diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 96ec12f..5f411dc 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -569,7 +569,7 @@ The presence expires after about 10 seconds.
 If you want to save the media you received
 ``` ts
 import { writeFile } from 'fs/promises'
-import { downloadContentFromMessage } from '@adiwajshing/baileys'
+import { downloadMediaMessage } from '@adiwajshing/baileys'
 
 sock.ev.on('messages.upsert', async ({ messages }) => {
     const m = messages[0]
@@ -578,18 +578,29 @@ sock.ev.on('messages.upsert', async ({ messages }) => {
     const messageType = Object.keys (m.message)[0]// get what type of message it is -- text, image, video
     // if the message is an image
     if (messageType === 'imageMessage') {
-        // download stream
-        const stream = await downloadContentFromMessage(m.message.imageMessage, 'image')
-        let buffer = Buffer.from([])
-        for await(const chunk of stream) {
-            buffer = Buffer.concat([buffer, chunk])
-        }
+        // download the message
+        const buffer = await downloadMediaMessage(
+            m,
+            'buffer',
+            { },
+            { 
+                logger,
+                // pass this so that baileys can request a reupload of media
+                // that has been deleted
+                reuploadRequest: sock.updateMediaMessage
+            }
+        )
         // save to file
         await writeFile('./my-download.jpeg', buffer)
     }
 }
 ```
 
+**Note:** WhatsApp automatically removes old media from their servers, and so for the device to access said media -- a re-upload is required by another device that has the media. This can be accomplished using: 
+``` ts
+const updatedMediaMsg = await sock.updateMediaMessage(msg)
+```
+
 ## Deleting Messages
 
 ``` ts
diff --git a/src/Utils/messages.ts b/src/Utils/messages.ts
index 69761ec..b3107fe 100644
--- a/src/Utils/messages.ts
+++ b/src/Utils/messages.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 import { Boom } from '@hapi/boom'
+import axios from 'axios'
 import { promises as fs } from 'fs'
+import { Logger } from 'pino'
 import { proto } from '../../WAProto'
 import { MEDIA_KEYS, URL_REGEX, WA_DEFAULT_EPHEMERAL } from '../Defaults'
 import {
@@ -586,33 +588,67 @@ export const aggregateMessageKeysNotFromMe = (keys: proto.IMessageKey[]) => {
 	return Object.values(keyMap)
 }
 
+type DownloadMediaMessageContext = {
+	reuploadRequest: (msg: WAMessage) => Promise<WAMessage>
+	logger: Logger
+}
+
+const REUPLOAD_REQUIRED_STATUS = [410, 404]
+
 /**
  * Downloads the given message. Throws an error if it's not a media message
  */
-export const downloadMediaMessage = async(message: WAMessage, type: 'buffer' | 'stream', options: MediaDownloadOptions) => {
-	const mContent = extractMessageContent(message.message)
-	if(!mContent) {
-		throw new Boom('No message present', { statusCode: 400, data: message })
-	}
-
-	const contentType = getContentType(mContent)
-	const mediaType = contentType.replace('Message', '') as MediaType
-	const media = mContent[contentType]
-	if(typeof media !== 'object' || !('url' in media)) {
-		throw new Boom(`"${contentType}" message is not a media message`)
-	}
-
-	const stream = await downloadContentFromMessage(media, mediaType, options)
-	if(type === 'buffer') {
-		let buffer = Buffer.from([])
-		for await (const chunk of stream) {
-			buffer = Buffer.concat([buffer, chunk])
+export const downloadMediaMessage = async(
+	message: WAMessage,
+	type: 'buffer' | 'stream',
+	options: MediaDownloadOptions,
+	ctx?: DownloadMediaMessageContext
+) => {
+	try {
+		const result = await downloadMsg()
+		return result
+	} catch(error) {
+		if(ctx) {
+			if(axios.isAxiosError(error)) {
+				// check if the message requires a reupload
+				if(REUPLOAD_REQUIRED_STATUS.includes(error.response?.status)) {
+					ctx.logger.info({ key: message.key }, 'sending reupload media request...')
+					// request reupload
+					message = await ctx.reuploadRequest(message)
+					const result = await downloadMsg()
+					return result
+				}
+			}
 		}
 
-		return buffer
+		throw error
 	}
 
-	return stream
+	async function downloadMsg() {
+		const mContent = extractMessageContent(message.message)
+		if(!mContent) {
+			throw new Boom('No message present', { statusCode: 400, data: message })
+		}
+
+		const contentType = getContentType(mContent)
+		const mediaType = contentType.replace('Message', '') as MediaType
+		const media = mContent[contentType]
+		if(typeof media !== 'object' || !('url' in media)) {
+			throw new Boom(`"${contentType}" message is not a media message`)
+		}
+
+		const stream = await downloadContentFromMessage(media, mediaType, options)
+		if(type === 'buffer') {
+			let buffer = Buffer.from([])
+			for await (const chunk of stream) {
+				buffer = Buffer.concat([buffer, chunk])
+			}
+
+			return buffer
+		}
+
+		return stream
+	}
 }
 
 /** Checks whether the given message is a media message; if it is returns the inner content */