Have a problem with WhatsApp? Here are the solutions

WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps out there, with over ten percent of human beings actively using it every month. Given this volume of use, it’s clear it gets a lot of things right, but today we will be concentrating on what it gets wrong. Here are some of the most common WhatsApp problems on Android and their solutions.

Leap to section:

I can’t install WhatsApp

In order to download the latest version of WhatsApp, you need to have a smartphone running Android version Two.1 (by 2017, Android Two.1 and Two.Two will no longer be supported) or higher. You can check your phone’s current Android version in Settings > About Phone.

If you’re attempting to install the WhatsApp app from the WhatsApp website, you’ll need to have Unknown Sources enabled in your security settings. Go to Settings > Security > Unknown Sources to activate it.

WhatsApp now has more than on billion monthly active users. / © ANDROIDPIT WhatsApp Messenger

I didn’t get my activation code

If the installation went slickly, but the automatically generated message with your activation code never comes through, very first ensure you entered your number correctly. Also dual check that you chose the right country from the drop-down list. This is the country your phone number is from, not necessarily the country you reside in.

If you still do not receive the code, attempt requesting a voice call. This way you will have the code read to you by a computer over the phone.

Recall, you have to have a SIM card to register for WhatsApp. Also, you can only use one device per phone number.

It sounds evident, but make sure you used the right number and international dialing code. / © ANDROIDPIT

I can’t connect to WhatsApp, WhatsApp not working, or WhatsApp is down

WhatsApp connection problems are usually caused by your Wi-Fi or network data connection. If you aren’t able to send a message, here are a few solutions:

• Make sure your phone is switched on (one for the rookies).
• Install the latest version of the app from the Play Store (link above).
• Check your internet connection, Wi-Fi or 3G (in Settings > Wireless and Network).
• Make sure that a Task Killer app isn’t affecting WhatsApp.
• Empty the app cache (Settings > Applications > WhatsApp > Clear Cache).
• Ultimately, the most extreme solution: uninstall the app and then reinstall it.

Sometimes, even the mighty WhatsApp practices server issues. If you think WhatsApp isn’t working because the service is down, then head over to the WhatsApp Status Twitter account, where outage updates are provided.

WhatsApp doesn’t recognize my contacts

There are a few reasons why WhatsApp wouldn’t recognize your contacts, so here is a ordinary checklist to make sure it does:

• Make sure you have the correct contact numbers (the ones they use for WhatsApp).
• Make sure that they are presently using WhatsApp.
• Make sure you have the latest version of WhatsApp.
• In your contact list, make sure all of your contacts are ‘visible’ and/or ‘viewable’.
• In your contact list, make sure all of your contact groups (friends, family, co-workers, etc) are set to ‘visible’ and/or ‘viewable’.

Make sure WhatsApp is looking for all your contacts. / © ANDROIDPIT

WhatsApp has duplicate contacts

While this problem has been largely eradicated through updates to WhatsApp, if you have duplicate contacts in your address book, it might persist in some way. Find out how to eliminate duplicate contacts in Android.

‘Can’t play movie’ error

To prevent this from happening, there are two things you can attempt. Very first, check that Google Photos is up to date. Open up the Play Store, press on the hamburger menu button at the top left and then on My apps & games, and see if Google Photos is at the top of the page, waiting for an update.

If that didn’t help, another solution is to go to Settings > Apps / Application manager > Google+ and press on Uninstall updates.

Check that Google Photos is up to date and uninstall updates to Google+. / © ANDROIDPIT

What does ‘Last Seen’ mean in WhatsApp?

The Last Seen time stamp tells you when a user was last using WhatsApp. This does not necessarily mean that they have read your messages, only that they opened the application.

When you’re in WhatsApp and one of your contacts also opens it, you’ll see their status switch to ‘Online’, but again, this doesn’t mean they’re looking at your messages, just that they are using WhatsApp.

I can’t see ‘Last Seen’ on WhatsApp

If you are incapable to see the Last Seen timestamp in a conversation, it could be for a number of reasons. If you’ve disabled your Last Seen time in Settings > Account > Privacy > Last Seen, then you won’t be able to see other people’s Last Seen times, either.

The ‘Last Seen’ time will only vanish under certain circumstances. / © ANDROIDPIT

If the problem is only with one or some contacts, then it might mean that they’ve disabled the Last Seen time in their WhatsApp settings. If they’re still receiving and responding to your messages, this is almost certainly the case.

The final reason is that a contact has blocked you. If your messages never get past the one gray tick, then this makes it more certain that you’ve been blocked, and if you can’t see switches to the contact’s profile, then you’ve certainly been blocked. Many apologies.

No Last Seen timestamp and only grey ticks likely means your friend has blocked you. / © ANDROIDPIT

What do the blue check marks mean in WhatsApp?

There is a lot of confusion about what the two checks (or tick marks) in your WhatsApp message window mean. If you want a finish breakdown of all the markings in WhatsApp, take a look at our detailed What do the WhatsApp check marks mean? article, which also covers the microphone markings for audio messages.

Here is a quick summary:

• The clock symbol means your message is yet to be sent from your device.
• One gray tick means that the message has been sent and has been received by the WhatsApp server.
• Two gray ticks mean the message has been delivered to the intended device.
• Two blue ticks mean that the recipient/recipients have seen the message. (In group conversations, this means when all participants in the group have viewed the message.)

I have problems with voice calls or can’t response reaction calls

If you are experiencing poor quality voice calls, drop outs or you can’t make or receive calls, it is almost certainly related to your connection. Voice calls are carried out over Wi-Fi or mobile data. Ensure your connection is strong. If you’re using mobile data, you will need at least 3G. Perhaps also attempt disconnecting and reconnecting to the network. The problem might not even be on your end: the person you’re talking with will also need to ensure they have a good connection.

The quality of voice calls is subject to the quality of your data connection. / © ANDROIDPIT

I can’t hear audio messages or WhatsApp can’t play audio

This could be related to the proximity sensor that WhatsApp relies on. It is found near the front-facing camera on your phone, and detects when you’re holding your phone to your ear. If the sensor is activated, audio will play through the ear speaker very calmly. Ensure you keep your phone away from your face, and the audio should play through the normal speaker. Check to make sure the volume is turned up as well.

I can’t download movies or photos on WhatsApp

Head to Settings > Data usage and see if you only have media auto-downloads enabled when you’re on Wi-Fi. If they are, you will either need to connect to a Wi-Fi network or enable auto-downloads on mobile data and/or when wandering.

These settings might affect your capability to download photos and movies. / © ANDROIDPIT

The fall back, as is often the case, is to restart your router if you’re on Wi-Fi and to restart your phone, as well.

WhatsApp is blocked in my country

If you’re one of the unfortunate few to have WhatsApp blocked in your country, there is a way around the problem. Use a VPN. You can find out what a VPN is, why you need one, and how to get one here.

I can’t save photos to send to another contact

The way this is done has switched. Long press on the pic in the talk that you want to share, and at the top-right of the page, a right-facing arrow will emerge. Press on this, and you can select the contact you want to share the photo with.

You can lightly forward photos in WhatsApp. / © ANDROIDPIT

What should I do if my phone is lost or stolen?

Very first, lock your SIM card by contacting your carrier. This should always be your very first step. Once this is done, WhatsApp can no longer be activated on that device. Once you have a fresh SIM (presumably with the same number) you can reactivate WhatsApp on your fresh phone.

In the meantime, send WhatsApp a message asking them to deactivate your account. Send an email with the subject "Lost/Stolen: Please deactivate my account" to [email protected], and include your phone number (accomplish with an international dialing code) in the email figure. If you don’t do this, WhatsApp can still be used over Wi-Fi.

