How to fix whatsapp on android
WhatsApp not working? Here are some fixes you can try
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
There are a few possible reasons for WhatsApp not working. Thankfully, most times, you can fix it relatively quickly. If the app is crashing, you can’t send messages, or you are experiencing any other issues, follow the tips below to get the app back up and running again.
More: Everything there is to know about WhatsApp
- Check if WhatsApp is down
- Close and reopen the app
- Check for updates
- Restart the phone
- Check your internet
- Clear the app cache
- Allow all permissions
- Did WhatsApp delete your account?
- Make sure you have enough storage
- Enable background data
Editor’s note: All instructions were generated using a Pixel 4a with 5G running Android 12. Some of the steps below might be slightly different on your end, depending on the device and software you’re using.
Check if WhatsApp is down
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
We always blame our devices when something isn’t working, but maybe the problem isn’t local. The reason for WhatsApp not working could be that the service is down.
An easy way to see if the problem is WhatsApp itself is to try using any other app or browser. If everything else is working, chances are WhatsApp’s servers are the issue. You can also use online tools like the website Down Detector. This service will let you know if there are any problems with WhatsApp itself. If WhatsApp is down, all you can do is wait until service is restored.
Close and reopen the application
If WhatsApp isn’t the problem, then it might be the app. One easy fix you can try is simply closing and reopening WhatsApp. It might also help to log out and log back in. This should kill the pesky bugs and get all the gears back in place.
While you’re at it, you might also want to uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp.
This gives it a much cleaner reset than simply closing it.
How to uninstall an Android app:
- Tap and hold onto the WhatsApp app in your home screen or app drawer.
- Drag the app to the Uninstall section.
- Confirm by tapping OK.
Check for updates
Robert Triggs / Android Authority
Though running older apps often brings no issues, sometimes services also change things server-side, deeming some functions useless. You want to ensure you’re running the latest version of the app, so head to the Google Play Store and check for updates.
How to check for app updates on the Google Play Store:
- Open the Google Play Store.
- Tap on your profile icon in the top right corner.
- Hit Manage apps & device.
- Tap on Updates available.
- Hit Update all or look for WhatsApp and select Update.
While you’re at it, you might also want to check if any updates are available to your device. Check the instructions below to learn how to update your Android device.
How to check for Android updates:
- Open the Settings app.
- Go into System.
- Tap on System update.
- Select Check for update.
- The system will let you know if anything is available for your device. Follow instructions.
Restart the phone
Believe it or not, a good ol’ reboot seems to fix most smartphone issues. It’s one of the first troubleshooting methods you should try. Just restart your phone and see if WhatsApp works.
How to restart an Android phone:
- Press and hold onto the Power button.
- Hit Restart.
Check your internet
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
There’s a chance your internet is down.
Again, you can test other apps or the web browser and see if WhatsApp not working is an isolated issue. If nothing else works, the problem could be your internet connection.
Those operating over Wi-Fi or LAN can check the router and see if it’s connected to the internet. It would help if you tried restarting the router too. Also, those using a VPN might want to turn it off to see if that fixes the issue.
If you’re using cellular data, you might want to see if your data connection is on:
- Open the Settings app.
- Go into Network & internet.
- Gin into SIMs.
- Toggle Mobile data on.
- If you’re outside your country or network coverage, also toggle Roaming on (this may incur extra charges).
Clear the app cache
Cache is an excellent method to keep your phone snappy, but old data can get corrupted and be the reason for WhatsApp not working.
It doesn’t hurt to clear it from time to time, especially if the app isn’t working.
Clear cache on Android:
- Open the Settings app.
- Go into Apps.
- Find the WhatsApp app under See all apps.
- Tap on Storage & cache.
- Hit Clear Cache.
- You can also select Clear storage for a clean start.
Allow all app permissions
Joe Hindy / Android Authority
Many issues can come from not giving WhatsApp the necessary permissions to access essential information. For example, WhatsApp may not pick up your contacts if you accidentally deny permission to your phone’s contacts. You may also have disabled background data.
