WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps in the world, with over 2 billion users. But like any application, it is not immune to bugs or breakdowns that can affect its operation. What to do if WhatsApp doesn't work? How to solve the most common problems? Here are some tips and tricks to help you regain fluid communication with your contacts.
How to know if WhatsApp is down today?
It may happen that WhatsApp is the victim of a widespread outage that affects all or some users. In this case, there is no point in trying to repair the application on your smartphone, because the problem comes from the servers or routers of Meta, the company that owns WhatsApp. To find out if WhatsApp is down, there are several ways:
- Downdetector site , which tracks real-time outage reports for many online services. If you see a large increase in error reports regarding WhatsApp, there is likely an outage.
- Check official WhatsApp accounts on social networks, such as Twitter or Facebook , to see if the service communicates about the problem and provides information on its resolution.
- Ask your contacts if they too are having difficulty using WhatsApp. If so, the problem is widespread and not isolated.
In the event of a WhatsApp outage, you generally have to wait for the service to patch it and bring its servers back online. This may take a few minutes or several hours, depending on the severity of the problem. The last major WhatsApp outage was on October 25, 2022 and lasted about an hour.
How to fix WhatsApp issues and bugs?
If WhatsApp is not down but you are still experiencing problems or bugs using the application, there are several possible solutions:
Check internet connection
WhatsApp requires a stable internet connection to work properly. If you can't send or receive messages, check that your smartphone is connected to WiFi or mobile data. You can also try switching between modes to see if that improves the situation. If you're traveling, make sure you have good network coverage.
Close and reopen WhatsApp
Sometimes, a simple restart of the application can be enough to resolve the problem. To do this, close WhatsApp by pressing the “home” button or swiping the application upwards on your screen. Then, reopen WhatsApp by tapping on its icon. Check if the problem persists or not.
Restart the smartphone
If closing and reopening WhatsApp isn't enough, you can try restarting your smartphone. This can free up RAM and fix certain bugs. To restart your smartphone, long press the power supply button and choose the “power off” or “restart” option. Then turn your smartphone back on and launch WhatsApp.
Update WhatsApp
It's important to always have the latest version of WhatsApp, as it may contain security and performance fixes, as well as new features. To update WhatsApp, go to the Play Store or App Store and search for the app. If an update is available, press the “update” button and wait for the download and installation to complete. Then open WhatsApp and check if the problem is resolved.
Uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp
If none of the previous solutions work, you can try uninstalling and reinstalling WhatsApp. This can help remove corrupt or outdated files that could be causing problems. Before uninstalling WhatsApp, make sure you have backed up your conversations and multimedia files, either to the cloud (Google Drive or iCloud) or to your smartphone's internal or external memory. To uninstall WhatsApp, long press its icon and choose the “uninstall” option. Then go to the Play Store or App Store and download WhatsApp again. Open the app and follow the instructions to restore your data and activate your account.
Clear app cache
The application cache is a temporary storage space that contains data useful for the operation of WhatsApp. But sometimes this data can be outdated or corrupted and cause bugs. To clear the app cache, follow these steps:
- On Android, go to Settings > Applications > WhatsApp. In the storage section, tap Clear cache¹.
- On iPhone, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Then select Unload app. You can then reinstall WhatsApp: all associated documents and data will be preserved¹.
Check available storage space
WhatsApp needs enough storage space to save the messages and media files you send or receive. If your smartphone is short on space, this may hinder the proper functioning of the application. To check available storage space, go to Settings > Storage. If you see that your space is almost full, clean up by deleting large files or unused applications. You can also transfer certain files to an SD card or to a cloud service.
Conclusion
WhatsApp is a very practical application for communicating with loved ones or colleagues, but it is not immune to breakdowns or bugs. Fortunately, there are simple solutions to resolve most issues and restore a smooth and enjoyable experience. If you follow the tips we've given you in this article, you should be able to use WhatsApp without worry.
See also: Facebook Messenger bug