Make sure you ask WhatsApp to deactivate your account if your phone is stolen. / © ANDROIDPIT

"You may have fresh messages" notification

At times it may happen that you’ll receive a notification from WhatsApp stating: "You may have fresh messages". You might be puzzled by this rather vague and cryptic message, especially when you open WhatsApp and don’t see any fresh notifications. The explanation is fairly plain! WhatsApp uses shove notifications to inform you of messages, but uses a different channel to produce the actual message. If you are in an area with a bad or low data / wifi connection, the network will be able to supply the shove notification but not the actual message. This problems sometimes occurs when you turn on the data saver mode on your smartphone. Now there might be an actual problem with WhatsApp that could cause this notification to pop up, but the its most likely related to a bad data connection.

Other problems with WhatsApp

If you’re having other problems with WhatsApp that aren’t listed here, let us know. If you have more questions, you can check out our forum or leave your requests in the comments below and we’ll update this article with more solutions for your WhatsApp problems.

Have a problem with WhatsApp? Here are the solutions

Have a problem with WhatsApp? Here are the solutions

WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps out there, with over ten percent of human beings actively using it every month. Given this volume of use, it’s clear it gets a lot of things right, but today we will be concentrating on what it gets wrong. Here are some of the most common WhatsApp problems on Android and their solutions.

Hop to section:

I can’t install WhatsApp

In order to download the latest version of WhatsApp, you need to have a smartphone running Android version Two.1 (by 2017, Android Two.1 and Two.Two will no longer be supported) or higher. You can check your phone’s current Android version in Settings > About Phone.

If you’re attempting to install the WhatsApp app from the WhatsApp website, you’ll need to have Unknown Sources enabled in your security settings. Go to Settings > Security > Unknown Sources to activate it.

WhatsApp now has more than on billion monthly active users. / © ANDROIDPIT WhatsApp Messenger

I didn’t get my activation code

If the installation went slickly, but the automatically generated message with your activation code never comes through, very first ensure you entered your number correctly. Also dual check that you chose the right country from the drop-down list. This is the country your phone number is from, not necessarily the country you reside in.

If you still do not receive the code, attempt requesting a voice call. This way you will have the code read to you by a computer over the phone.

Reminisce, you have to have a SIM card to register for WhatsApp. Also, you can only use one device per phone number.

It sounds visible, but make sure you used the right number and international dialing code. / © ANDROIDPIT

I can’t connect to WhatsApp, WhatsApp not working, or WhatsApp is down

WhatsApp connection problems are usually caused by your Wi-Fi or network data connection. If you aren’t able to send a message, here are a few solutions:

• Make sure your phone is switched on (one for the rookies).
• Install the latest version of the app from the Play Store (link above).
• Check your internet connection, Wi-Fi or 3G (in Settings > Wireless and Network).
• Make sure that a Task Killer app isn’t affecting WhatsApp.
• Empty the app cache (Settings > Applications > WhatsApp > Clear Cache).
• Ultimately, the most extreme solution: uninstall the app and then reinstall it.

Sometimes, even the mighty WhatsApp practices server issues. If you think WhatsApp isn’t working because the service is down, then head over to the WhatsApp Status Twitter account, where outage updates are provided.

WhatsApp doesn’t recognize my contacts

There are a few reasons why WhatsApp wouldn’t recognize your contacts, so here is a elementary checklist to make sure it does:

• Make sure you have the correct contact numbers (the ones they use for WhatsApp).
• Make sure that they are presently using WhatsApp.
• Make sure you have the latest version of WhatsApp.
• In your contact list, make sure all of your contacts are ‘visible’ and/or ‘viewable’.
• In your contact list, make sure all of your contact groups (friends, family, co-workers, etc) are set to ‘visible’ and/or ‘viewable’.

Make sure WhatsApp is looking for all your contacts. / © ANDROIDPIT

WhatsApp has duplicate contacts

While this problem has been largely eradicated through updates to WhatsApp, if you have duplicate contacts in your address book, it might persist in some way. Find out how to liquidate duplicate contacts in Android.

‘Can’t play movie’ error

To prevent this from happening, there are two things you can attempt. Very first, check that Google Photos is up to date. Open up the Play Store, press on the hamburger menu button at the top left and then on My apps & games, and see if Google Photos is at the top of the page, waiting for an update.

If that didn’t help, another solution is to go to Settings > Apps / Application manager > Google+ and press on Uninstall updates.

Check that Google Photos is up to date and uninstall updates to Google+. / © ANDROIDPIT

What does ‘Last Seen’ mean in WhatsApp?

The Last Seen time stamp tells you when a user was last using WhatsApp. This does not necessarily mean that they have read your messages, only that they opened the application.

When you’re in WhatsApp and one of your contacts also opens it, you’ll see their status switch to ‘Online’, but again, this doesn’t mean they’re looking at your messages, just that they are using WhatsApp.

I can’t see ‘Last Seen’ on WhatsApp

If you are incapable to see the Last Seen timestamp in a conversation, it could be for a number of reasons. If you’ve disabled your Last Seen time in Settings > Account > Privacy > Last Seen, then you won’t be able to see other people’s Last Seen times, either.

The ‘Last Seen’ time will only vanish under certain circumstances. / © ANDROIDPIT

If the problem is only with one or some contacts, then it might mean that they’ve disabled the Last Seen time in their WhatsApp settings. If they’re still receiving and responding to your messages, this is almost certainly the case.

The final reason is that a contact has blocked you. If your messages never get past the one gray tick, then this makes it more certain that you’ve been blocked, and if you can’t see switches to the contact’s profile, then you’ve certainly been blocked. Many apologies.

No Last Seen timestamp and only grey ticks likely means your friend has blocked you. / © ANDROIDPIT

What do the blue check marks mean in WhatsApp?

There is a lot of confusion about what the two checks (or tick marks) in your WhatsApp message window mean. If you want a accomplish breakdown of all the markings in WhatsApp, take a look at our detailed What do the WhatsApp check marks mean? article, which also covers the microphone markings for audio messages.

Here is a quick summary:

• The clock symbol means your message is yet to be sent from your device.
• One gray tick means that the message has been sent and has been received by the WhatsApp server.
• Two gray ticks mean the message has been delivered to the intended device.
• Two blue ticks mean that the recipient/recipients have seen the message. (In group conversations, this means when all participants in the group have viewed the message.)

I have problems with voice calls or can’t response response calls

If you are experiencing poor quality voice calls, drop outs or you can’t make or receive calls, it is almost certainly related to your connection. Voice calls are carried out over Wi-Fi or mobile data. Ensure your connection is strong. If you’re using mobile data, you will need at least 3G. Perhaps also attempt disconnecting and reconnecting to the network. The problem might not even be on your end: the person you’re talking with will also need to ensure they have a good connection.

The quality of voice calls is subject to the quality of your data connection. / © ANDROIDPIT

I can’t hear audio messages or WhatsApp can’t play audio

This could be related to the proximity sensor that WhatsApp relies on. It is found near the front-facing camera on your phone, and detects when you’re holding your phone to your ear. If the sensor is activated, audio will play through the ear speaker very calmly. Ensure you keep your phone away from your face, and the audio should play through the normal speaker. Check to make sure the volume is turned up as well.

I can’t download movies or photos on WhatsApp

Head to Settings > Data usage and see if you only have media auto-downloads enabled when you’re on Wi-Fi. If they are, you will either need to connect to a Wi-Fi network or enable auto-downloads on mobile data and/or when wandering.

