is next to step 4. TextPort looks for every missing file in this chat.

### iOS 27

8. Keep TextPort open

   TextPort shows **Finding missing photos and files**. Stay in TextPort until it is done.

   Tip: If you see **Paused when you left**, tap **Resume**.

### iOS 26 and earlier

8. Keep Shortcuts open

   **Shortcuts** opens and looks for the files. Do not close it. Do not lock your iPhone.

### After that, on every path

Numbers continue from iOS 27.

9. Tap a gray box that is still there

   Do this only if one is left. The sheet opens again.

10. Tap **Still missing? Add it manually**

    It is at the bottom of the sheet. **Add attachment** opens.

    Tip: If you see **Choose a message**, tap the message first.

## Done

The photos, videos, and files TextPort could find are in your chat. They show in the PDF too. Any that are still missing keep the gray box.

## Problems

| What you see | What to do |
| --- | --- |
| There is no **Download Attachments in iCloud** button. | Open each missing photo or file in Messages. That downloads it too. Then tap **Check** in TextPort. |
| The gray box is still there after **Check**. | The file is not on this iPhone. If you have a copy in Photos or Files, add it by hand. See [Add a missing attachment by hand](https://textport.com/guides/add-a-missing-attachment-by-hand.md). |
| **Couldn’t check for missing files** | Tap **Get help**. It lists fixes. Or tap **OK** and tap **Check** again. |
| **Add the TextPort shortcut** | Tap **Add Shortcut**. If it says you already have one, tap **Cancel**, delete every TextPort there, and add it again. Then go back to TextPort and tap **Check** again. |
| The check stops part way. | See [Fix a stuck or failed Shortcut import](https://textport.com/guides/fix-a-stuck-or-failed-shortcut-import.md). |
| Your iPhone has iOS 27, but Shortcuts opens for the check. | TextPort uses the older flow on your iPhone. Follow the [iOS 26 and earlier](https://textport.com/guides/recover-missing-photos-and-attachments#ios-26) steps. |
| 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. |

## Questions

### Why are attachments missing at all?

Your iPhone saves space by keeping old attachments in iCloud. This happens to ones you sent, too. The shortcut can only read files that are on the phone. Downloading them in Messages puts them back on the phone.

### Does this import the whole chat again?

No. TextPort only looks for the missing files. Your edits stay.

## Next guides

- [How to add a missing attachment by hand](https://textport.com/guides/add-a-missing-attachment-by-hand.md): You will put the right photo or file back on a message in your chat.
- [How to import iMessage and SMS with the TextPort Shortcut](https://textport.com/guides/import-imessage-and-sms-with-the-textport-shortcut.md): You will get a chat from Apple Messages saved in TextPort, with every message word for word.
- [How to fix a stuck or failed Shortcut import](https://textport.com/guides/fix-a-stuck-or-failed-shortcut-import.md): You will get a Messages import that finishes, or know exactly what to tell support.

TextPort guide for iPhone. Updated 2026-11-05. Web page: https://textport.com/guides/recover-missing-photos-and-attachments