How to change app permission settings:
- Open the Settings app.
- Go into Apps.
- Find the WhatsApp app under See all apps.
- Select Permissions.
- Make sure to allow access to everything under Not allowed.
Did WhatsApp delete your account?
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
Have you stopped using WhatsApp for a long time? If so, there’s a chance WhatsApp not working is simply due to your account being deleted. The service deletes accounts after 120 days of inactivity. A WhatsApp account is active as long as it has an internet connection. If this is the case, your only solution is to create a new WhatsApp account.
Make sure you have enough storage
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
Sometimes WhatsApp can have issues downloading content when the phone runs out of storage. The first thing to try is to clear some storage on your Android device. Additionally, you can open WhatsApp and hit the three-dot menu button. Then go to Settings > Storage and data > Manage storage.
Then go into each conversation and delete what you deem unimportant.
How to delete WhatsApp data:
- Open WhatsApp.
- Hit the three-dot menu button.
- Go into Settings.
- Select Storage and data.
- Tap on Manage storage.
- Go into each conversation and delete whatever you deem unimportant.
Make sure background data is enabled!
If WhatsApp isn’t giving you message notifications appropriately, there is a chance you accidentally turned off background data. This can easily be fixed in the settings.
How to enable background data:
- Open the Settings app.
- Go into Apps.
- Find the WhatsApp app under See all apps.
- Go into Mobile data & Wi-Fi.
- Enable Background data.
- You can also toggle Unrestricted data usage on.
This gives the app complete data access even when in Data Saver mode.
Now that WhatsApp is back up and working, we also have a guide to teach you the ins and outs of all important WhatsApp features. Give it a read to take advantage of everything the service offers.
WhatsApp not working? Here are some fixes you can try
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
There are a few possible reasons for WhatsApp not working. Thankfully, most times, you can fix it relatively quickly. If the app is crashing, you can’t send messages, or you are experiencing any other issues, follow the tips below to get the app back up and running again.
More: Everything there is to know about WhatsApp
- Check if WhatsApp is down
- Close and reopen the app
- Check for updates
- Restart the phone
- Check your internet
- Clear the app cache
- Allow all permissions
- Did WhatsApp delete your account?
- Make sure you have enough storage
- Enable background data
Editor’s note: All instructions were generated using a Pixel 4a with 5G running Android 12.
Some of the steps below might be slightly different on your end, depending on the device and software you’re using.
Check if WhatsApp is down
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
We always blame our devices when something isn’t working, but maybe the problem isn’t local. The reason for WhatsApp not working could be that the service is down.
An easy way to see if the problem is WhatsApp itself is to try using any other app or browser. If everything else is working, chances are WhatsApp’s servers are the issue. You can also use online tools like the website Down Detector. This service will let you know if there are any problems with WhatsApp itself. If WhatsApp is down, all you can do is wait until service is restored.
Close and reopen the application
If WhatsApp isn’t the problem, then it might be the app. One easy fix you can try is simply closing and reopening WhatsApp. It might also help to log out and log back in. This should kill the pesky bugs and get all the gears back in place.
While you’re at it, you might also want to uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp. This gives it a much cleaner reset than simply closing it.
How to uninstall an Android app:
- Tap and hold onto the WhatsApp app in your home screen or app drawer.
- Drag the app to the Uninstall section.
- Confirm by tapping OK.
Check for updates
Robert Triggs / Android Authority
Though running older apps often brings no issues, sometimes services also change things server-side, deeming some functions useless. You want to ensure you’re running the latest version of the app, so head to the Google Play Store and check for updates.
How to check for app updates on the Google Play Store:
- Open the Google Play Store.
- Tap on your profile icon in the top right corner.
- Hit Manage apps & device.
- Tap on Updates available.
- Hit Update all or look for WhatsApp and select Update.
While you’re at it, you might also want to check if any updates are available to your device. Check the instructions below to learn how to update your Android device.
How to check for Android updates:
- Open the Settings app.