These settings might affect your capability to download photos and movies. / © ANDROIDPIT

The fall back, as is often the case, is to restart your router if you’re on Wi-Fi and to restart your phone, as well.

WhatsApp is blocked in my country

If you’re one of the unfortunate few to have WhatsApp blocked in your country, there is a way around the problem. Use a VPN. You can find out what a VPN is, why you need one, and how to get one here.

I can’t save photos to send to another contact

The way this is done has switched. Long press on the pic in the talk that you want to share, and at the top-right of the page, a right-facing arrow will show up. Press on this, and you can select the contact you want to share the picture with.

You can lightly forward photos in WhatsApp. / © ANDROIDPIT

What should I do if my phone is lost or stolen?

Very first, lock your SIM card by contacting your carrier. This should always be your very first step. Once this is done, WhatsApp can no longer be activated on that device. Once you have a fresh SIM (presumably with the same number) you can reactivate WhatsApp on your fresh phone.

In the meantime, send WhatsApp a message asking them to deactivate your account. Send an email with the subject "Lost/Stolen: Please deactivate my account" to [email protected], and include your phone number (finish with an international dialing code) in the email bod. If you don’t do this, WhatsApp can still be used over Wi-Fi.

Make sure you ask WhatsApp to deactivate your account if your phone is stolen. / © ANDROIDPIT

"You may have fresh messages" notification

At times it may happen that you’ll receive a notification from WhatsApp stating: "You may have fresh messages". You might be puzzled by this rather vague and cryptic message, especially when you open WhatsApp and don’t see any fresh notifications. The explanation is fairly ordinary! WhatsApp uses thrust notifications to inform you of messages, but uses a different channel to supply the actual message. If you are in an area with a bad or low data / wifi connection, the network will be able to produce the shove notification but not the actual message. This problems at times occurs when you turn on the data saver mode on your smartphone. Now there might be an actual problem with WhatsApp that could cause this notification to pop up, but the its most likely related to a bad data connection.

Other problems with WhatsApp

If you’re having other problems with WhatsApp that aren’t listed here, let us know. If you have more questions, you can check out our forum or leave your requests in the comments below and we’ll update this article with more solutions for your WhatsApp problems.

Have a problem with WhatsApp? Here are the solutions

Have a problem with WhatsApp? Here are the solutions

WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps out there, with over ten percent of human beings actively using it every month. Given this volume of use, it’s clear it gets a lot of things right, but today we will be concentrating on what it gets wrong. Here are some of the most common WhatsApp problems on Android and their solutions.

Hop to section:

I can’t install WhatsApp

In order to download the latest version of WhatsApp, you need to have a smartphone running Android version Two.1 (by 2017, Android Two.1 and Two.Two will no longer be supported) or higher. You can check your phone’s current Android version in Settings > About Phone.

If you’re attempting to install the WhatsApp app from the WhatsApp website, you’ll need to have Unknown Sources enabled in your security settings. Go to Settings > Security > Unknown Sources to activate it.

WhatsApp now has more than on billion monthly active users. / © ANDROIDPIT WhatsApp Messenger

I didn’t get my activation code

If the installation went slickly, but the automatically generated message with your activation code never comes through, very first ensure you entered your number correctly. Also dual check that you chose the right country from the drop-down list. This is the country your phone number is from, not necessarily the country you reside in.

If you still do not receive the code, attempt requesting a voice call. This way you will have the code read to you by a computer over the phone.

Reminisce, you have to have a SIM card to register for WhatsApp. Also, you can only use one device per phone number.

It sounds evident, but make sure you used the right number and international dialing code. / © ANDROIDPIT

I can’t connect to WhatsApp, WhatsApp not working, or WhatsApp is down

WhatsApp connection problems are usually caused by your Wi-Fi or network data connection. If you aren’t able to send a message, here are a few solutions:

• Make sure your phone is switched on (one for the beginners).
• Install the latest version of the app from the Play Store (link above).
• Check your internet connection, Wi-Fi or 3G (in Settings > Wireless and Network).
• Make sure that a Task Killer app isn’t affecting WhatsApp.
• Empty the app cache (Settings > Applications > WhatsApp > Clear Cache).
• Ultimately, the most extreme solution: uninstall the app and then reinstall it.

Sometimes, even the mighty WhatsApp practices server issues. If you think WhatsApp isn’t working because the service is down, then head over to the WhatsApp Status Twitter account, where outage updates are provided.

WhatsApp doesn’t recognize my contacts

There are a few reasons why WhatsApp wouldn’t recognize your contacts, so here is a elementary checklist to make sure it does:

• Make sure you have the correct contact numbers (the ones they use for WhatsApp).
• Make sure that they are presently using WhatsApp.
• Make sure you have the latest version of WhatsApp.
• In your contact list, make sure all of your contacts are ‘visible’ and/or ‘viewable’.
• In your contact list, make sure all of your contact groups (friends, family, co-workers, etc) are set to ‘visible’ and/or ‘viewable’.

Make sure WhatsApp is looking for all your contacts. / © ANDROIDPIT

WhatsApp has duplicate contacts

While this problem has been largely eradicated through updates to WhatsApp, if you have duplicate contacts in your address book, it might persist in some way. Find out how to eliminate duplicate contacts in Android.

‘Can’t play movie’ error

To prevent this from happening, there are two things you can attempt. Very first, check that Google Photos is up to date. Open up the Play Store, press on the hamburger menu button at the top left and then on My apps & games, and see if Google Photos is at the top of the page, waiting for an update.

If that didn’t help, another solution is to go to Settings > Apps / Application manager > Google+ and press on Uninstall updates.

Check that Google Photos is up to date and uninstall updates to Google+. / © ANDROIDPIT

What does ‘Last Seen’ mean in WhatsApp?

The Last Seen time stamp tells you when a user was last using WhatsApp. This does not necessarily mean that they have read your messages, only that they opened the application.

When you’re in WhatsApp and one of your contacts also opens it, you’ll see their status switch to ‘Online’, but again, this doesn’t mean they’re looking at your messages, just that they are using WhatsApp.

I can’t see ‘Last Seen’ on WhatsApp

If you are incapable to see the Last Seen timestamp in a conversation, it could be for a number of reasons. If you’ve disabled your Last Seen time in Settings > Account > Privacy > Last Seen, then you won’t be able to see other people’s Last Seen times, either.

The ‘Last Seen’ time will only vanish under certain circumstances. / © ANDROIDPIT

If the problem is only with one or some contacts, then it might mean that they’ve disabled the Last Seen time in their WhatsApp settings. If they’re still receiving and responding to your messages, this is almost certainly the case.

The final reason is that a contact has blocked you. If your messages never get past the one gray tick, then this makes it more certain that you’ve been blocked, and if you can’t see switches to the contact’s profile, then you’ve certainly been blocked. Many apologies.

No Last Seen timestamp and only grey ticks likely means your friend has blocked you. / © ANDROIDPIT

What do the blue check marks mean in WhatsApp?

There is a lot of confusion about what the two checks (or tick marks) in your WhatsApp message window mean. If you want a accomplish breakdown of all the markings in WhatsApp, take a look at our detailed What do the WhatsApp check marks mean? article, which also covers the microphone markings for audio messages.

Here is a quick summary:

• The clock symbol means your message is yet to be sent from your device.
• One gray tick means that the message has been sent and has been received by the WhatsApp server.
• Two gray ticks mean the message has been delivered to the intended device.
• Two blue ticks mean that the recipient/recipients have seen the message. (In group conversations, this means when all participants in the group have viewed the message.)

