WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 2 billion users worldwide. It offers convenient features like text messaging, voice and video calls, group chats, media sharing, and more. However, many users encounter issues like WhatsApp messages not going through or sending. There can be several reasons for this problem. In this article, we will dive into the various factors that can cause WhatsApp messages to fail and provide troubleshooting tips to resolve them.
Common Reasons Why WhatsApp Messages Fail to Send
Here are some of the most common reasons why your WhatsApp messages may not be going through:
Network connectivity issues
One of the most obvious causes of WhatsApp message sending failure is poor internet connectivity or network issues. WhatsApp requires an active internet connection to send and receive messages. Problems like weak Wi-Fi signal, mobile data network outage, switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data can interrupt the messaging service.
Outdated app version
Using an outdated version of WhatsApp can also lead to messages not getting delivered. WhatsApp frequently rolls out new updates with bug fixes and features. But if auto-update is disabled on your device, you may be running an old version with performance issues.
Incorrect date & time settings
WhatsApp relies on your device’s date and time settings to function properly. If the date/time on your phone is incorrect, it can cause issues with sending messages. This is especially common when the time zone is set incorrectly after traveling abroad.
Invalid contact numbers
Trying to message a contact with an invalid or incorrect phone number will result in messaging failure on WhatsApp. It is unable to deliver messages to numbers that are not registered on WhatsApp.
Banned or blocked contacts
If you have banned or blocked a contact, your messages will not go through to that particular contact. Similarly, if someone has blocked you, your messages to them will remain undelivered.
Service outage
In rare cases, there could be an outage or server issue on WhatsApp’s end that affects messaging globally. It is usually resolved within a few hours once detected by WhatsApp.
Account suspension
If your WhatsApp account gets suspended due to violations of terms of service, you will be unable to send or receive messages until the suspension is lifted.
Device storage full
When your phone storage is completely full, it can prevent WhatsApp from functioning normally and halt messaging. Lack of storage space can impact performance of apps.
Chat history corrupted
In some cases, a corrupted chat history or database can create issues with sending/receiving WhatsApp messages. This can happen if the app crashes while processing a large backup file.
Too many messages queued
If you have a very long queue of pending messages, it can sometimes lead to messaging failure. WhatsApp may limit how many messages can be queued at once to manage load.
Incompatible third-party apps
Using certain third-party apps like chat blockers, automation tools, hacks or mods may disrupt WhatsApp messaging and cause sending issues. These tools often violate WhatsApp’s terms.
How to Fix WhatsApp Messages Not Sending
If you are facing issues with WhatsApp messages not going through, here are some troubleshooting tips and solutions to resolve them:
Check your internet connection
First, ensure that your phone is connected to a stable internet connection, either through Wi-Fi or mobile data. Also check if you are able to browse web pages and use other internet-based apps without any interruption. Switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data to see if either of them fixes the issue.
Update to the latest version of WhatsApp
Go to your phone’s app store, search for WhatsApp and check if there are any pending updates. Install the latest version of WhatsApp. This can potentially fix any bugs that were causing messaging problems.
Set date, time and timezone correctly
Go to Settings > Date & Time on Android phones or Settings > General > Date & Time on iPhones. Make sure that the date, time and time zone are set correctly. Incorrect settings can interfere with WhatsApp’s messaging functions.
Verify the contact’s number
Carefully check the phone number you are trying to message and confirm it is correct. Look for any typos or errors in the number. Also verify that the number is registered on WhatsApp.
Unblock contacts if blocked/banned
If you have blocked or banned someone by mistake, go to WhatsApp Settings > Account > Privacy > Blocked contacts. Unblock their number so you can resume messaging.
Clear chat history/database
If your chat history is corrupted, you may need to clear it. On Android, go to Settings > Chats > Chat history. On iPhone, go to Settings > Chats > Clear All Chats. This will erase your messaging history but fix database issues.
Free up device storage space
Delete unused apps, photos, videos and files to free up internal storage space on your phone. This can improve WhatsApp’s performance if the issue is caused by insufficient storage.
Remove any unauthorized third-party apps
If you have installed any mods, hacks or unauthorized automation tools, uninstall them immediately. Using such apps violates WhatsApp’s policies and can interfere with messaging.
Log out and log back in
As a last resort, log out of your WhatsApp account, force quit the app, restart your phone and log back in. This can reset the app and resume normal messaging functions in most cases.
Contact WhatsApp support
If none of these fixes work, you should contact WhatsApp directly for support. Describe your issue and provide details like your phone OS, WhatsApp version, troubleshooting steps taken, etc. They may be able to detect and resolve server-side problems.
