The circle around a WhatsApp profile picture indicates the user’s online status. When a solid green circle is shown around a contact’s profile photo, it means they are currently online and available to chat. A grey circle indicates the user is offline or unavailable.
Understanding the different online status circles in WhatsApp can help you know when your contacts are actively using the app and available to respond. The status circle provides a quick visual cue alongside your contacts’ names and profile pictures.
In this article, we’ll provide a detailed overview of the WhatsApp profile status circle feature covering:
- What the different colored status circles mean
- How to enable and disable status sharing
- How to view someone’s status circle
- When the status circle won’t show up
- Troubleshooting tips if the status circle isn’t working
Read on to learn everything you need to know about the status circle around profile pictures in WhatsApp.
What Do the Different Colored Circles Mean?
The color and type of circle shown around a WhatsApp contact’s profile photo indicates their current online/offline status and activity on the app.
Here are the different variations of the status circle and what they signify:
Green Circle
A solid bright green circle around a profile picture means the user is online and available for chatting. This means they currently have WhatsApp open in the foreground on their device.
So when you see the green circle, it’s a great time to send messages, start a chat, share photos, or make WhatsApp calls to that contact. They are actively using WhatsApp at that moment.
White Edge Circle
A white edge around the profile picture means the user is online but has switched to another app or screen on their device. With this status circle, WhatsApp is open in the background but not in the current foreground view.
So while you can still message contacts with a white edge status circle, they may take a little longer to read and respond since they aren’t directly in the WhatsApp chat screen.
Grey Circle
A grey circle indicates the WhatsApp user is currently offline. This means they either closed the app entirely or have not used it for several minutes.
When you see the grey circle, the contact won’t see your messages or calls right away. They will get any messages once they open WhatsApp again.
No Circle
If there is no status circle at all around a profile picture, it means you don’t have that user’s phone number saved in your contacts.
WhatsApp shows profile information like the status circle only for current contacts in your phone’s address book. Add the number to your contacts to see their WhatsApp status.
How to Enable and Disable Status Sharing
Displaying your real-time WhatsApp status to all contacts is enabled by default. But you can choose to disable it for more privacy:
Disable Status Sharing
To hide your online status from contacts:
- Open WhatsApp Settings
- Tap Account > Privacy
- Turn off “Read Receipts” and “Last Seen”
This will show a grey circle and “last seen long ago” to all contacts when you use WhatsApp.
Re-Enable Status Sharing
To display your actual live status again:
- Go back to WhatsApp Settings > Account > Privacy
- Turn “Read Receipts” and “Last Seen” back on
Your real-time green/grey status circle and last seen time will now show to contacts again.
How to View Someone’s Status Circle
There are a couple places you can view a WhatsApp contact’s profile picture and status circle:
Chat List
The main WhatsApp chats list shows all your current conversations with contacts, along with their profile picture, name and status circle.
Check the chat list to quickly see which of your contacts are online before messaging them.
Inside Chat
Once you open an individual chat window, you can see that contact’s profile picture, name and status circle at the top of the screen.
This lets you check a contact’s live status while chatting to see if they are actively online and replying in real-time.
Group Info
For WhatsApp Groups, you can tap the Group Info icon to view the participants list. This shows each member’s profile picture with their status circle.
Check a Group’s info to see which members are online before posting a message to the group chat.
When the Status Circle Won’t Show Up
In some cases, a contact’s WhatsApp status circle may not show up as expected. Here are some reasons why:
Disabled Status Sharing
If a contact has disabled their status sharing in WhatsApp settings, you won’t see their live status – only a grey circle.
Removed or Blocked You
If a contact has removed or blocked you from their WhatsApp contacts, their profile picture and status will not show up at all.
Phone Offline
No status circle will show if the contact’s phone is fully offline or shut down. A grey circle will only appear once they come back online.
Changed Numbers
If a contact has changed their phone number, their old number profile picture and status will no longer show up. You need to re-add their new number.
Network Issues
Sometimes network glitches or the WhatsApp server being down can temporarily affect status indicators. Try checking again in a few hours.
Troubleshooting Tips
If your WhatsApp status circle is not updating or contacts can’t see your status, try these troubleshooting steps:
Update the App
Make sure both you and your contacts have the latest version of WhatsApp installed. Outdated versions may cause issues with status syncing.
Check Internet Connection
An unstable internet connection can prevent status updates. Make sure you and your contacts have a steady 3G, 4G, WiFi or cellular data connection.
Restart Devices
Reboot both devices to refresh the app and reconnect to WhatsApp servers. Shut down WhatsApp completely and restart.
Verify Time and Date
Make sure the time and date are set correctly on your phone’s internal clock. Incorrect time can disrupt status indicators.
Clear Cache and Data
Try clearing the WhatsApp cache and app data from your phone’s Settings > Apps menu. Then re-launch WhatsApp.
Contact WhatsApp Support
If all else fails, contact WhatsApp directly through their Help Center. Report the issue so they can troubleshoot and fix any bugs.
Conclusion
The status circle around a profile picture in WhatsApp provides a handy visual cue to know when your contacts are online and ready to chat. Solid green means they’re actively online, white edge means they’re multitasking, and grey shows offline.
Make sure to enable status sharing in WhatsApp’s Privacy settings if you want your real-time availability shown to others. Disable sharing if you prefer to hide your online status.
Troubleshoot any issues where your status isn’t updating correctly by restarting devices, checking connections, clearing app data, and contacting WhatsApp support if needed.
Understanding the nuances of WhatsApp’s status indicator circles can help streamline your chats and make communication more seamless. Always refer to the color and type of circle before messaging contacts to see if they’re online.
| Status Circle Color | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Green | Online, active on WhatsApp |
| White edge | Online but in other app |
| Grey | Offline |
| No circle | Not a saved contact |