I have problems with voice calls or can’t reaction response calls

If you are experiencing poor quality voice calls, drop outs or you can’t make or receive calls, it is almost certainly related to your connection. Voice calls are carried out over Wi-Fi or mobile data. Ensure your connection is strong. If you’re using mobile data, you will need at least 3G. Perhaps also attempt disconnecting and reconnecting to the network. The problem might not even be on your end: the person you’re talking with will also need to ensure they have a good connection.

The quality of voice calls is subject to the quality of your data connection. / © ANDROIDPIT

I can’t hear audio messages or WhatsApp can’t play audio

This could be related to the proximity sensor that WhatsApp relies on. It is found near the front-facing camera on your phone, and detects when you’re holding your phone to your ear. If the sensor is activated, audio will play through the ear speaker very calmly. Ensure you keep your phone away from your face, and the audio should play through the normal speaker. Check to make sure the volume is turned up as well.

I can’t download movies or photos on WhatsApp

Head to Settings > Data usage and see if you only have media auto-downloads enabled when you’re on Wi-Fi. If they are, you will either need to connect to a Wi-Fi network or enable auto-downloads on mobile data and/or when wandering.

These settings might affect your capability to download photos and movies. / © ANDROIDPIT

The fall back, as is often the case, is to restart your router if you’re on Wi-Fi and to restart your phone, as well.

WhatsApp is blocked in my country

If you’re one of the unfortunate few to have WhatsApp blocked in your country, there is a way around the problem. Use a VPN. You can find out what a VPN is, why you need one, and how to get one here.

I can’t save photos to send to another contact

The way this is done has switched. Long press on the picture in the talk that you want to share, and at the top-right of the page, a right-facing arrow will emerge. Press on this, and you can select the contact you want to share the pic with.

You can lightly forward photos in WhatsApp. / © ANDROIDPIT

What should I do if my phone is lost or stolen?

Very first, lock your SIM card by contacting your carrier. This should always be your very first step. Once this is done, WhatsApp can no longer be activated on that device. Once you have a fresh SIM (presumably with the same number) you can reactivate WhatsApp on your fresh phone.

In the meantime, send WhatsApp a message asking them to deactivate your account. Send an email with the subject "Lost/Stolen: Please deactivate my account" to [email protected], and include your phone number (accomplish with an international dialing code) in the email bod. If you don’t do this, WhatsApp can still be used over Wi-Fi.

Make sure you ask WhatsApp to deactivate your account if your phone is stolen. / © ANDROIDPIT

"You may have fresh messages" notification

At times it may happen that you’ll receive a notification from WhatsApp stating: "You may have fresh messages". You might be puzzled by this rather vague and cryptic message, especially when you open WhatsApp and don’t see any fresh notifications. The explanation is fairly plain! WhatsApp uses shove notifications to inform you of messages, but uses a different channel to supply the actual message. If you are in an area with a bad or low data / wifi connection, the network will be able to produce the shove notification but not the actual message. This problems from time to time occurs when you turn on the data saver mode on your smartphone. Now there might be an actual problem with WhatsApp that could cause this notification to pop up, but the its most likely related to a bad data connection.

Other problems with WhatsApp

If you’re having other problems with WhatsApp that aren’t listed here, let us know. If you have more questions, you can check out our forum or leave your requests in the comments below and we’ll update this article with more solutions for your WhatsApp problems.

Have a problem with WhatsApp? Here are the solutions

Have a problem with WhatsApp? Here are the solutions

WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps out there, with over ten percent of human beings actively using it every month. Given this volume of use, it’s clear it gets a lot of things right, but today we will be concentrating on what it gets wrong. Here are some of the most common WhatsApp problems on Android and their solutions.

Hop to section:

I can’t install WhatsApp

In order to download the latest version of WhatsApp, you need to have a smartphone running Android version Two.1 (by 2017, Android Two.1 and Two.Two will no longer be supported) or higher. You can check your phone’s current Android version in Settings > About Phone.

If you’re attempting to install the WhatsApp app from the WhatsApp website, you’ll need to have Unknown Sources enabled in your security settings. Go to Settings > Security > Unknown Sources to activate it.

WhatsApp now has more than on billion monthly active users. / © ANDROIDPIT WhatsApp Messenger

I didn’t get my activation code

If the installation went sleekly, but the automatically generated message with your activation code never comes through, very first ensure you entered your number correctly. Also dual check that you chose the right country from the drop-down list. This is the country your phone number is from, not necessarily the country you reside in.

If you still do not receive the code, attempt requesting a voice call. This way you will have the code read to you by a computer over the phone.

Reminisce, you have to have a SIM card to register for WhatsApp. Also, you can only use one device per phone number.

It sounds demonstrable, but make sure you used the right number and international dialing code. / © ANDROIDPIT

I can’t connect to WhatsApp, WhatsApp not working, or WhatsApp is down

WhatsApp connection problems are usually caused by your Wi-Fi or network data connection. If you aren’t able to send a message, here are a few solutions:

• Make sure your phone is switched on (one for the beginners).
• Install the latest version of the app from the Play Store (link above).
• Check your internet connection, Wi-Fi or 3G (in Settings > Wireless and Network).
• Make sure that a Task Killer app isn’t affecting WhatsApp.
• Empty the app cache (Settings > Applications > WhatsApp > Clear Cache).
• Eventually, the most extreme solution: uninstall the app and then reinstall it.

Sometimes, even the mighty WhatsApp practices server issues. If you think WhatsApp isn’t working because the service is down, then head over to the WhatsApp Status Twitter account, where outage updates are provided.

WhatsApp doesn’t recognize my contacts

There are a few reasons why WhatsApp wouldn’t recognize your contacts, so here is a ordinary checklist to make sure it does:

• Make sure you have the correct contact numbers (the ones they use for WhatsApp).
• Make sure that they are presently using WhatsApp.
• Make sure you have the latest version of WhatsApp.
• In your contact list, make sure all of your contacts are ‘visible’ and/or ‘viewable’.
• In your contact list, make sure all of your contact groups (friends, family, co-workers, etc) are set to ‘visible’ and/or ‘viewable’.

Make sure WhatsApp is looking for all your contacts. / © ANDROIDPIT

WhatsApp has duplicate contacts

While this problem has been largely eradicated through updates to WhatsApp, if you have duplicate contacts in your address book, it might persist in some way. Find out how to liquidate duplicate contacts in Android.

‘Can’t play movie’ error

To prevent this from happening, there are two things you can attempt. Very first, check that Google Photos is up to date. Open up the Play Store, press on the hamburger menu button at the top left and then on My apps & games, and see if Google Photos is at the top of the page, waiting for an update.

If that didn’t help, another solution is to go to Settings > Apps / Application manager > Google+ and press on Uninstall updates.

Check that Google Photos is up to date and uninstall updates to Google+. / © ANDROIDPIT

What does ‘Last Seen’ mean in WhatsApp?

The Last Seen time stamp tells you when a user was last using WhatsApp. This does not necessarily mean that they have read your messages, only that they opened the application.

When you’re in WhatsApp and one of your contacts also opens it, you’ll see their status switch to ‘Online’, but again, this doesn’t mean they’re looking at your messages, just that they are using WhatsApp.

I can’t see ‘Last Seen’ on WhatsApp

If you are incapable to see the Last Seen timestamp in a conversation, it could be for a number of reasons. If you’ve disabled your Last Seen time in Settings > Account > Privacy > Last Seen, then you won’t be able to see other people’s Last Seen times, either.

The ‘Last Seen’ time will only vanish under certain circumstances. / © ANDROIDPIT

If the problem is only with one or some contacts, then it might mean that they’ve disabled the Last Seen time in their WhatsApp settings. If they’re still receiving and responding to your messages, this is almost certainly the case.