Preventive Measures
Here are some tips to avoid WhatsApp messaging problems in the future:
- Always keep WhatsApp updated to the latest version
- Set your date, time and timezone correctly on phone
- Maintain adequate storage space on your phone
- Create regular backups of chat history
- Avoid using unauthorized third-party tools with WhatsApp
- Check for WhatsApp service status updates during outages
- Report bugs and issues promptly to WhatsApp
Following these simple practices can go a long way in minimizing disruptions with WhatsApp messaging.
Why WhatsApp Messages Get Delayed
While complete message failure is frustrating, sometimes WhatsApp messages can also get delayed instead of not going through at all. Some common reasons for delayed WhatsApp messages include:
Network latency issues
High network latency due to congestion or poor connectivity can lead to delayed sending and receipt of WhatsApp messages. The messages eventually get delivered but remain pending for longer.
Server-side delays
Heavy server load and traffic can occasionally cause minor delays in WhatsApp message delivery. The servers may be occupied processing high volumes of messaging data.
Settings to reduce mobile data usage
If your WhatsApp settings are optimized to reduce mobile data consumption, it can result in delayed send times for messages when using mobile data.
Power saving mode enabled
Having power saving mode enabled on Android phones restrict background app activity. This can slow down WhatsApp messaging and introduce lag.
Poor performance of device
Using an older phone model with limited RAM and processing power can delay WhatsApp messaging speed and frequency. Lower-end phones tend to affect app performance.
Too many media files shared
Sending too many media files like photos and videos in a chat can temporarily slow down messaging speed due to the large data transfer.
WhatsApp Message Status Explained
WhatsApp displays different message delivery statuses to indicate the current state of your sent message. Here is what the different statuses mean:
| Status Icon | Meaning |
|---|---|
| One check mark | Message sent from your phone but not yet delivered to recipient’s phone. |
| Two check marks | Message successfully delivered to recipient’s phone. |
| Two blue check marks | Recipient has read your message. |
| Clock icon | Message is still sending, retry pending. |
| Exclamation mark | An error occurred in sending the message. |
| Info icon | The recipient has enabled read receipts off. |
Monitoring the message status icons can give you an exact idea of whether your messages are reaching the recipients or getting stuck somewhere along the way.
What To Do if WhatsApp is Down?
There may be times when WhatsApp servers are down globally, preventing messaging services. While frustrating, such outages are usually resolved within a few hours. Here are some things you can do when WhatsApp is down:
- Check https://downdetector.com/status/whatsapp/ to confirm WhatsApp is down in your area.
- Visit WhatsApp’s Twitter handle or Help Center for outage updates.
- Disable Wi-Fi and try using mobile data, or vice versa.
- Try sending a message to someone in your contacts list to check if messages are going through.
- Force quit and relaunch the WhatsApp app on your device.
- Restart your phone and router if the outage persists.
- Use alternative messaging apps like Telegram or Signal temporarily.
- Wait patiently as WhatsApp technicians work to resolve the issue.
Following WhatsApp Support on social media can provide timely updates on when messaging services are likely to resume during downtimes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common FAQs about WhatsApp messages not sending:
Why do my WhatsApp messages show sent but not delivered?
If your WhatsApp messages are stuck on one check mark, it indicates they are sent from your phone but yet to reach the recipient’s device. Reasons could be poor connectivity, outdated app version, server issues, etc on the recipient’s end.
How to fix if my WhatsApp messages are not sending to one contact?
Try re-adding the contact, verifying if you have them blocked, asking them to restart their phone, clearing chat history with them, and checking for any messaging restrictions on their end.
What does the clock icon next to WhatsApp message mean?
A clock icon signifies that your message is still pending and sending is retried. This happens due to network issues or other errors. WhatsApp keeps retrying to send till successful.
Why does my WhatsApp say connecting?
If WhatsApp is stuck connecting, it means you likely have no internet connection. Check your Wi-Fi or mobile data and also restart the app. Server issues can also cause this at times.
How to send WhatsApp message to an unsaved number?
Open the WhatsApp chat screen, tap the new chat icon, enter the full phone number, and tap send to message unsaved numbers. The number should be registered on WhatsApp.
Conclusion
To summarize, WhatsApp messaging failures can occur due to various network, device-related, app glitches or user-error issues. Identifying the exact cause through methodical troubleshooting and applying the right solution is key to resolving message sending problems. Maintaining proper app settings, stable connectivity, latest app version, enough storage space and avoiding unauthorized tools can prevent such issues in the long run. While global outages are unavoidable, WhatsApp works promptly to reinstate services through its dedicated engineering teams. Following WhatsApp Support and checking for service updates can keep users informed when downtimes occur.