WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 2 billion users worldwide. One of the features that WhatsApp offers is the ability to mute chats and groups – this allows you to control notifications and pause updates from a particular chat if you need to focus or cut down on distractions. But what exactly happens when you get muted on WhatsApp, and what does the muter see on their end? Here’s a detailed look at how muting works on WhatsApp.
You stop receiving notifications from the chat
The most obvious impact of getting muted on WhatsApp is that you will stop getting notifications from that chat. So if someone mutes you, you will no longer see message previews pop up or hear notification sounds when that person messages the group or chat you are muted in. Your WhatsApp won’t vibrate with new messages from the muted chat either.
So muting prevents you from being distracted by notifications from a particular chat. You can still open WhatsApp and view the chat manually to see new messages, but you won’t get alerted about them through notifications. This can be useful to avoid constant pings when you are busy or need to focus.
Your mute status is not visible to others
When someone mutes you on WhatsApp, they are the only ones who can see that you are muted. WhatsApp does not show mute status to other participants in a chat. So if you are muted in a group chat, other members will not know you have been muted. Only the person who muted you can see your mute status when they view the chat.
So being muted does not publicly embarrass or tag you in any way in the chat. It is an action only visible privately to the muter.
You can still send messages in the chat
Muting does not prevent you from sending messages in a chat – it only controls whether you get notifications from the chat. So you can still participate, reply, and send messages in a muted chat as normal. Your messages will still be visible to all other participants.
The only difference is you won’t see replies or updates in real-time unless you are actively viewing the muted chat. So you can come back after a few hours, view the chat, and catch up on what you missed while muted without distractions.
You stay muted until manually unmuted
Being muted on WhatsApp is not a one-time temporary action. Once someone mutes you, you stay muted from notifications until they choose to unmute you again. There is no expiration or time limit to being muted.
So if someone mutes you during a busy workday but forgets to unmute you later, you could potentially stay muted for weeks or months unless they rediscover and change your mute settings. It’s a good idea to check your mute status in important chats occasionally to avoid missing key updates.
You can still receive calls
Muting only affects message notifications and does not apply to WhatsApp calls. So if someone makes a WhatsApp call to you when muted, the call will still come through as usual with full notifications and ringing. Your mute status does not affect receiving or making WhatsApp voice and video calls in any way.
How to know if you are muted
As mentioned before, you can’t directly see if you have been muted by someone else. But there are some signs that can indicate you may have been muted:
- You suddenly stop getting notifications from a chat you normally got pings from
- Your messages in a chat are marked as ‘delivered’ but not ‘read’
- People don’t seem to be responding to your messages in a chat
- Activity seems much lower than normal in a usually busy chat
If you notice one or more of these signs, it’s possible you have been muted in that chat by one or more participants. To confirm, you would have to ask a chat member directly if they have muted you. There is no way to tell with certainty from your side of the app.
What the muter sees
So now you know what happens from the muted person’s side, but what does the experience look like for the person who muted you? Here are some key points:
Your messages are marked as ‘read’ automatically
Even though you don’t get delivery confirmations, your sent messages will automatically be marked as ‘read’ for the person who has muted you. This prevents you from seeing their online status or feeling ignored.
They receive no notifications from you
Similar to how you stop getting notifications, the muter also stops getting message previews, sounds, and vibration from your chat. They can only see your messages if they open the chat.
They can still mention and message you
The muter can continue to send you messages and mention you in group chats. Their experience messaging you remains the same. Only your ability to notify them is restricted while muted.
Your mute status is private
As mentioned before, no one else can see that the person has muted you. It remains private to their account and chat screen. So you do not need to worry about public embarrassment or shaming from being muted.
Why people mute others on WhatsApp
There are a variety of reasons why someone may choose to mute you or others on WhatsApp:
- To avoid constant notifications from very active chats
- To focus without distractions from low-priority chats
- To control notifications from group chats with many participants
- To avoid messages from someone who sends too many texts
- To take a break from conversations during busy times
- To manage anxiety or overload from lots of pings
In most cases, being muted is not meant as an offensive gesture. It is a useful WhatsApp feature to control notifications and avoid distractions when needed. However, frequent muting of a particular contact may indicate irritation or lack of interest in engaging with them.
