WhatsApp troubleshooting: Solutions for when WhatsApp is not working

WhatsApp is undoubtedly one of the most widely used messaging apps in the world. With nearly 3 billion users worldwide, the Facebook-owned messaging service is a lifeline to many looking to connect with their friends and family. Its importance becomes even more evident when WhatsApp stops working, either due to a technical issue or an issue with the application.

If your WhatsApp is not working, then there are a few possible reasons. WhatsApp problems have become more common in recent times and users have often scrambled for solutions. Whether you are unable to send messages or the app is crashing, here are some quick solutions you can try to fix the problem with WhatsApp.

WhatsApp not working: Solutions to try

1. Check if WhatsApp is down

2. Close and reopen the app

3. Check for app update

4. Restart the phone

5. Check your internet connection

6. Enable background data

7. Clear the app cache

8. Allow permissions

9. Check phone storage

10. Check WhatsApp account status

1. Check if WhatsApp is down

If WhatsApp is not working then it doesn’t necessarily have to do with your device. Sometimes the issue may not be local and the messaging service might be experiencing a downtime caused by poor server configuration or network-related outage.

ALSO READ: 5 WhatsApp features that prove it is transitioning into a mainstream meeting app

One of the easiest ways to check if WhatsApp is down is by using any other app or visiting different websites on your browser. If everything else works and only WhatsApp is not working then it could be an issue related to WhatsApp’s servers. You can also use an online tool like Down Detector to check if WhatsApp’s servers are down and other users are reporting similar issues. If there is an issue with WhatsApp then you can only wait for the service to be restored.

2. Close and reopen the app

If WhatsApp is working normally for other users and Down Detector does not show any issue then it could be related to your application. One easy way to fix app-related issues is by closing and reopening WhatsApp on your phone. You can even log out from WhatsApp by uninstalling the app and logging back in to resolve the issue. This process will kill any bugs interrupting the proper functioning of the app.

3. Check for app update

Sometimes WhatsApp might not work well if you haven’t updated the app for a long time. While running older apps does not necessarily cause major issues since app developers support older versions too, sometimes services like WhatsApp might change things server-side. Some older versions might also face issues due to older security certificates and issues like this can be fixed with an update. If you are running an older version of the app then you should check for updates on Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

How to update apps on the Apple App Store:

1. Go to the App Store on your iPhone.

2. Click on your profile icon in the top-right corner.

3. Scroll down a bit, and you’ll see all your available updates.

4. If you see WhatsApp in this list then tap on Update next to WhatsApp. You can also select Update All to handle all app updates at once.

How to update apps on the Google Play Store:

1. Open the Google Play Store.

2. Click on your profile icon in the top right corner.

ALSO READ: How to pin one or more messages on WhatsApp group chats

3. Select Manage Apps and Devices and then click on Updates available.

4. Hit Update all or look for WhatsApp and select Update.

4. Restart the phone

This is the universal solution to most tech problems and it works with smartphone applications too. The good old “Restart karke dekhna yaar” might be the fix to your WhatsApp problem. All you need to do is restart your phone and see if WhatsApp works.

How to restart an iPhone:

1. Press and hold the side button and either the volume down or volume up buttons simultaneously for a few seconds. 

2. A power option will appear on the screen. Use the slide to power off to turn off your iPhone.

3. When the phone is off, you can press and hold the side button to turn it back on.

For models with Touch ID, press the side button until the power-off slider appears. Again press and hold the side button to turn it back on.

How to restart an Android phone:

1. Press the power and volume up button simultaneously.

2. Hit Restart

We used the OnePlus 9RT to test the restart option but some Android phones present a power menu when you press the power button.

5. Check your internet connection

If the above issues are not the cause for your WhatsApp problem then you should check your internet connection. To check if your internet is down, go to the browser and try to open any webpage or open any other app to see if they are working. If nothing else works on your phone then it could be because of your internet connection.

To check if your internet is working, firstly check the router and see if it’s connected to the internet. You can even try restarting the router and if you’re using a VPN, you might want to turn it off to see if that fixes the network issue. On your mobile phone, you can toggle mobile data or cellular service on to resolve the internet issue.

6. Enable background data

If you are facing notification related issues with WhatsApp then there is a possibility that you have disabled background data. You can enable background data or background refresh on your phone to resolve this issue. Here’s how.

How to enable background data on Android:

1. Open the Settings app

2. Go to Apps

3. Find WhatsApp and check Mobile data & Wi-Fi setting

ALSO READ: How to share your screen on WhatsApp

4. Enable Background data and toggle Unrestricted data usage on.

How to turn on background app refresh on iPhone

1. Open the Settings app

2. Go to General and tap on Background App Refresh.

3. Make sure the toggle next to WhatsApp is enabled.

7. Clear the app cache

Cache is the temporary storage used by apps to store data they need to access quickly. While the cache is used to make your phone snappy, older data can get corrupted and impact the performance of your application. You can clear cache if the app isn’t working on Android but you can’t clear cache on iOS.

How to clear cache on Android:

1. Open the Settings app.

2. Go to Apps and click on App Management.

3. Find WhatsApp and tap on Storage usage.

4. Hit Clear Cache.

8. Allow app permissions

Your WhatsApp might not be working because of app permissions. If you don’t give all the necessary permissions to an app then it might stop working.

ALSO READ: How to use WhatsApp on an iPad

You can go to Settings >> Apps >> WhatsApp >> Permissions and allow all the permissions on Android to ensure WhatsApp works efficiently. On iPhone, go to Settings >> WhatsApp >> Allow WhatsApp to Access and make sure everything is toggled on.

9. Check phone storage

If you are facing an issue with WhatsApp unable to download content then it could be related to storage on your phone. First, make sure that you have enough storage and if you are running out of space then you try to clear some storage on Android or iOS. You can also manage storage from within WhatsApp.

10. Check WhatsApp account status

This is the least possible cause for WhatsApp to not work on your phone. If you haven’t used WhatsApp in a long time then there is a possibility that your account is deleted. WhatsApp’s terms of service state that the platform deletes accounts after 120 days of activity. A WhatsApp account is considered to be active as long as it is connected to the internet. In case your account is deleted then you have no other option but to create a new WhatsApp account.

ALSO READ: WhatsApp set to support in-app support for other messaging apps

These are the solutions to some of the common issues faced by WhatsApp users. While most issues related to WhatsApp can be fixed easily, you might have to wait a little longer if the issue is caused by a server outage. While you are looking for a solution to the WhatsApp problem, here are some of the features WhatsApp introduced in 2023.