WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 2 billion users worldwide. It offers convenient features like messaging, voice and video calling, group chats, and more. However, like any app or platform, WhatsApp can sometimes encounter technical issues that cause users to get logged out unexpectedly.
Why do you get logged out of WhatsApp?
There are a few common reasons why you may get logged out of WhatsApp:
- Your WhatsApp account is logged in on another device – WhatsApp only allows an account to be logged in on one device at a time. So if you log in on a new device, you’ll automatically be logged out on the old device.
- Expired authentication – WhatsApp uses authentication tokens that expire after a certain period. This is a security measure. If the token expires, you’ll be logged out.
- App issues or crashes – Sometimes a crash, update failure, or bug in the app can cause you to be logged out.
- Phone issues – If your phone experiences technical problems, restarts, or loses internet connection, it may lead to getting logged out of WhatsApp.
- Incorrect date/time settings – WhatsApp relies on your device’s date and time settings being correct. If these settings are incorrect, it can interfere with WhatsApp functioning and log you out.
- Server-side issues – WhatsApp servers going down or experiencing problems can also end up logging users out.
What happens when you get logged out?
When you suddenly find yourself logged out of WhatsApp, here are some of the key things that will happen:
- You’ll be taken to the launch screen – The screen where you enter your phone number to log back in.
- Your online status will change to offline – Since you’re logged out, your contacts will no longer see you as “online” on WhatsApp.
- You won’t receive new messages – Any new messages sent to you will not come through until you log back in.
- Undelivered messages will be pending – Any messages you sent right before getting logged out will be stuck with a single check mark, pending delivery.
- Calls/video calls will be disconnected – If you were on a WhatsApp call when you got logged out, the call will abruptly end.
- Notifications will stop – You will stop getting notifications for new WhatsApp messages and calls.
- Privacy settings reset – Your last seen, profile photo, and “about” privacy will go back to default until you set them again.
Will your chat history and groups be deleted?
The good news is your chat history, groups, and entire account details are NOT deleted when you get logged out of WhatsApp.
Everything is stored on WhatsApp’s servers (and your phone’s storage), so your data will still be there when you log back in. Getting logged out does not erase your WhatsApp account and data.
However, any pending actions like undelivered messages will only go through once you’re logged back in. And messages/calls received in the interim will only show up after you log back in and sync everything.
How long does it take to get logged back in?
Getting logged back into WhatsApp is quite fast and simple:
- Open WhatsApp and enter your phone number on the launch screen
- WhatsApp will send a 6-digit verification code via SMS
- Enter the verification code
- Once verified, all your chats, groups, and media will sync and restore
This whole process usually takes less than a minute, unless WhatsApp servers are down or undergoing maintenance.
What should you do if you can’t log back in immediately?
In some cases, you may not be able to log back into WhatsApp right away and get stuck on the verification screen. Here are some tips if that happens:
- Check your internet connection and try with a stable WiFi or cellular data.
- Restart your phone – this refreshes the app and reconnects to WhatsApp servers.
- Update to the latest version of WhatsApp – an outdated version can cause login issues.
- Check the time and date settings on your phone.
- Clear WhatsApp cache and data then re-install the app.
- Wait for a while and try again – servers may be temporarily down.
- Contact WhatsApp support if the issue persists for too long.
How to prevent accidentally getting logged out
To avoid the hassle of unexpectedly getting logged out, here are some tips:
- Turn on auto-login in WhatsApp settings – this automatically logs you back in.
- Set up two-step verification for added security.
- Make sure your phone’s time/date is set automatically.
- Don’t clear WhatsApp data frequently – this can log you out.
- Update WhatsApp regularly and restart your phone once in a while.
- Don’t log in on other phones unnecessarily – log out properly after use.
What happens if you are logged out for too long?
WhatsApp accounts are deactivated after 120 days of inactivity. This means if you stay logged out for too long – over 4 months – your account will be deleted.
When this happens:
- Your WhatsApp number will become available for anyone else to register.
- Your chat history will be erased from WhatsApp servers.
- You will have to register as a new user if you want to use WhatsApp again.
So make sure to periodically log back in if you stay logged out for an extended time. Ideally, enable auto-login to prevent deactivation.
Key takeaways
- You may get logged out due to another login, authentication expiration, app issues, server problems, etc.
- When logged out, you’ll stop receiving messages/calls, and your online status will change.
- Chat history and data are not deleted, only pending actions are interrupted.
- Log back in with your phone number and verification code to restore access.
- If you can’t log back in immediately, try troubleshooting steps like restarting your phone.
- Prevent accidental logouts by enabling auto-login and two-step verification.
- If logged out for too long, your account can get deactivated after 120 days.
Conclusion
Getting unexpectedly logged out of WhatsApp can be inconvenient, but thankfully your account and chat history remain intact. The app makes it fairly simple to log back in within seconds. Enabling useful settings like two-step verification and auto-login can go a long way in avoiding unwanted logouts. With billions of active users, WhatsApp bugs and issues do crop up occasionally – but the platform constantly improves to maximize uptime and accessibility for its massive user base.