- Go into System.
- Tap on System update.
- Select Check for update.
- The system will let you know if anything is available for your device. Follow instructions.
Restart the phone
Believe it or not, a good ol’ reboot seems to fix most smartphone issues. It’s one of the first troubleshooting methods you should try. Just restart your phone and see if WhatsApp works.
How to restart an Android phone:
- Press and hold onto the Power button.
- Hit Restart.
Check your internet
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
There’s a chance your internet is down.
Again, you can test other apps or the web browser and see if WhatsApp not working is an isolated issue. If nothing else works, the problem could be your internet connection.
Those operating over Wi-Fi or LAN can check the router and see if it’s connected to the internet. It would help if you tried restarting the router too. Also, those using a VPN might want to turn it off to see if that fixes the issue.
If you’re using cellular data, you might want to see if your data connection is on:
- Open the Settings app.
- Go into Network & internet.
- Gin into SIMs.
- Toggle Mobile data on.
- If you’re outside your country or network coverage, also toggle Roaming on (this may incur extra charges).
Clear the app cache
Cache is an excellent method to keep your phone snappy, but old data can get corrupted and be the reason for WhatsApp not working.
It doesn’t hurt to clear it from time to time, especially if the app isn’t working.
Clear cache on Android:
- Open the Settings app.
- Go into Apps.
- Find the WhatsApp app under See all apps.
- Tap on Storage & cache.
- Hit Clear Cache.
- You can also select Clear storage for a clean start.
Allow all app permissions
Joe Hindy / Android Authority
Many issues can come from not giving WhatsApp the necessary permissions to access essential information. For example, WhatsApp may not pick up your contacts if you accidentally deny permission to your phone’s contacts. You may also have disabled background data.
How to change app permission settings:
- Open the Settings app.
- Go into Apps.
- Find the WhatsApp app under See all apps.
- Select Permissions.
- Make sure to allow access to everything under Not allowed.
Did WhatsApp delete your account?
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
Have you stopped using WhatsApp for a long time? If so, there’s a chance WhatsApp not working is simply due to your account being deleted. The service deletes accounts after 120 days of inactivity. A WhatsApp account is active as long as it has an internet connection. If this is the case, your only solution is to create a new WhatsApp account.
Make sure you have enough storage
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
Sometimes WhatsApp can have issues downloading content when the phone runs out of storage. The first thing to try is to clear some storage on your Android device. Additionally, you can open WhatsApp and hit the three-dot menu button. Then go to Settings > Storage and data > Manage storage.
Then go into each conversation and delete what you deem unimportant.
How to delete WhatsApp data:
- Open WhatsApp.
- Hit the three-dot menu button.
- Go into Settings.
- Select Storage and data.
- Tap on Manage storage.
- Go into each conversation and delete whatever you deem unimportant.
Make sure background data is enabled!
If WhatsApp isn’t giving you message notifications appropriately, there is a chance you accidentally turned off background data. This can easily be fixed in the settings.
How to enable background data:
- Open the Settings app.
- Go into Apps.
- Find the WhatsApp app under See all apps.
- Go into Mobile data & Wi-Fi.
- Enable Background data.
- You can also toggle Unrestricted data usage on.
This gives the app complete data access even when in Data Saver mode.
Now that WhatsApp is back up and working, we also have a guide to teach you the ins and outs of all important WhatsApp features. Give it a read to take advantage of everything the service offers.
5 easy steps to take if WhatsApp is not working
A couple of weeks ago there was a little glitch with WhatsApp. Many did not even notice it, but some users encountered some problems. Last year, there were several more serious failures, when a huge proportion of users were unable to send and receive messages. Of course, such problems are solved quite quickly, since the best programmers immediately begin to deal with them. But sometimes problems are local and are solved with the help of some simple actions. So simple that experienced users sometimes neglect them or simply forget that it was possible to do so. In this article, we will look at some examples of simple and quick ways to “revive” a WhatsApp that has stopped working on your phone.
WhatsApp, like other applications, does not always work.
