WhatsApp is probably one of the most important apps on your phone, so it’s annoying when the chat app isn’t working properly. What can you do if you have problems with WhatsApp? We give some tips.
WhatsApp not working? You can do it!
Step 1: Check your internet connection
Maybe this time it’s up to you.
Step 2: Update the app
An outdated application can cause problems faster, and large-scale failures are more likely to be fixed in newer versions.
Step 3: Reinstall WhatsApp
It’s a bit of a finicky measure, but it might work. Just make sure to backup all your chats and photos!
Step 4: Try an alternative
Big blackout? Try another app. Switch to Facebook Messenger (if working), Signal, Telegram, text or drop by.
Step 5: Drink a cup of coffee
Lie down on the sofa, put your phone aside and grab a good book. There’s a good chance WhatsApp is working hard on a solution. You can still submit that app within an hour.
Is WhatsApp down?
If you cannot connect to WhatsApp, you cannot send or receive messages. WhatsApp itself may not be working. You can check it on this website. If it’s okay with the service itself, there are a few other things you can check.
check internet connection
If you have a really bad (or no) internet connection via mobile data or Wi-Fi, WhatsApp loses its connection to the servers and prevents you from sending and receiving messages.
If you are using Wi-Fi, check if this connection really provides internet access. You can disconnect and reconnect to your Wi-Fi to see if that helps. If necessary, connect to another network, if available.
If you’re using mobile data, make sure this feature isn’t accidentally turned off. Also check if WhatsApp has permission to use mobile data in the settings of WhatsApp itself and your phone. If you have a bad signal, it may also mean that your data connection is not good enough to use WhatsApp.
Also check if you have accidentally exceeded your data limit. In this case, apps (including WhatsApp) can no longer use your mobile data.
Also make sure to cancel your WhatsApp Web subscription. To do this, go to WhatsApp Settings and tap WhatsApp Web / Desktop† Here you can log out on all devices. This will help sometimes.
to update
Sometimes WhatsApp doesn’t want to work (properly) unless you have a specific update. Make sure both your operating system and WhatsApp are up to date. This is especially important if you are running WhatsApp on a tablet or other Android device where WhatsApp is not available in the Google Play Store.
If you have an Android phone, you can check Google Play for WhatsApp updates. Press the hamburger menu in the upper left corner of the screen in Google Play and my apps† go to tab Established To search for available updates
If you have an iPhone, go to the App Store and updatesicon in the lower right corner of the screen. Also, check for iOS updates right away, as WhatsApp recommends running the app on the latest version of iOS.
reload
Can’t get WhatsApp to work anymore? Then it is best to uninstall and reinstall the app from your device. If you want to keep your WhatsApp messages, you need to back them up first.
If you are using Google Drive, this is the easiest way to backup WhatsApp. go Settings / Chats and Select chat backup† Create a backup here to have the latest messages added immediately. To choose Backup to Google Drive and specify which Google Drive account you want to upload the backup to.
It can also pay to turn your smartphone on and off. This sounds like an open door, but it’s a tip that surprisingly often works.
Alternatives to WhatsApp
In more urgent cases, you are waiting for a reply to your WhatsApp messages, not a solution. In this case, you can always turn to alternatives such as text messaging. You can also (if necessary) temporarily switch to more secure WhatsApp alternatives like Telegram or Signal.
Signal offers free encrypted chats and phone calls, making it one of the few apps that cares about both privacy and the end user. Telegram also offers users end-to-end encryption from the very beginning. The availability of a desktop version that you can use without the need for your smartphone also speaks in Telegram’s favor.
drop your phone
Secretly, of course, this is the ideal time for a digital mini detox. Get rid of that phone, it’s not bad to be unreachable for a while. Send all your important text messages, then settle on the couch with a cup of tea and a good book. Not bad, a moment like this for yourself?
If the mini detox has been successful for you, you can of course go one step further by resting your brain even more. In another article, you’ll learn about your phone usage, and we’ll give you some more restful tips. From a less bright screen to limiting social media accounts.
Support
It is also possible that your device no longer supports WhatsApp. Since the end of 2021 WhatsApp no longer works properly on some devices. Devices running on iOS 10 or Android 4.1 Jelly Bean version can no longer use the app.
The iPhone 5 in 2012 is the oldest device still running on iOS 10. If you have an older iPhone, for example an iPhone 4 or 4S, you can no longer use WhatsApp.
Jelly Bean came out in March 2012 and is currently around nine years old. In 2012, the Samsung Galaxy S3, LG Nexus 4 and HTC One X were released.
WhatsApp is also tightening support for Android tablets. The chat service talks about “limited support” for tablets with an active SIM card, while Wi-Fi-only devices are no longer supported. WhatsApp still doesn’t have a separate tablet version, although Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg says he’s been working on it for a while. However, there are some unofficial apps that emulate WhatsApp.
Source: Computer Totaal
