What to Do If I'm Having Trouble with My WhatsApp App

In a nutshell: WhatsApp has over two billion active users and billions of messages sent each day. If you're experiencing issues with the app, check your internet connection and restart your device. If the problem persists, uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp or free up storage space on your device. It's also important to regularly update the app. For further assistance, contact WhatsApp Customer Support.

Jeff Whelpley is the editor / author responsible for this content.
Nov 27, 2023

Introduction

According to Backlinko, WhatsApp has about two billion active users, with over 100 billion instant messages sent each day. To businesses, problems with sending or receiving messages can hurt your bottom line. It can also be problematic (and stressful) for those who use the app in their personal communications. Below are a few things you can do if you're having problems with the WhatsApp app.

Check the Internet Connection

When the app isn't working, the culprit could be your internet connection. Before checking your WiFi or data, check if you can use other apps. You can also open a web browser to check if you can browse. Check your internet speed, as the connection may just be slow.

If you're not online, power cycle your modem to refresh your internet connection. Call your internet service provider if it doesn't work. If you're able to go online and WhatsApp still doesn't work, do the other steps below.

Check if WhatsApp Is Down

In some cases, the WhatsApp servers may be down. You can do a quick Google search to determine if WhatsApp is down or not.

What to Do If I'm Having Trouble with My WhatsApp App (Step 2)

Restart Your Device

Minor problems with your devices may interfere with the app's performance. You can resolve this by restarting your phone or turning it off. Turn your phone back on and reopen WhatsApp. If it doesn't work, you might need to do other troubleshooting steps to be able to use the app again.

Uninstall and Reinstall WhatsApp

If your internet is up and running and WhatsApp isn't down, uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp. You can uninstall WhatsApp by removing it. Follow the steps below to reinstall the app:

1. Open the Apple Store or PlayStore.

2. Search for WhatsApp Messenger.

3. Click Install.

4. WhatsApp may ask for your mobile number to reinstall the app.

What to Do If I'm Having Trouble with My WhatsApp App (Step 4)

Free Up Some Storage

If you receive a lot of videos and photos, you may not have enough memory on your phone for incoming WhatsApp messages. Follow the steps below to free up storage on your device:

Android device: Go to Settings and tap Storage. Tap Free Up Space. You can also try deleting old pictures and videos to free up more space on your device. Apple:Go to Settings and iPhone StorageAnalyze your storage and remove items you no longer use.

Update the App

When was the last time you updated the app? If it's been a while, you may need to update the app to start using it again. You can update the app by going to the Apple Store and Play Store. Search for the WhatsApp app and tap Update.

Conclusion

WhatsApp can be a useful communication tool. If you're having problems with the app, follow the troubleshooting steps described above or contact WhatsApp Customer Support if you have questions.

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Jeff truly believes that all customers deserve good service. He’s been building tools, inventing phone tree hacks and helping customers since before his days at GetHuman. He's also a Google GDE and involved in the Angular community.
What to Do If I'm Having Trouble with My WhatsApp App

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Why does GetHuman Write How-to Guides for WhatsApp Problems?

GetHuman has been working for over 10 years on sourcing information about big organizations like WhatsApp in order to help customers resolve customer service issues faster. We started with contact information and fastest ways to reach a human at big companies. Particularly ones with slow or complicated IVR or phone menu systems. Or companies that have self-serve help forums instead of a customer service department. From there, we realized that consumers still needed more detailed help solving the most common problems, so we expanded to this set of guides, which grows every day. And if you spot any issues with our What to Do If I'm Having Trouble with My WhatsApp App guide, please let us know by sending us feedback. We want to be as helpful as possible. If you appreciated this guide, please share it with your favorite people. Our free information and tools is powered by you, the customer. The more people that use it, the better it gets.

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