WhatsApp sometimes stops working for a short time. Other times sent messages are not delivered to the recipient. There can be numerous causes for these problems. We show you what they are and what you can do to fix them.
What to do when your WhatsApp messages are not delivered
If you see only a small clock icon or just one check mark next to your message, this means your message has not been sent (clock) or sent but not delivered (ckeck mark). This can have a variety of reasons. If the problem is your device, this can usually be fixed without problem. Otherwise, you most likely will simply have to wait for WhatsApp to resolve the issue from their end.
- First, check if there are any reports that WhatsApp is down. Websites like IsItDownRightNow are very helpful for this.
- Likewise, an overload of the respective mobile provider can be responsible for the sending difficulties of WhatsApp messages. There is nothing you can do about this, but you can ask your mobile provider directly if there is a problem.
- If you are not connected to a wi-fi network, check whether your mobile data connection is turned on. How good is the data connection? Message transmission may take a little longer, if there are only one or two bars.
- If you are logged in via WLAN, check whether you have access to web pages. If the websites don’t load either, the problem is probably your internet connection.
- Are other services running in the background? If you are downloading or uploading, the connection may be overloaded and sending may be delayed. Also: Sending larger files via WhatsApp can take a while, delaying the delivery of your message.
- If you have been blocked by a contact, your message will not be transmitted to them.
- In some cases, an outdated WhatsApp version can also cause the problem. To rule this out, open the Google Play Store and install any updates to WhatsApp under “My Apps”.
What to do when WhatsApp does no longer work on your iPhone
Apart from the problem above, there are other things that can be the cause when WhatsApp is not working on your device.
- Update: Find out whether an update for WhatsApp is pending in the App Store. Open the App Store, tap on “Today” at the bottom and then on your profile picture at the top right. All apps with a pending update will be displayed. Tap “Update” when WhatsApp appears in the list.
- Tip: To never miss an update again, activate the automatic update function for WhatsApp. You can find it under “Settings” > [Name] > “iTunes & App Store” or for newer iOS versions under “Settings” > “App Store”. Here, set the slider next to “App Updates” to “On”.
- Reinstallation: If the problem is still not solved, uninstall the messenger, download the latest version from the App Store and reinstall WhatsApp. If possible, create a backup of your WhatsApp chats in iCloud before uninstalling. Then you can restore your WhatsApp history when you reinstall it.
What to do when you have problems with WhatsApp on your Android smartphone
Is WhatsApp not working on your Android device, the solutions are mostly the same as on iPhone.
- Update: Check if you have turned off updates in the Google Play Store. Open the app store, then tap on My Apps and check your apps for pending updates. You can start the WhatsApp update by tapping on “Update”.
- PlayStore: If the Google Play Store is not working properly, go to “Google Play Store” via “Settings” > “Apps”. In the app settings, clear the data and cache. Also clean up this data in the app settings of WhatsApp.
- Reinstallation: If WhatsApp does not work despite the update to the latest version, your only option is to completely uninstall the messenger. To do this, go to “Settings” and select “Apps” > “WhatsApp”. Tap on “Uninstall”.
- Download the latest WhatsApp version from the Google Play Store or from the official WhatsApp homepage. Verify your phone number again. You will get your messages back thanks to cloud backup.