There are several possible reasons why WhatsApp is not working on your smartphone at one time or another. Luckily, they can all be fixed relatively quickly. If the app crashes, you can't send messages, or you're having other problems, just follow the tips below to get back in touch.
Contents
- 1 Whatsapp is not working
- 2 Connecting your smartphone to the Internet
- 3 Stop WhatsApp and clear cache
- 4 Update and reinstall WhatsApp
- 5 WhatsApp works with VPN
WhatsApp crashes
your side is the problem or WhatApp. You can do this by visiting one of the websites that report that WhatsApp is not available and in which countries. You can visit this, this, this or this site.
WhatsApp video calls from a computer are officially out. How to call
If one (or all) websites claim that the service is not working in your country, there is nothing you can do but wait until WhatsApp fixes the problem.
Unfortunately, crashes in WhatsApp, as well as other popular services, are not uncommon. For example, not so long ago I told you how to restore YouTube if something is wrong with it.
Sometimes you press, but nothing happens.
Connecting your smartphone to the Internet
If there are no reports of problems with WhatsApp, the problem must be on your end. To try and fix this, the first thing to do is to check the most mundane things. You should start with connecting your smartphone to the Internet .
First turn off Wi-Fi and then turn it back on to see if that helps. Try visiting a random website on the internet or playing a YouTube video to see if there are any problems with your connection.
WhatsApp, Telegram and GPS support: what will the Xiaomi Mi Band 6 be like
If you don't have access to the Internet at all, you may be too far from the router or have other problems. How to solve problems with Wi-Fi, I told here.
If it's a mobile operator and you are sure that there is reception in this place, try restarting your smartphone or turning on airplane mode for at least a few seconds. If it does not work, the problem may be in the SIM card or the device itself.
Many people run from WhatsApp to Telegram, but not because it is more stable.
Stopping WhatsApp and Clearing the Cache
If WhatsApp is still not working, force stopping and clearing the cache on your device may solve the problem. A force stop will restart all processes, while clearing the cache gets rid of temporary files stored in the application.
To force stop , go to your device settings and click ”Applications”. Then scroll down until you find WhatsApp, open it and click the Force Stop button at the top of the screen. To clear the cache, tap the Storage option, and then select the Clear Cache option. Once this is done, launch WhatsApp and check if it works properly.
Which messenger to choose instead of WhatsApp
Updating and reinstalling WhatsApp
Sometimes an application error is not related to external factors, but to itself.
This also applies to WhatsApp. It's best to update it to the latest version by going to Google Play and tapping "My Apps & Games". Then you need to click the "Update" button next to WhatsApp, if it is available.
If this does not work or an update is not available, the best option is to uninstall the application from the device and then reinstall it.
Do you use WhatsApp? Or choose another messenger?
Working WhatsApp with VPN
VPN has its advantages, but sometimes they just get in the way. They allow you to hide your online identity, bypass regional content restrictions for services like Netflix, and access WhatsApp in countries where it is not available. However, VPN may be the reason why WhatsApp is not working for you.
WhatsApp no longer needed? Everyone goes to Telegram
Sometimes this can affect the operation of the entire service, and sometimes only some of its functions, but such an impact is common. So if WhatsApp is not working for you, just try disable VPN .
It will most likely help.
If all these tips did not help, then the difficulties are much more global and they will be solved by specialists. 99.9% of local problems with WhatsApp are solved by the tips above.
WhatsApp does not work on Android. What to do
With all shortcomings, WhatsApp is still the most popular instant messenger. Hundreds of millions of people use it every day, sometimes more than once. With its help, we communicate with friends, relatives and even colleagues, solving urgent work issues. Therefore, any failure that occurs in his work makes us nervous. What if - WhatsApp stopped working only for you, and your interlocutor is still online and waiting for your answer? It is possible that. The main thing is to find out in time what happened to him.
Whatsapp not working? There are at least 5 reasons why this can happen
Content
- 1 Internet does not work on the phone
- 2 How to delete WhatsApp cache
- 3 WhatsApp does not start on Android
- 4 WhatsApp crashes.