The final reason is that a contact has blocked you. If your messages never get past the one gray tick, then this makes it more certain that you’ve been blocked, and if you can’t see switches to the contact’s profile, then you’ve certainly been blocked. Many apologies.

No Last Seen timestamp and only grey ticks likely means your friend has blocked you. / © ANDROIDPIT

What do the blue check marks mean in WhatsApp?

There is a lot of confusion about what the two checks (or tick marks) in your WhatsApp message window mean. If you want a finish breakdown of all the markings in WhatsApp, take a look at our detailed What do the WhatsApp check marks mean? article, which also covers the microphone markings for audio messages.

Here is a quick summary:

• The clock symbol means your message is yet to be sent from your device.
• One gray tick means that the message has been sent and has been received by the WhatsApp server.
• Two gray ticks mean the message has been delivered to the intended device.
• Two blue ticks mean that the recipient/recipients have seen the message. (In group conversations, this means when all participants in the group have viewed the message.)

I have problems with voice calls or can’t response reaction calls

If you are experiencing poor quality voice calls, drop outs or you can’t make or receive calls, it is almost certainly related to your connection. Voice calls are carried out over Wi-Fi or mobile data. Ensure your connection is strong. If you’re using mobile data, you will need at least 3G. Perhaps also attempt disconnecting and reconnecting to the network. The problem might not even be on your end: the person you’re talking with will also need to ensure they have a good connection.

The quality of voice calls is subject to the quality of your data connection. / © ANDROIDPIT

I can’t hear audio messages or WhatsApp can’t play audio

This could be related to the proximity sensor that WhatsApp relies on. It is found near the front-facing camera on your phone, and detects when you’re holding your phone to your ear. If the sensor is activated, audio will play through the ear speaker very calmly. Ensure you keep your phone away from your face, and the audio should play through the normal speaker. Check to make sure the volume is turned up as well.

I can’t download movies or photos on WhatsApp

Head to Settings > Data usage and see if you only have media auto-downloads enabled when you’re on Wi-Fi. If they are, you will either need to connect to a Wi-Fi network or enable auto-downloads on mobile data and/or when wandering.

These settings might affect your capability to download photos and movies. / © ANDROIDPIT

The fall back, as is often the case, is to restart your router if you’re on Wi-Fi and to restart your phone, as well.

WhatsApp is blocked in my country

If you’re one of the unfortunate few to have WhatsApp blocked in your country, there is a way around the problem. Use a VPN. You can find out what a VPN is, why you need one, and how to get one here.

I can’t save photos to send to another contact

The way this is done has switched. Long press on the picture in the talk that you want to share, and at the top-right of the page, a right-facing arrow will emerge. Press on this, and you can select the contact you want to share the pic with.

You can lightly forward photos in WhatsApp. / © ANDROIDPIT

What should I do if my phone is lost or stolen?

Very first, lock your SIM card by contacting your carrier. This should always be your very first step. Once this is done, WhatsApp can no longer be activated on that device. Once you have a fresh SIM (presumably with the same number) you can reactivate WhatsApp on your fresh phone.

In the meantime, send WhatsApp a message asking them to deactivate your account. Send an email with the subject "Lost/Stolen: Please deactivate my account" to [email protected], and include your phone number (finish with an international dialing code) in the email figure. If you don’t do this, WhatsApp can still be used over Wi-Fi.

Make sure you ask WhatsApp to deactivate your account if your phone is stolen. / © ANDROIDPIT

"You may have fresh messages" notification

At times it may happen that you’ll receive a notification from WhatsApp stating: "You may have fresh messages". You might be puzzled by this rather vague and cryptic message, especially when you open WhatsApp and don’t see any fresh notifications. The explanation is fairly plain! WhatsApp uses thrust notifications to inform you of messages, but uses a different channel to produce the actual message. If you are in an area with a bad or low data / wifi connection, the network will be able to produce the shove notification but not the actual message. This problems periodically occurs when you turn on the data saver mode on your smartphone. Now there might be an actual problem with WhatsApp that could cause this notification to pop up, but the its most likely related to a bad data connection.

Other problems with WhatsApp

If you’re having other problems with WhatsApp that aren’t listed here, let us know. If you have more questions, you can check out our forum or leave your requests in the comments below and we’ll update this article with more solutions for your WhatsApp problems.

Have a problem with WhatsApp? Here are the solutions

Have a problem with WhatsApp? Here are the solutions

WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps out there, with over ten percent of human beings actively using it every month. Given this volume of use, it’s clear it gets a lot of things right, but today we will be concentrating on what it gets wrong. Here are some of the most common WhatsApp problems on Android and their solutions.

Leap to section:

I can’t install WhatsApp

In order to download the latest version of WhatsApp, you need to have a smartphone running Android version Two.1 (by 2017, Android Two.1 and Two.Two will no longer be supported) or higher. You can check your phone’s current Android version in Settings > About Phone.

If you’re attempting to install the WhatsApp app from the WhatsApp website, you’ll need to have Unknown Sources enabled in your security settings. Go to Settings > Security > Unknown Sources to activate it.

WhatsApp now has more than on billion monthly active users. / © ANDROIDPIT WhatsApp Messenger

I didn’t get my activation code

If the installation went sleekly, but the automatically generated message with your activation code never comes through, very first ensure you entered your number correctly. Also dual check that you chose the right country from the drop-down list. This is the country your phone number is from, not necessarily the country you reside in.

If you still do not receive the code, attempt requesting a voice call. This way you will have the code read to you by a computer over the phone.

Recall, you have to have a SIM card to register for WhatsApp. Also, you can only use one device per phone number.

It sounds demonstrable, but make sure you used the right number and international dialing code. / © ANDROIDPIT

I can’t connect to WhatsApp, WhatsApp not working, or WhatsApp is down

WhatsApp connection problems are usually caused by your Wi-Fi or network data connection. If you aren’t able to send a message, here are a few solutions:

• Make sure your phone is switched on (one for the beginners).
• Install the latest version of the app from the Play Store (link above).
• Check your internet connection, Wi-Fi or 3G (in Settings > Wireless and Network).
• Make sure that a Task Killer app isn’t affecting WhatsApp.
• Empty the app cache (Settings > Applications > WhatsApp > Clear Cache).
• Eventually, the most extreme solution: uninstall the app and then reinstall it.

Sometimes, even the mighty WhatsApp practices server issues. If you think WhatsApp isn’t working because the service is down, then head over to the WhatsApp Status Twitter account, where outage updates are provided.

WhatsApp doesn’t recognize my contacts

There are a few reasons why WhatsApp wouldn’t recognize your contacts, so here is a plain checklist to make sure it does:

• Make sure you have the correct contact numbers (the ones they use for WhatsApp).
• Make sure that they are presently using WhatsApp.
• Make sure you have the latest version of WhatsApp.
• In your contact list, make sure all of your contacts are ‘visible’ and/or ‘viewable’.
• In your contact list, make sure all of your contact groups (friends, family, co-workers, etc) are set to ‘visible’ and/or ‘viewable’.

Make sure WhatsApp is looking for all your contacts. / © ANDROIDPIT

WhatsApp has duplicate contacts

While this problem has been largely eradicated through updates to WhatsApp, if you have duplicate contacts in your address book, it might persist in some way. Find out how to eliminate duplicate contacts in Android.

‘Can’t play movie’ error

To prevent this from happening, there are two things you can attempt. Very first, check that Google Photos is up to date. Open up the Play Store, press on the hamburger menu button at the top left and then on My apps & games, and see if Google Photos is at the top of the page, waiting for an update.

