WhatsApp status is a popular feature that allows users to share text, photos, videos and GIFs that disappear after 24 hours. Many WhatsApp users on iPhones have reported issues with statuses not showing up properly on their devices. There are several potential reasons why WhatsApp status may not be visible on iPhones.
Software Bugs
One of the most common reasons for WhatsApp status not showing up on iPhones is software bugs. Like any app, WhatsApp can have bugs that cause certain features to malfunction or not work as intended. There have been several past instances where a bug in the WhatsApp app prevented statuses from loading on iOS devices. Usually these bugs are identified and fixed relatively quickly with app updates.
For example, in 2018 many WhatsApp users found statuses were not showing up on their iPhones due to a software bug. WhatsApp acknowledged the issue and released an update that resolved the problem within a few days. Similar bugs have emerged over the years that temporarily caused status issues for iPhone users.
Outdated Software Version
Using an outdated version of the WhatsApp app can also lead to problems with statuses not appearing. WhatsApp regularly releases new updates that include bug fixes, new features and performance improvements. If you are using an old version of WhatsApp, you may encounter issues that have already been addressed in more recent updates.
Make sure you are running the latest version of WhatsApp on your iPhone by checking the App Store for any available updates. Installing the most up-to-date version can resolve software bugs that may be preventing statuses from loading.
Network Connectivity Issues
Connection issues like weak internet signals or using cellular data when WiFi is required can disrupt WhatsApp’s ability to load statuses. Here are some connectivity problems that can prevent statuses from showing:
- Weak WiFi signal – If your WiFi connection is spotty or keeps dropping, WhatsApp may struggle to load status updates.
- Slow internet speeds – Sluggish internet speeds can make it difficult for statuses to load in a timely manner on your iPhone.
- Cellular data when WiFi is required – WhatsApp may be configured to only use WiFi for data. Being on cellular data only will stop statuses from loading.
- VPNs or firewalls blocking WhatsApp – Some networks actively block or throttle WhatsApp traffic.
Try moving closer to your WiFi router, disabling your VPN, or switching to a cellular data connection if possible to see if statuses begin loading properly.
Notifications Disabled
WhatsApp allows users to disable notifications for statuses. If you have turned off notifications, new statuses will not show up in your notifications shade. To check:
- Open WhatsApp Settings
- Tap Notifications
- Make sure “Show Status Preview” is enabled
Enabling status preview notifications will allow status updates to appear in your notifications again so you do not miss them.
Do Not Disturb Mode
iPhone’s Do Not Disturb mode blocks notifications from appearing while it is active. Since WhatsApp status activity shows up in your notifications, having Do Not Disturb turned on can prevent you from seeing new statuses.
To resolve this:
- Go to Settings > Do Not Disturb
- Make sure WhatsApp is not silenced or blacklisted
- You can also disable Do Not Disturb entirely to allow notifications to come through
Allowing WhatsApp notifications will let statuses appear even when Do Not Disturb mode is on.
Storage Full
If your iPhone is low on storage space, WhatsApp may have trouble saving new statuses, causing them to not show up. Videos and photos can take up significant storage, so a full storage issue is a possible reason for missing statuses.
To fix this:
- Check iPhone storage in Settings > General > iPhone Storage
- Delete apps, photos, videos and other files to free up space
- WhatsApp requires at least 100MB of free space to function properly
Making room for WhatsApp to save status media will help ensure new statuses can load correctly.
Incorrect Date & Time
An incorrect date and time setting on your iPhone can disrupt certain WhatsApp features. Since statuses expire after 24 hours, having the wrong date can make recent statuses appear expired and fail to load.
To rule this out:
- Go to Settings > General > Date & Time
- Turn on “Set Automatically” to sync iPhone’s date and time
- Alternatively, manually set the correct date and time zone
Syncing your date and time or setting it manually will help statuses and other time-sensitive WhatsApp functions work properly.
Disabled Camera Access
To share photos and videos in your WhatsApp status, the app needs access to your iPhone’s camera. If you have disabled camera access in your privacy settings, new statuses may fail to load.
Check your privacy settings:
- Go to Settings > Privacy > Camera
- Make sure WhatsApp is toggled on to allow camera access
Granting WhatsApp permission to use your camera will ensure photo and video statuses can be shared.
iPhone Storage Full
If your iPhone storage is completely full, new WhatsApp statuses may not show up properly. This is because there is no space left to save incoming status media and data from your contacts.
To make space for statuses:
- Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage
- Delete unused apps, photos, videos, and other unneeded data
- Aim for at least 1GB of free space for proper WhatsApp functioning
Freeing up iPhone storage will allow WhatsApp room to save statuses again so they appear correctly.
WhatsApp Data Corrupted
In rare cases, the WhatsApp data on your iPhone may become corrupted. This can occur if the app was force closed while using it or your phone was reset incorrectly. Corrupted data can prevent statuses from showing properly.
To fix corrupted data:
- Uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp
- Log in again using your phone number
- Wait for pending statuses to reload
- If issue persists, reset your iPhone to factory settings
This will clear any corrupted WhatsApp data so statuses have a clean slate to load properly on your device.
Incorrect Region Set
WhatsApp uses different servers for different regions around the world. If your region is incorrectly set, connectivity issues can occur that disrupt certain features.
Check your region:
- Go to WhatsApp Settings > Help
- Tap “Change Region” and select your correct region
Setting the right region ensures you connect to local servers for the best performance.
Blocked By Contact
If someone has blocked you on WhatsApp, their status updates will no longer show for you. Being blocked prevents all communication, including seeing the blocker’s profile info and statuses.
Unfortunately there is no fix for this on your end. You will not see the contact’s statuses again unless they unblock you. The block is controlled entirely by the other user.
Internet Down Temporarily
Brief internet outages or disrupted service from your ISP can also cause WhatsApp statuses to fail loading. Any interruption of data connectivity can prevent status updates being delivered and displayed.
If this occurs:
- Check if other apps and sites are affected. A widespread internet issue is likely the cause.
- Try force closing and reopening WhatsApp to retry loading
- Connecting to a different WiFi network or via cellular data may resolve temporary internet problems
An internet outage is usually resolved in a short time. Statuses will appear when connectivity is restored.
Incorrect Privacy Settings
WhatsApp allows users to control who can see their status updates. If your contacts have their status privacy set to exclude you, their updates will not show up for you.
To adjust status privacy visit:
- WhatsApp Settings > Account > Privacy
- Tap “Status” and select who can see updates
If you are excluded from seeing someone’s status, only they can change their privacy settings to include you again.
Disabled Auto-Download
By default WhatsApp auto-downloads media in statuses for efficiency. If you have disabled auto-downloading:
- Go to WhatsApp Settings > Data and Storage Usage
- Enable “Auto-Download” options like images, videos and voice messages
This ensures media content in statuses is automatically downloaded so it can be viewed.
Conclusion
WhatsApp status not showing on iPhones is usually due to a minor software bug, connectivity issue or configuration setting. Updating WhatsApp, adjusting notifications, freeing up storage and checking your network connection can help troubleshoot the problem.
In some cases, you may need to wait for WhatsApp to release a bug fix update or for a temporary network outage to resolve. If you cannot see a specific contact’s status, they may have blocked you or adjusted their privacy settings.
Following the tips outlined and exercising patience will help get WhatsApp status working again on your iPhone.