How to find out - 5 WhatsApp notifications do not come
Internet does not work on the phone
If WhatsApp does not start , check your Internet connection. It doesn't matter which connection your smartphone uses. If it's Wi-Fi, switch to cellular data, and if it's cellular data, switch to LTE. This can be done in the system settings of your device.
Wi-Fi not working? Try to connect to LTE or vice versa
It happens that a failure occurs on the side of your mobile operator or Internet provider. But the chance that this will happen immediately with both, tends to zero. Therefore, switching between types of connections will allow with a high degree of probability to understand what exactly the problem is.
What is WhatsApp plus and should I use it
If there is no Wi-Fi, try in settings switch LTE to 3G or H+, depending on which type of connection your smartphone offers. Sometimes this allows you to get cellular data working if 4G coverage wants better.
To make sure the Internet is working, launch any website or online application.
How to delete WhatsApp cache
Cache on Android is the most versatile tool to use if something is not working. The fact is that this OS caches so much data that often they cause all kinds of failures in the work of installed applications, growing like a cancerous tumor.
How WhatsApp Web works, or How to use WhatsApp on a computer
Therefore, it is most logical to try just to reset the WhatsApp cache , which refuses to work. In our case, this should also help, especially since the same method is suitable for all other programs:
- Go to "Settings" and select "Applications";
- Find and open the WhatsApp application tab;
Reset cache if nothing else helps
- In the window that opens, select the "Memory" section;
- Click Reset Cache and confirm the deletion.
WhatsApp does not start on Android
Despite the fact that WhatsApp is perhaps the most cross-versioned service on Android, supporting even the oldest iterations of the OS, sometimes even it may require updates.
For example, in situations where previous updates somehow disrupted its work, and now it needs fixes.
What is a WhatsApp backup, why is it needed and how to restore it
Therefore, if you have done the previous manipulations, and WhatsApp still does not work , it makes sense to try updating the operating system on your smartphone. It doesn't have to be new Android version . Often, some passing patch of 5-10 MB in weight is enough to fix everything.
- Go to "Settings" and open "System and updates";
- In the window that opens, select the "Software Update" section;
Sometimes updating the system can actually solve the problem
- Click "Check for Updates" and wait for the search to finish;
- Wait for the update to download and confirm the installation.
Whatsapp failed. How to find out
However, the problem does not have to be on your side. Recently, WhatsApp has been experiencing all sorts of crashes more and more often, due to which its mobile client stops working.
Recall that it was last fall. Vatsap "lay" for several hours. True, not everyone was able to understand this immediately.
How to transfer WhatsApp from Android to iPhone and vice versa
It is impossible to check if other users experience problems logging into WhatsApp using regular means. The service itself does not offer such tools. Therefore, we will turn to third parties. For example, to DownDetector . This is a service that determines whether other services are running or not.
- Go to the DownDetector website in your browser;
- Scroll down to WhatsApp Outages;
DownDetector will show who else is having problems logging into WhatsApp
- Pay attention to the number of complaints about failures;
- If there are more than a few hundred of them, then WhatsApp is dead.
WhatsApp notifications do not come
However, the performance of WhatsApp is reduced not only to the actual uptime, but also to other factors.
For example, the ability of to send notifications to . After all, it directly depends on whether you can find out about the received message in time and respond to it or not.
The reasons why WhatsApp notifications do not come can be very different, but, as a rule, the reason lies in the plane of energy saving. Smartphones often block background app activity, preventing alerts from getting through. So, you need to make sure that the device does not block anything.
Spam on WhatsApp. How to identify and how to deal with it
- Go to "Settings" and open the "Battery" section;
- In the window that opens, select "Launch Applications";
Automatic control blocks incoming notifications
- Find the WhatsApp application in the list;
- Uncheck "Automatic control" next to it.
Now the smartphone will not block the background work of WhatsApp , and it will be able to promptly deliver you notifications of incoming messages.
