Quick answer
A single tick on a WhatsApp message typically means that your message has been successfully sent from your device, but it has not yet been delivered to the recipient’s device. Two ticks indicate the message has been delivered. No ticks mean the message has not yet left your device. So a single tick does not necessarily mean that notifications are turned off for the recipient. There are a few possibilities:
- The recipient may have internet connectivity issues that are delaying receipt of your message.
- The recipient may have their WhatsApp open but notifications turned off.
- The recipient may have read your message from the notifications but not yet opened the WhatsApp app.
To know for sure whether your message notifications are enabled, the recipient needs to open WhatsApp and view your chat. As soon as they view the message, the single tick will turn to double ticks to confirm they have received it.
Understanding WhatsApp’s tick system
WhatsApp uses a system of ticks and check marks to indicate the status of messages you send. Here’s what each icon means:
- No ticks – Your message is still pending and has not yet been sent from your device.
- One gray tick – Your message has been successfully sent from your device.
- Two gray ticks – Your message has been delivered to the recipient’s device.
- Two blue ticks – The recipient has read your message.
When you first send a message, it will show no ticks until your device has uploaded it to WhatsApp’s servers. Once their servers confirm receipt, one gray tick will show.
At this point, your message is queued for delivery to the recipient. The second gray tick will appear when their device receives your message. This means it has reached their device, but they may not have seen it yet.
When the recipient opens your chat and views the message, the ticks will turn blue. This confirms they have read your message. Note the ticks on your device will not turn blue if the recipient has read receipts disabled.
Why you might only see one tick
There are a few common reasons why your WhatsApp message may remain stuck on one tick for an extended time:
Poor internet connection
If the recipient has a poor internet connection or no connectivity at the moment, WhatsApp will not be able to deliver your message. It will remain pending on one tick until their device regains connectivity.
Notifications disabled
The recipient may have read your message directly from the notification but not opened WhatsApp. On Android, the notification contains a preview of your message. On iPhone, they would see you have messaged but not the content.
In this case, one tick means the message reached their device, but they have not opened it in the app to trigger the second tick.
Do Not Disturb enabled
If the recipient has enabled Do Not Disturb mode on their device, they will not receive sound/vibration notifications. The message will still be delivered, indicated by two ticks. But they may not see it until manually checking WhatsApp.
Your message is blocked
In rare cases, the recipient may have blocked you. Blocking prevents your messages from being delivered to them. So it will indefinitely remain on one tick and never progress to two.
However, WhatsApp does not explicitly notify senders that they are blocked. So you may not be able to distinguish between blocking and prolonged connectivity issues.
Their account is banned or deleted
If the recipient’s account has been banned or deleted by WhatsApp, your messages will get stuck on one tick and eventually expire after 30 days. Again, no explicit notice is given to you if your messages are undeliverable.
How to confirm read receipts are enabled
To check if read receipts are enabled for a chat:
- Open the WhatsApp chat
- Tap the contact’s name at the top
- Tap More options > View contact
- Check if Read receipts is toggled on
If read receipts are disabled, you will never see blue double ticks in that chat, even if they read your messages. Disabling read receipts increases privacy but means you cannot confirm for sure if your messages have been seen.
You can request the recipient to re-enable read receipts, at least temporarily, so you can confirm your messages are going through. But they may decline for privacy reasons.
How to troubleshoot and fix one tick issues
If your messages are frequently getting stuck on one tick or not sending at all, try these troubleshooting steps:
Check your internet connection
Make sure you have an active internet connection on your device. Toggle airplane mode on and off to reset the connection. Connect to a different Wi-Fi network or switch to mobile data.
Restart your device and WhatsApp
Fully close and restart your device and the WhatsApp app. This will clear any glitches that may be preventing messages from sending.
Update WhatsApp to the latest version
Visit your device’s app store and install any pending WhatsApp updates. The latest update may resolve bugs affecting message delivery.
Clear WhatsApp cache/data
In your device settings, clear cached data and app data for WhatsApp. This erases temporary files and resets WhatsApp to default. You won’t lose chats.
Uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp
As a last resort, uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp from your device’s app store. Upon reinstalling, restore your chat history from your iCloud or Google Drive backup.
Check if the recipient has connectivity issues
The problem may not be on your end. Politely ask the recipient if they are having any issues receiving messages from you specifically. They should also try the troubleshooting steps above.
Retry sending the message
Sometimes intermittent network errors may simply resolve on their own. Retry sending your stalled message after some time.
How to prevent one tick issues
To avoid one tick problems as much as possible:
- Maintain a stable internet connection on your device.
- Keep WhatsApp updated to the latest version.
- Limit storage usage on your device to prevent performance lag.
- Turn on auto backup to iCloud or Google Drive.
- Ask recipients to enable read receipts for your chat.
Following these best practices will minimize instances of messages getting stuck or failing to send.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my messages have two ticks but not turn blue?
If your messages show two gray ticks, it means the recipient has received them but not yet opened the chat. Two ticks will never turn blue if the recipient has disabled read receipts in WhatsApp.
Can I tell if someone has blocked me on WhatsApp?
Unfortunately, WhatsApp does not directly indicate if someone has blocked you. Your messages may remain indefinitely on one tick if you are blocked. But prolonged one tick status could also indicate other delivery issues.
Why can I see some contacts’ last seen but not others?
Your contacts can set their last seen status to be visible to everyone, contacts only, or nobody. If last seen is hidden from you, they have likely set it to contacts only or nobody.
How do I enable WhatsApp notifications on iPhone?
On iPhone, open Settings > Notifications > WhatsApp and ensure Allow Notifications is enabled along with notification sounds and styles. You can also enable Show Preview to see message contents in notifications.
Why are my messages showing as sent but not delivered?
If your messages are stuck on one gray tick, it means they have left your device but have not yet reached the recipient’s device. This is typically due to connectivity issues on their end or your messages being blocked/banned.
Conclusion
In summary, a single tick on WhatsApp simply indicates your message has been sent from your device, not that notifications are disabled. Notification settings do not affect WhatsApp’s tick system. The recipient may still receive notifications even if only one tick shows up.
To confirm your messages and notifications are going through, it is best to communicate clearly with the recipient. Ask them to check their notification settings, reconnect to the internet, and view your recent chat. This should trigger double blue ticks if read receipts are enabled. With some troubleshooting, you can resolve one tick issues and enjoy seamless messaging.
WhatsApp Tick Status Data
| Tick Icon | Meaning |
|---|---|
| No ticks | Message not yet sent from your device |
| 1 gray tick | Message sent from your device |
| 2 gray ticks | Message delivered to recipient’s device |
| 2 blue ticks | Recipient has read your message |
Common Causes of One Tick Issues
| Issue | Description |
|---|---|
| Poor connection | Recipient has no internet access at the moment |
| Notifications off | Recipient has read message via notification but not opened app |
| Do Not Disturb | Recipient won’t hear notifications but message is delivered |
| Blocked | Recipient has blocked you so messages don’t deliver |
| Banned account | Recipient’s account is banned or deleted by WhatsApp |
Troubleshooting Tips
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Check your internet connection and switch networks if needed |
| 2 | Restart your device and the WhatsApp app |
| 3 | Update WhatsApp to the latest version |
| 4 | Clear cached data and app data for WhatsApp |
| 5 | Uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp |
| 6 | Ask the recipient to check their connectivity and notification settings |
| 7 | Retry sending the stalled message after some time |