WhatsApp contacts not updating is a common issue that many users face. There could be several reasons why your WhatsApp contacts are not syncing properly. In this article, we will discuss the main causes and solutions to fix WhatsApp contacts not updating on Android and iPhone.
Main Causes of WhatsApp Contacts Not Updating
Here are some of the common reasons why your WhatsApp contacts may not be updating:
- Outdated WhatsApp version
- Contacts permission not enabled
- Incorrect sync settings
- Low storage space on device
- WhatsApp server issues
- Corrupted WhatsApp cache files
- Issues with phone contacts
- Using dual WhatsApp accounts
Let’s look at each of these causes in more detail:
Outdated WhatsApp Version
One of the most common reasons for WhatsApp contact issues is having an outdated version of the app. WhatsApp regularly releases new updates with bug fixes and improvements. If your WhatsApp is not updated to the latest version, you may face problems like contacts not syncing.
To avoid this, make sure that automatic updates are enabled for WhatsApp on your device. You can also manually check for updates in the Play Store or App Store and install the latest WhatsApp version.
Contacts Permission Not Enabled
WhatsApp requires contact permission to access and sync your phonebook contacts. If you have denied or disabled contact permission for WhatsApp, it will not be able to update your contacts automatically.
To fix this, open WhatsApp settings > Permissions > Enable Contacts permission. This will allow WhatsApp to read, write and sync your device contacts.
Incorrect Sync Settings
WhatsApp provides options to configure contact sync settings. If you have disabled contact sync in WhatsApp settings, your contacts will not update automatically.
Go to WhatsApp Settings > Contacts > Sync Contacts and make sure this option is enabled. You can also choose to sync All Contacts or sync only the contacts that are on your phone.
Low Storage Space on Device
If your phone is running low on storage space, WhatsApp may face issues syncing your contacts properly. Lack of storage prevents WhatsApp from creating the necessary cache and data files required to sync contacts.
Free up storage space on your phone by deleting unwanted files, photos, videos and apps. Keep at least 500MB of free space for WhatsApp to function smoothly.
WhatsApp Server Issues
Sometimes the issue could be on WhatsApp’s servers. Server outages or downtime can temporarily disrupt the contact sync process across all devices.
There is not much you can do in this case apart from waiting for WhatsApp to resolve the server issues. Once the servers are back up, your contacts should start syncing again.
Corrupted WhatsApp Cache Files
Over time, cache and data files used by WhatsApp may get corrupted. This affects the app’s performance and can cause issues like contacts not updating.
The solution is to clear the WhatsApp cache and data from your phone’s Settings or Apps Manager. After clearing cache, restart WhatsApp – this will recreate the necessary files and recover from any corruption.
Issues With Phone Contacts
If your main phone contacts themselves are having issues, your WhatsApp contacts will also not update properly. For example, if the Phone app crashes or has software bugs, it can affect WhatsApp contact sync.
Check your phone contacts and make sure there are no issues in viewing, editing and saving contacts. If needed, clear cache and data for the Contacts app as well.
Using Dual WhatsApp Accounts
If you use dual WhatsApp accounts on the same phone, the contact sync process can sometimes get confused between the two accounts. This can then lead to sync issues.
Make sure to properly configure each WhatsApp account’s permissions and sync settings. Also check for app clones and clean them using antivirus. Uninstalling and reinstalling the dual WhatsApp accounts can help resolve contact issues.
How to Fix WhatsApp Contacts Not Updating on Android
Based on the common causes above, here are specific solutions to fix WhatsApp contacts not updating on Android phones:
- Update WhatsApp to Latest Version
- Enable Contacts Permission
- Check Sync Contacts Setting
- Clear WhatsApp Cache and Data
- Restart Your Phone
- Re-install WhatsApp
- Sync Contacts Manually
Let’s look at each of these solutions in more detail:
1. Update WhatsApp to Latest Version
Open Google Play Store > My Apps & Games > Check for WhatsApp updates. Install the latest version of WhatsApp if an update is available.
2. Enable Contacts Permission
Go to Phone Settings > Apps & Notifications > WhatsApp > Permissions > Enable Contacts permission.
3. Check Sync Contacts Setting
Open WhatsApp > Settings > Contacts > Sync Contacts and make sure it is enabled.
4. Clear WhatsApp Cache and Data
Go to Phone Settings > Storage > Clear Cache and Clear Data for WhatsApp. This will wipe corrupt files.
5. Restart Your Phone
Restart your Android phone completely. This will refresh all apps and system processes.
6. Re-install WhatsApp
Uninstall and reinstall the latest version of WhatsApp from the Play Store or WhatsApp website.
7. Sync Contacts Manually
Open WhatsApp > Settings > Contacts > Sync Contacts. Tap the Sync button at the top to manually force a contact update.
How to Fix WhatsApp Contacts Not Updating on iPhone
For iPhones, here are the steps to troubleshoot and fix WhatsApp contacts not updating issues:
- Update to Latest WhatsApp Version
- Enable Contacts Access
- Turn on Sync Contacts
- Hard Reset WhatsApp
- Restart iPhone
- Reinstall WhatsApp
- Manually Sync Contacts
Let’s understand these steps:
1. Update to Latest WhatsApp Version
Go to App Store > Updates > Check for WhatsApp update. Install latest version if available.
2. Enable Contacts Access
Go to Settings > Privacy > Contacts > Turn on WhatsApp contact access.
3. Turn on Sync Contacts
Open WhatsApp > Settings > Contacts > Sync Contacts and enable it.
4. Hard Reset WhatsApp
Swipe up to close WhatsApp > Settings > WhatsApp > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
5. Restart iPhone
Restart your iPhone for troubleshooting.
6. Reinstall WhatsApp
Delete and reinstall latest WhatsApp from App Store.
7. Manually Sync Contacts
Open WhatsApp > Settings > Contacts > Tap Sync. This will force a manual contact update.
Conclusion
To summarize, WhatsApp contacts not updating is a common technical issue faced by many users globally. The problem could arise due to varied reasons like outdated app version, incorrect settings, corrupted files, server problems etc. Following the troubleshooting steps above carefully for your iPhone or Android phone should help resolve contact sync issues. Update WhatsApp to the latest version, enable required permissions and settings, clear app cache and data, restart your device and reinstall if needed. This will get your WhatsApp contacts updating seamlessly again.