If that didn’t help, another solution is to go to Settings > Apps / Application manager > Google+ and press on Uninstall updates.

Check that Google Photos is up to date and uninstall updates to Google+. / © ANDROIDPIT

What does ‘Last Seen’ mean in WhatsApp?

The Last Seen time stamp tells you when a user was last using WhatsApp. This does not necessarily mean that they have read your messages, only that they opened the application.

When you’re in WhatsApp and one of your contacts also opens it, you’ll see their status switch to ‘Online’, but again, this doesn’t mean they’re looking at your messages, just that they are using WhatsApp.

I can’t see ‘Last Seen’ on WhatsApp

If you are incapable to see the Last Seen timestamp in a conversation, it could be for a number of reasons. If you’ve disabled your Last Seen time in Settings > Account > Privacy > Last Seen, then you won’t be able to see other people’s Last Seen times, either.

The ‘Last Seen’ time will only vanish under certain circumstances. / © ANDROIDPIT

If the problem is only with one or some contacts, then it might mean that they’ve disabled the Last Seen time in their WhatsApp settings. If they’re still receiving and responding to your messages, this is almost certainly the case.

The final reason is that a contact has blocked you. If your messages never get past the one gray tick, then this makes it more certain that you’ve been blocked, and if you can’t see switches to the contact’s profile, then you’ve certainly been blocked. Many apologies.

No Last Seen timestamp and only grey ticks likely means your friend has blocked you. / © ANDROIDPIT

What do the blue check marks mean in WhatsApp?

There is a lot of confusion about what the two checks (or tick marks) in your WhatsApp message window mean. If you want a accomplish breakdown of all the markings in WhatsApp, take a look at our detailed What do the WhatsApp check marks mean? article, which also covers the microphone markings for audio messages.

Here is a quick summary:

• The clock symbol means your message is yet to be sent from your device.
• One gray tick means that the message has been sent and has been received by the WhatsApp server.
• Two gray ticks mean the message has been delivered to the intended device.
• Two blue ticks mean that the recipient/recipients have seen the message. (In group conversations, this means when all participants in the group have viewed the message.)

I have problems with voice calls or can’t reaction reaction calls

If you are experiencing poor quality voice calls, drop outs or you can’t make or receive calls, it is almost certainly related to your connection. Voice calls are carried out over Wi-Fi or mobile data. Ensure your connection is strong. If you’re using mobile data, you will need at least 3G. Perhaps also attempt disconnecting and reconnecting to the network. The problem might not even be on your end: the person you’re talking with will also need to ensure they have a good connection.

The quality of voice calls is subject to the quality of your data connection. / © ANDROIDPIT

I can’t hear audio messages or WhatsApp can’t play audio

This could be related to the proximity sensor that WhatsApp relies on. It is found near the front-facing camera on your phone, and detects when you’re holding your phone to your ear. If the sensor is activated, audio will play through the ear speaker very calmly. Ensure you keep your phone away from your face, and the audio should play through the normal speaker. Check to make sure the volume is turned up as well.

I can’t download movies or photos on WhatsApp

Head to Settings > Data usage and see if you only have media auto-downloads enabled when you’re on Wi-Fi. If they are, you will either need to connect to a Wi-Fi network or enable auto-downloads on mobile data and/or when wandering.

These settings might affect your capability to download photos and movies. / © ANDROIDPIT

The fall back, as is often the case, is to restart your router if you’re on Wi-Fi and to restart your phone, as well.

WhatsApp is blocked in my country

If you’re one of the unfortunate few to have WhatsApp blocked in your country, there is a way around the problem. Use a VPN. You can find out what a VPN is, why you need one, and how to get one here.

I can’t save photos to send to another contact

The way this is done has switched. Long press on the photo in the talk that you want to share, and at the top-right of the page, a right-facing arrow will emerge. Press on this, and you can select the contact you want to share the picture with.

You can lightly forward photos in WhatsApp. / © ANDROIDPIT

What should I do if my phone is lost or stolen?

Very first, lock your SIM card by contacting your carrier. This should always be your very first step. Once this is done, WhatsApp can no longer be activated on that device. Once you have a fresh SIM (presumably with the same number) you can reactivate WhatsApp on your fresh phone.

In the meantime, send WhatsApp a message asking them to deactivate your account. Send an email with the subject "Lost/Stolen: Please deactivate my account" to [email protected], and include your phone number (finish with an international dialing code) in the email figure. If you don’t do this, WhatsApp can still be used over Wi-Fi.

Make sure you ask WhatsApp to deactivate your account if your phone is stolen. / © ANDROIDPIT

"You may have fresh messages" notification

At times it may happen that you’ll receive a notification from WhatsApp stating: "You may have fresh messages". You might be puzzled by this rather vague and cryptic message, especially when you open WhatsApp and don’t see any fresh notifications. The explanation is fairly elementary! WhatsApp uses shove notifications to inform you of messages, but uses a different channel to produce the actual message. If you are in an area with a bad or low data / wifi connection, the network will be able to produce the thrust notification but not the actual message. This problems at times occurs when you turn on the data saver mode on your smartphone. Now there might be an actual problem with WhatsApp that could cause this notification to pop up, but the its most likely related to a bad data connection.

Other problems with WhatsApp

If you’re having other problems with WhatsApp that aren’t listed here, let us know. If you have more questions, you can check out our forum or leave your requests in the comments below and we’ll update this article with more solutions for your WhatsApp problems.

Have a problem with WhatsApp? Here are the solutions

Have a problem with WhatsApp? Here are the solutions

WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps out there, with over ten percent of human beings actively using it every month. Given this volume of use, it’s clear it gets a lot of things right, but today we will be concentrating on what it gets wrong. Here are some of the most common WhatsApp problems on Android and their solutions.

Hop to section:

I can’t install WhatsApp

In order to download the latest version of WhatsApp, you need to have a smartphone running Android version Two.1 (by 2017, Android Two.1 and Two.Two will no longer be supported) or higher. You can check your phone’s current Android version in Settings > About Phone.

If you’re attempting to install the WhatsApp app from the WhatsApp website, you’ll need to have Unknown Sources enabled in your security settings. Go to Settings > Security > Unknown Sources to activate it.

WhatsApp now has more than on billion monthly active users. / © ANDROIDPIT WhatsApp Messenger

I didn’t get my activation code

If the installation went slickly, but the automatically generated message with your activation code never comes through, very first ensure you entered your number correctly. Also dual check that you chose the right country from the drop-down list. This is the country your phone number is from, not necessarily the country you reside in.

If you still do not receive the code, attempt requesting a voice call. This way you will have the code read to you by a computer over the phone.

Recall, you have to have a SIM card to register for WhatsApp. Also, you can only use one device per phone number.

It sounds demonstrable, but make sure you used the right number and international dialing code. / © ANDROIDPIT

I can’t connect to WhatsApp, WhatsApp not working, or WhatsApp is down

WhatsApp connection problems are usually caused by your Wi-Fi or network data connection. If you aren’t able to send a message, here are a few solutions:

• Make sure your phone is switched on (one for the rookies).
• Install the latest version of the app from the Play Store (link above).
• Check your internet connection, Wi-Fi or 3G (in Settings > Wireless and Network).
• Make sure that a Task Killer app isn’t affecting WhatsApp.
• Empty the app cache (Settings > Applications > WhatsApp > Clear Cache).
• Eventually, the most extreme solution: uninstall the app and then reinstall it.

Sometimes, even the mighty WhatsApp practices server issues. If you think WhatsApp isn’t working because the service is down, then head over to the WhatsApp Status Twitter account, where outage updates are provided.