Can you tell if you are muted?
There is no definitive way to check if you have been muted by someone on WhatsApp since mute status is only visible privately to the person who muted you. However, these tips can help identify if you may have been muted:
- Messages show one checkmark (delivered) but not two (read)
- Your recipient is online but not responding to messages
- A normally chatty recipient has gone silent
- Your messages in a group chat are ignored
- Ask the suspected muter directly if they have muted you
If your messages consistently go unread by a recipient who is actively online on WhatsApp, muting is a likely reason. But you can’t know with full certainty unless the muter confirms it from their end.
What if you are muted by mistake?
Sometimes people mute others accidentally by tapping the wrong settings or meaning to just silence notifications temporarily.
If you politely ask and find out someone has muted you by mistake, let them know you understand it was unintentional. Ask them to please unmute you again when they get a chance so you don’t miss important updates.
However, they may choose to keep you muted for their own reasons. Graciously accept their decision and continue conversing normally in the chat without making it awkward. Don’t take muting personally!
Can you unmute yourself?
Unfortunately, there is no way to unmute yourself if someone else has muted you on WhatsApp. The mute settings can only be changed by the person who initially muted you.
Your options are limited to either waiting for them to eventually unmute you, gently reminding them to unmute you, or continuing to participate in the chat as normal until they notice you are muted.
Some people recommend deleting and readding a chat to “reset” the mute settings. But this does not actually work, as your mute status is linked to your account and not the chat itself. Only the muter can revoke your muted status.
Should you mute someone who muted you?
If someone has muted you on WhatsApp, it’s understandable to feel tempted to mute them right back! However, that may create unnecessary drama or tension. The mature response is to either:
- Politely ask why they muted you and resolve any underlying issues
- Respect their preferences and continue chatting as normal
- Temporarily mute them during busy times if needed
Mutually muting each other out of spite is immature and passive-aggressive. Take the high road, and mute only if it genuinely helps you manage notifications from very active chats.
Can you tell who muted you in a group?
If you are muted in a WhatsApp group chat, there is unfortunately no native way to tell exactly who muted you. Since mute status is private, you cannot differentiate between:
- One person muting you
- Some group members muting you
- All group members muting you
Your only option is to directly ask the group if anyone has muted you. The individuals who muted you can then privately admit it to you or continue keeping it confidential. There are no controls within WhatsApp itself to reveal who specifically muted you.
Should you leave a group if muted?
Getting muted in a busy WhatsApp group can be annoying, but leaving the group outright is an overreaction in most cases. First, assess why you may have been muted:
- Were you sending too many off-topic messages?
- Was your tone inappropriate for the group vibe?
- Are you mostly silent and got preemptively muted?
Reflect on how you could improve your participation to align with the group rules and norms. Leaving outright damages relationships with friends, family members, or colleagues who rely on the group for communication.
Stay in the chat, but politely ask the admin or a trusted member why you may have been muted and how to avoid it in the future. If the reasons seem unreasonable, you can calmly exit the group as a last resort.
WhatsApp mute etiquette tips
Muting is a useful WhatsApp feature when used mindfully. Keep these mute etiquette tips in mind:
- Don’t mute friends or family without informing them
- Unmute others once your busy period has ended
- Don’t publicly shame or confront muted people
- Don’t mute people for competitive or spiteful reasons
- Periodically review your mutes to see if any are outdated
With proper mute etiquette, you can avoid hurt feelings and enjoy the benefits of controlling your notifications. Muting is not meant to ignore, punish, or shame others. Use it judiciously and with compassion.
Conclusion
Being muted on WhatsApp can be a bit of a mystery since you can’t directly see your own mute status. But now you know exactly how muting works on both the muter and muted user’s side. While muting can feel personal at times, it is primarily a pragmatic tool to manage notifications and focus. Use your awareness of muting etiquette to clear up any accidental mutes, resolve underlying issues, and continue conversations productively.