Quick Overview
There are a few common reasons why WhatsApp notification sounds may not be working properly on iPhones:
- Your iPhone is set to silent/Do Not Disturb mode
- Your iPhone volume is turned down or muted
- You have disabled notification sounds for WhatsApp
- Your WhatsApp notification sound is set to None
- There is an issue with the WhatsApp app
- Your iPhone software needs to be updated
The good news is that in most cases, this issue can be easily fixed by adjusting your iPhone’s settings or updating WhatsApp. We will walk through the top troubleshooting tips to get your WhatsApp notification sounds back up and running.
Check if Your iPhone is in Silent or Do Not Disturb Mode
The most common reason why notification sounds may not be working is if your iPhone is set to silent mode or Do Not Disturb. When these modes are activated, all notification sounds will be muted.
To check if your iPhone is in silent/DND mode:
- Swipe down from the top right corner of your iPhone screen to open Control Center
- Check if the crescent moon icon is highlighted – this indicates Do Not Disturb is on
- Check if the volume slider is set all the way to the left with no volume bars showing – this means silent mode is on
If your iPhone is set to silent or DND, simply toggle these off by pressing the crescent moon icon or sliding the volume back up. This should immediately enable notification sounds again.
Increase the Volume on Your iPhone
If your iPhone is not in silent mode, the next thing to check is your overall device volume. If the volume is turned down low or muted, WhatsApp notification sounds will be hard to hear or non-existent.
To increase the volume:
- Use the volume buttons on the side of your iPhone to increase the volume
- Swipe down from the top right to open Control Center and move the volume slider to the right
- Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics and make sure the volume slider is up and “Change with Buttons” is enabled
Setting your iPhone volume to an audible level will allow WhatsApp notification sounds to be heard.
Check WhatsApp Notification Settings
If your overall iPhone volume is fine, the issue may be that notification sounds are disabled specifically for WhatsApp. Here’s how to check your WhatsApp notification settings:
- Open WhatsApp and go to Settings
- Tap Notifications
- Make sure thatnotification sounds are enabled by toggling the “Sounds” setting on
- Double check that the alert tone is not set to “None”
As long as sounds are enabled and a tone is selected, your WhatsApp notifications should play a sound when received. If sounds were disabled, be sure to turn them on.
Change the WhatsApp Notification Sound
If WhatsApp notification sounds are still not working, try selecting a different notification tone entirely:
- Go to WhatsApp Settings > Notifications > Sound
- Tap the current sound option (e.g. “Pulse”)
- Browse the available tones and select a new one
- Tap Back to save the new notification sound
Changing to a fresh WhatsApp alert tone may help resolve any issues with the previous sound not playing properly.
Force Close and Reopen the WhatsApp App
In some cases, a problem with the WhatsApp app itself could be preventing notification sounds from working. If you’ve verified settings are correct, try force closing and reopening WhatsApp:
- Double tap the Home button to open the multitasking view
- Locate WhatsApp in the app previews and swipe up to close it
- Open WhatsApp again from your Home screen
Reload the app and see if WhatsApp notifications now play a sound as expected. Force closing the app can resolve app issues like crashing or freezing.
Update Your iPhone Software
Outdated iOS software can also cause problems with WhatsApp notification sounds. Apple issues regular software updates to fix bugs and improve performance.
To update your iPhone:
- Go to Settings > General > Software Update
- Install any available iOS updates and complete the installation process
- Restart your iPhone after updating
Updating to the latest iOS version can help resolve app glitches and notification issues. Keep your iPhone software up-to-date.
Uninstall and Reinstall WhatsApp
If you still can’t get WhatsApp notification sounds working after other troubleshooting, a more advanced fix is to uninstall and reinstall the WhatsApp app:
- Delete WhatsApp from your Home screen by long pressing the icon and tapping “Remove App”
- Go to the App Store and redownload the latest version of WhatsApp
- Set up WhatsApp again and configure notification sounds
This will completely refresh the app files and settings which could resolve any stubborn issues. Make sure to back up your WhatsApp data before uninstalling.
Contact WhatsApp Support
In rare cases, you may need to contact WhatsApp directly for additional troubleshooting:
- Open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Help
- Tap Contact Us and explain the notification sound issue
- WhatsApp can provide customized support to diagnose the problem
- You may need to screenshot settings and provide other details
While not always necessary, WhatsApp support can help pinpoint causes that standard troubleshooting steps haven’t resolved.
Conclusion
In most situations, WhatsApp notification sounds will start working properly again by adjusting iPhone mute settings, increasing volume, updating software, changing the alert tone, or reinstalling the app. With consistent sound issues, contact WhatsApp support for expert assistance. Be sure to keep WhatsApp updated and verify notification settings to prevent problems. With the right troubleshooting, you can get WhatsApp message sounds back up and running smoothly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are my WhatsApp notifications completely silent?
This is likely because your iPhone is set to Do Not Disturb mode, which mutes all notifications, or your overall iPhone volume is turned down low or muted. Check DND status, increase volume, and make sure WhatsApp sounds are enabled.
Why won’t my custom WhatsApp notification tone play?
Try setting a new default tone first. If this doesn’t work, the custom tone file may be corrupted or unsupported. Reinstall WhatsApp or use a tone provided by the app.
I can’t find notification settings in WhatsApp – where are they?
Open WhatsApp and tap the Settings tab (gear icon) > Notifications. On this page, you can configure notification sounds, vibrate, previews etc.
How do I tell if my iPhone software needs updating?
Go to Settings > General > Software Update. If an update is available, you’ll see the Install button. Tap this to update to the latest iOS version.
Will I lose my WhatsApp chats if I uninstall the app?
No, your messages are safely stored. Be sure to back up conversations to iCloud before uninstalling as a precaution. Just reinstall WhatsApp and restore the backup.
Summary of Troubleshooting Tips
- Check for Do Not Disturb or Silent mode on your iPhone
- Increase overall device volume in Settings or Control Center
- Verify notification sounds are enabled for WhatsApp specifically
- Change the WhatsApp alert tone and test a different sound
- Force quit and relaunch the WhatsApp app
- Update your iPhone software and restart
- Uninstall/reinstall WhatsApp to refresh app files
- Contact WhatsApp support if issue persists
Following these steps should get your missing WhatsApp notification sounds back in action. With customized settings and updated software, you can receive alert tones for WhatsApp messages again.