WhatsApp doesn’t recognize my contacts

There are a few reasons why WhatsApp wouldn’t recognize your contacts, so here is a ordinary checklist to make sure it does:

• Make sure you have the correct contact numbers (the ones they use for WhatsApp).
• Make sure that they are presently using WhatsApp.
• Make sure you have the latest version of WhatsApp.
• In your contact list, make sure all of your contacts are ‘visible’ and/or ‘viewable’.
• In your contact list, make sure all of your contact groups (friends, family, co-workers, etc) are set to ‘visible’ and/or ‘viewable’.

Make sure WhatsApp is looking for all your contacts. / © ANDROIDPIT

WhatsApp has duplicate contacts

While this problem has been largely eradicated through updates to WhatsApp, if you have duplicate contacts in your address book, it might persist in some way. Find out how to eliminate duplicate contacts in Android.

‘Can’t play movie’ error

To prevent this from happening, there are two things you can attempt. Very first, check that Google Photos is up to date. Open up the Play Store, press on the hamburger menu button at the top left and then on My apps & games, and see if Google Photos is at the top of the page, waiting for an update.

If that didn’t help, another solution is to go to Settings > Apps / Application manager > Google+ and press on Uninstall updates.

Check that Google Photos is up to date and uninstall updates to Google+. / © ANDROIDPIT

What does ‘Last Seen’ mean in WhatsApp?

The Last Seen time stamp tells you when a user was last using WhatsApp. This does not necessarily mean that they have read your messages, only that they opened the application.

When you’re in WhatsApp and one of your contacts also opens it, you’ll see their status switch to ‘Online’, but again, this doesn’t mean they’re looking at your messages, just that they are using WhatsApp.

I can’t see ‘Last Seen’ on WhatsApp

If you are incapable to see the Last Seen timestamp in a conversation, it could be for a number of reasons. If you’ve disabled your Last Seen time in Settings > Account > Privacy > Last Seen, then you won’t be able to see other people’s Last Seen times, either.

The ‘Last Seen’ time will only vanish under certain circumstances. / © ANDROIDPIT

If the problem is only with one or some contacts, then it might mean that they’ve disabled the Last Seen time in their WhatsApp settings. If they’re still receiving and responding to your messages, this is almost certainly the case.

The final reason is that a contact has blocked you. If your messages never get past the one gray tick, then this makes it more certain that you’ve been blocked, and if you can’t see switches to the contact’s profile, then you’ve certainly been blocked. Many apologies.

No Last Seen timestamp and only grey ticks likely means your friend has blocked you. / © ANDROIDPIT

What do the blue check marks mean in WhatsApp?

There is a lot of confusion about what the two checks (or tick marks) in your WhatsApp message window mean. If you want a accomplish breakdown of all the markings in WhatsApp, take a look at our detailed What do the WhatsApp check marks mean? article, which also covers the microphone markings for audio messages.

Here is a quick summary:

• The clock symbol means your message is yet to be sent from your device.
• One gray tick means that the message has been sent and has been received by the WhatsApp server.
• Two gray ticks mean the message has been delivered to the intended device.
• Two blue ticks mean that the recipient/recipients have seen the message. (In group conversations, this means when all participants in the group have viewed the message.)

I have problems with voice calls or can’t reaction reaction calls

If you are experiencing poor quality voice calls, drop outs or you can’t make or receive calls, it is almost certainly related to your connection. Voice calls are carried out over Wi-Fi or mobile data. Ensure your connection is strong. If you’re using mobile data, you will need at least 3G. Perhaps also attempt disconnecting and reconnecting to the network. The problem might not even be on your end: the person you’re talking with will also need to ensure they have a good connection.

The quality of voice calls is subject to the quality of your data connection. / © ANDROIDPIT

I can’t hear audio messages or WhatsApp can’t play audio

This could be related to the proximity sensor that WhatsApp relies on. It is found near the front-facing camera on your phone, and detects when you’re holding your phone to your ear. If the sensor is activated, audio will play through the ear speaker very calmly. Ensure you keep your phone away from your face, and the audio should play through the normal speaker. Check to make sure the volume is turned up as well.

I can’t download movies or photos on WhatsApp

Head to Settings > Data usage and see if you only have media auto-downloads enabled when you’re on Wi-Fi. If they are, you will either need to connect to a Wi-Fi network or enable auto-downloads on mobile data and/or when wandering.

These settings might affect your capability to download photos and movies. / © ANDROIDPIT

The fall back, as is often the case, is to restart your router if you’re on Wi-Fi and to restart your phone, as well.

WhatsApp is blocked in my country

If you’re one of the unfortunate few to have WhatsApp blocked in your country, there is a way around the problem. Use a VPN. You can find out what a VPN is, why you need one, and how to get one here.

I can’t save photos to send to another contact

The way this is done has switched. Long press on the photo in the talk that you want to share, and at the top-right of the page, a right-facing arrow will emerge. Press on this, and you can select the contact you want to share the picture with.

You can lightly forward photos in WhatsApp. / © ANDROIDPIT

What should I do if my phone is lost or stolen?

Very first, lock your SIM card by contacting your carrier. This should always be your very first step. Once this is done, WhatsApp can no longer be activated on that device. Once you have a fresh SIM (presumably with the same number) you can reactivate WhatsApp on your fresh phone.

In the meantime, send WhatsApp a message asking them to deactivate your account. Send an email with the subject "Lost/Stolen: Please deactivate my account" to [email protected], and include your phone number (finish with an international dialing code) in the email figure. If you don’t do this, WhatsApp can still be used over Wi-Fi.

Make sure you ask WhatsApp to deactivate your account if your phone is stolen. / © ANDROIDPIT

"You may have fresh messages" notification

At times it may happen that you’ll receive a notification from WhatsApp stating: "You may have fresh messages". You might be puzzled by this rather vague and cryptic message, especially when you open WhatsApp and don’t see any fresh notifications. The explanation is fairly elementary! WhatsApp uses thrust notifications to inform you of messages, but uses a different channel to produce the actual message. If you are in an area with a bad or low data / wifi connection, the network will be able to supply the thrust notification but not the actual message. This problems sometimes occurs when you turn on the data saver mode on your smartphone. Now there might be an actual problem with WhatsApp that could cause this notification to pop up, but the its most likely related to a bad data connection.

Other problems with WhatsApp

If you’re having other problems with WhatsApp that aren’t listed here, let us know. If you have more questions, you can check out our forum or leave your requests in the comments below and we’ll update this article with more solutions for your WhatsApp problems.

Have a problem with WhatsApp? Here are the solutions

Have a problem with WhatsApp? Here are the solutions

WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps out there, with over ten percent of human beings actively using it every month. Given this volume of use, it’s clear it gets a lot of things right, but today we will be concentrating on what it gets wrong. Here are some of the most common WhatsApp problems on Android and their solutions.

Leap to section:

I can’t install WhatsApp

In order to download the latest version of WhatsApp, you need to have a smartphone running Android version Two.1 (by 2017, Android Two.1 and Two.Two will no longer be supported) or higher. You can check your phone’s current Android version in Settings > About Phone.

If you’re attempting to install the WhatsApp app from the WhatsApp website, you’ll need to have Unknown Sources enabled in your security settings. Go to Settings > Security > Unknown Sources to activate it.

WhatsApp now has more than on billion monthly active users. / © ANDROIDPIT WhatsApp Messenger

I didn’t get my activation code

If the installation went slickly, but the automatically generated message with your activation code never comes through, very first ensure you entered your number correctly. Also dual check that you chose the right country from the drop-down list. This is the country your phone number is from, not necessarily the country you reside in.

