iPhone 15 Pro Max WhatsApp files blank after iOS 18.1 update

Hello Apple Community,

I’m experiencing an issue with my iPhone 15 Pro Max after updating to iOS 18.1. Since the update, I am unable to open any media files (photos, videos, and documents) within WhatsApp chat rooms. The files appear in the chats, but whenever I try to open them, nothing happens. My phone has plenty of available storage, and the internet connection is stable.

Here’s what I’ve tried so far:

1. Clearing the WhatsApp cache and restarting the phone.
2. Deleting and reinstalling WhatsApp from the App Store.
3. Checking WhatsApp permissions to ensure it has access to storage.

Has anyone else experienced a similar issue after updating to iOS 18.1 on the iPhone 15 Pro Max? Any advice or solutions would be greatly appreciated to help me access my WhatsApp files again.

Thank you!

Please help me, this is so annoying :(

[Re-Titled by Moderator]