If you still do not receive the code, attempt requesting a voice call. This way you will have the code read to you by a computer over the phone.

Reminisce, you have to have a SIM card to register for WhatsApp. Also, you can only use one device per phone number.

It sounds visible, but make sure you used the right number and international dialing code. / © ANDROIDPIT

I can’t connect to WhatsApp, WhatsApp not working, or WhatsApp is down

WhatsApp connection problems are usually caused by your Wi-Fi or network data connection. If you aren’t able to send a message, here are a few solutions:

• Make sure your phone is switched on (one for the rookies).
• Install the latest version of the app from the Play Store (link above).
• Check your internet connection, Wi-Fi or 3G (in Settings > Wireless and Network).
• Make sure that a Task Killer app isn’t affecting WhatsApp.
• Empty the app cache (Settings > Applications > WhatsApp > Clear Cache).
• Ultimately, the most extreme solution: uninstall the app and then reinstall it.

Sometimes, even the mighty WhatsApp practices server issues. If you think WhatsApp isn’t working because the service is down, then head over to the WhatsApp Status Twitter account, where outage updates are provided.

WhatsApp doesn’t recognize my contacts

There are a few reasons why WhatsApp wouldn’t recognize your contacts, so here is a ordinary checklist to make sure it does:

• Make sure you have the correct contact numbers (the ones they use for WhatsApp).
• Make sure that they are presently using WhatsApp.
• Make sure you have the latest version of WhatsApp.
• In your contact list, make sure all of your contacts are ‘visible’ and/or ‘viewable’.
• In your contact list, make sure all of your contact groups (friends, family, co-workers, etc) are set to ‘visible’ and/or ‘viewable’.

Make sure WhatsApp is looking for all your contacts. / © ANDROIDPIT

WhatsApp has duplicate contacts

While this problem has been largely eradicated through updates to WhatsApp, if you have duplicate contacts in your address book, it might persist in some way. Find out how to liquidate duplicate contacts in Android.

‘Can’t play movie’ error

To prevent this from happening, there are two things you can attempt. Very first, check that Google Photos is up to date. Open up the Play Store, press on the hamburger menu button at the top left and then on My apps & games, and see if Google Photos is at the top of the page, waiting for an update.

If that didn’t help, another solution is to go to Settings > Apps / Application manager > Google+ and press on Uninstall updates.

Check that Google Photos is up to date and uninstall updates to Google+. / © ANDROIDPIT

What does ‘Last Seen’ mean in WhatsApp?

The Last Seen time stamp tells you when a user was last using WhatsApp. This does not necessarily mean that they have read your messages, only that they opened the application.

When you’re in WhatsApp and one of your contacts also opens it, you’ll see their status switch to ‘Online’, but again, this doesn’t mean they’re looking at your messages, just that they are using WhatsApp.

I can’t see ‘Last Seen’ on WhatsApp

If you are incapable to see the Last Seen timestamp in a conversation, it could be for a number of reasons. If you’ve disabled your Last Seen time in Settings > Account > Privacy > Last Seen, then you won’t be able to see other people’s Last Seen times, either.

The ‘Last Seen’ time will only vanish under certain circumstances. / © ANDROIDPIT

If the problem is only with one or some contacts, then it might mean that they’ve disabled the Last Seen time in their WhatsApp settings. If they’re still receiving and responding to your messages, this is almost certainly the case.

The final reason is that a contact has blocked you. If your messages never get past the one gray tick, then this makes it more certain that you’ve been blocked, and if you can’t see switches to the contact’s profile, then you’ve certainly been blocked. Many apologies.

No Last Seen timestamp and only grey ticks likely means your friend has blocked you. / © ANDROIDPIT

What do the blue check marks mean in WhatsApp?

There is a lot of confusion about what the two checks (or tick marks) in your WhatsApp message window mean. If you want a accomplish breakdown of all the markings in WhatsApp, take a look at our detailed What do the WhatsApp check marks mean? article, which also covers the microphone markings for audio messages.

Here is a quick summary:

• The clock symbol means your message is yet to be sent from your device.
• One gray tick means that the message has been sent and has been received by the WhatsApp server.
• Two gray ticks mean the message has been delivered to the intended device.
• Two blue ticks mean that the recipient/recipients have seen the message. (In group conversations, this means when all participants in the group have viewed the message.)

I have problems with voice calls or can’t response response calls

If you are experiencing poor quality voice calls, drop outs or you can’t make or receive calls, it is almost certainly related to your connection. Voice calls are carried out over Wi-Fi or mobile data. Ensure your connection is strong. If you’re using mobile data, you will need at least 3G. Perhaps also attempt disconnecting and reconnecting to the network. The problem might not even be on your end: the person you’re talking with will also need to ensure they have a good connection.

The quality of voice calls is subject to the quality of your data connection. / © ANDROIDPIT

I can’t hear audio messages or WhatsApp can’t play audio

This could be related to the proximity sensor that WhatsApp relies on. It is found near the front-facing camera on your phone, and detects when you’re holding your phone to your ear. If the sensor is activated, audio will play through the ear speaker very calmly. Ensure you keep your phone away from your face, and the audio should play through the normal speaker. Check to make sure the volume is turned up as well.

I can’t download movies or photos on WhatsApp

Head to Settings > Data usage and see if you only have media auto-downloads enabled when you’re on Wi-Fi. If they are, you will either need to connect to a Wi-Fi network or enable auto-downloads on mobile data and/or when wandering.

These settings might affect your capability to download photos and movies. / © ANDROIDPIT

The fall back, as is often the case, is to restart your router if you’re on Wi-Fi and to restart your phone, as well.

WhatsApp is blocked in my country

If you’re one of the unfortunate few to have WhatsApp blocked in your country, there is a way around the problem. Use a VPN. You can find out what a VPN is, why you need one, and how to get one here.

I can’t save photos to send to another contact

The way this is done has switched. Long press on the pic in the talk that you want to share, and at the top-right of the page, a right-facing arrow will show up. Press on this, and you can select the contact you want to share the pic with.

You can lightly forward photos in WhatsApp. / © ANDROIDPIT

What should I do if my phone is lost or stolen?

Very first, lock your SIM card by contacting your carrier. This should always be your very first step. Once this is done, WhatsApp can no longer be activated on that device. Once you have a fresh SIM (presumably with the same number) you can reactivate WhatsApp on your fresh phone.

In the meantime, send WhatsApp a message asking them to deactivate your account. Send an email with the subject "Lost/Stolen: Please deactivate my account" to [email protected], and include your phone number (accomplish with an international dialing code) in the email bod. If you don’t do this, WhatsApp can still be used over Wi-Fi.

Make sure you ask WhatsApp to deactivate your account if your phone is stolen. / © ANDROIDPIT

"You may have fresh messages" notification

At times it may happen that you’ll receive a notification from WhatsApp stating: "You may have fresh messages". You might be puzzled by this rather vague and cryptic message, especially when you open WhatsApp and don’t see any fresh notifications. The explanation is fairly elementary! WhatsApp uses shove notifications to inform you of messages, but uses a different channel to supply the actual message. If you are in an area with a bad or low data / wifi connection, the network will be able to supply the thrust notification but not the actual message. This problems periodically occurs when you turn on the data saver mode on your smartphone. Now there might be an actual problem with WhatsApp that could cause this notification to pop up, but the its most likely related to a bad data connection.

Other problems with WhatsApp

If you’re having other problems with WhatsApp that aren’t listed here, let us know. If you have more questions, you can check out our forum or leave your requests in the comments below and we’ll update this article with more solutions for your WhatsApp problems.

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