Having trouble getting links to open in WhatsApp on your iPhone? There could be several reasons why tapping on links in WhatsApp chats fails to launch the web browser and load the content.
Quick Diagnosis
Here are some quick things to check if links aren’t working in WhatsApp on your iPhone:
- Make sure WhatsApp is up to date – Links may fail if you’re running an outdated version of the app. Check the App Store for any available updates.
- Check your internet connection – Links won’t open if you’ve lost your WiFi or cellular data connection. Make sure you’re connected to the internet.
- Restart your iPhone – A simple reboot can often resolve glitchy behavior like links not opening. Power your phone off completely and turn it back on.
- Force quit and reopen WhatsApp – Completely close out of the WhatsApp app and relaunch it. This will dump cached data that could be causing issues.
- Make sure WhatsApp’s cellular data setting is enabled – WhatsApp needs this turned on to retrieve link content over mobile data networks.
- Check app permissions – WhatsApp requires access to Mobile Data to open web links. Make sure this permission hasn’t been revoked.
If the problem persists after trying the tips above, read on for some more in-depth troubleshooting steps.
Update to the Latest WhatsApp Version
One of the most common reasons links won’t open in WhatsApp is having an outdated version of the app installed. WhatsApp frequently releases new versions containing bug fixes and performance improvements.
Links failing to open properly is often fixed simply by updating to the latest WhatsApp release. Here’s how to check for and install updates on your iPhone:
- Open the App Store app.
- Tap your profile icon in the top right corner.
- Scroll down and tap Update next to WhatsApp Messenger.
- If no Update button is shown, your version is up to date.
You can also enable automatic updating for WhatsApp so you always have the newest version.
Enable Auto-Updating for WhatsApp
- Go to Settings > iTunes & App Store.
- Under Automatic Downloads, make sure App Updates is enabled.
With auto-updates turned on, the latest WhatsApp version will install as soon as it’s released without you having to manually check the App Store.
Verify Your Internet Connection
WhatsApp requires an active internet connection to retrieve content from web links. If your iPhone has no connectivity due to weak signal, Airplane Mode enabled, or disabled WiFi, links obviously won’t work.
Here are some ways to confirm your device has working internet access:
- Check for WiFi, LTE, 4G, or 3G in the status bar at the top of the screen. If you see an exclamation point or no connection symbols, you’ve lost your connection.
- Try loading web pages in Safari or Chrome. If pages fail to load, internet is down.
- Launch a different app that requires internet like Facebook, Instagram or Maps. If they can’t load content, connectivity is the issue.
- Ask Siri “Are you connected to the internet?” Siri will check connectivity status and respond appropriately.
- Go to Settings > WiFi and make sure WiFi is enabled and connected to a network. Toggle WiFi off and on to refresh the connection.
- Go to Settings > Mobile Data and make sure Cellular Data is enabled if you don’t have WiFi.
- Put your iPhone in Airplane mode for a few seconds, then turn Airplane mode off to reset all network connections.
Once you’ve confirmed your iPhone has an active internet connection, try WhatsApp links again. They should now open properly when tapped.
Force Close and Relaunch WhatsApp
If your internet connection checks out okay, a buggy instance of WhatsApp could be preventing links from working properly. Force quitting the app and relaunching it essentially reboots WhatsApp, clearing out any glitches.
Here’s how to force close and relaunch WhatsApp on your iPhone:
- Double tap the Home button to open the multitasking view.
- Swipe up on the WhatsApp preview card to force close the app.
- Open WhatsApp again from your Home screen or app drawer.
As WhatsApp restarts, it will re-establish all network connections and reload its internal webview component that handles displaying links. Many times this will resolve any lingering issues that were preventing links from opening.
Toggle WhatsApp’s Cellular Data Access
For WhatsApp to retrieve link content over mobile networks, the app needs permission to use cellular data. If Cellular Data access is disabled in WhatsApp’s iOS settings, links will fail to open unless you’re on WiFi.
Here’s how to check and re-enable WhatsApp’s Cellular Data setting:
- Go to Settings > Cellular.
- Scroll down and tap WhatsApp.
- Make sure the Cellular Data switch is turned on green.
Toggling this setting off and back on can kickstart WhatsApp’s cellular connectivity if it’s become stuck. With cellular data access enabled, links should start opening normally again.
Verify App Permissions
Along with cellular data, WhatsApp needs access to Mobile Data to retrieve link content in the app. If Mobile Data permission is revoked, links will fail to load.
Here’s how to check and re-enable WhatsApp’s Mobile Data permission on iPhone:
- Go to Settings > Privacy > Mobile Data.
- Check that WhatsApp is in the list with the switch toggled on.
- If it’s missing, tap Enable Next to WhatsApp to re-enable Mobile Data access.
Revoking and restoring this key permission can help get WhatsApp link functionality working properly again on iPhone.
Update Your iPhone Software
Along with app updates, keeping your iPhone’s system software up to date is important for stability and performance. Outdated iOS versions often have unpatched bugs that can interfere with apps like WhatsApp.
Updating to the latest iOS release only takes a few minutes and can resolve system-level issues preventing WhatsApp links from opening.
Update to the Latest iOS Version
- Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
- Tap Download and Install if an update is available.
- Enter your Passcode when prompted.
- Tap Agree to the Terms and Conditions.
- Tap Agree to temporarily disable biometric unlocking.
- Tap Install Now to proceed with the update.
- Your iPhone will restart automatically once complete.
Installing the newest iOS update often irons out bugs and glitches, bringing back full WhatsApp functionality like properly opening links.
Try an Alternate Browser
By default, WhatsApp for iOS uses the built-in Safari web browser to display pages when you tap on a link. As a troubleshooting step, you can try setting WhatsApp to open links in a different browser like Chrome or Firefox instead.
Sometimes the alternate browser will work properly even if Safari exhibits issues opening WhatsApp links. To change the default browser setting in WhatsApp:
- Open WhatsApp Settings > Chats.
- Tap Default Browser.
- Select Chrome, Firefox or another installed browser.
Test links again after setting an alternate default browser. If they now open properly, an incompatibility with Safari’s iOS integration could be causing the problem.
Check Link Formatting
While not common, occasionally link formatting issues can prevent WhatsApp from recognizing and opening a link when tapped.
Check any problematic links you’ve tried to open and make sure they’re formatted properly:
- Link text should be viewable, not just the raw URL.
- The URL should begin with http:// or https:// and have a proper domain extension like .com or .org.
- Special characters in the URL should be escaped properly. For example, convert %20 to its unescaped version – a space.
If you spot any incorrect link formatting, try resending the link after fixing the formatting. Well-formed links are less likely to cause issues opening in WhatsApp.
Reset Network Settings
Resetting all network settings on your iPhone essentially starts fresh and can resolve persistent connectivity issues like links failing to open in WhatsApp.
Here’s how to reset network settings on iPhone:
- Go to Settings > General > Reset.
- Tap Reset Network Settings.
- Enter your passcode if prompted.
- Tap Reset Network Settings again to confirm.
This will reset all WiFi networks, cellular settings, and other connectivity configurations to defaults. After your iPhone reboots, set up your WiFi and cellular networks again, then test WhatsApp links.
A full network reset often clears up intermittent network glitches that prevent links from working properly in WhatsApp and other apps.
Delete and Reinstall WhatsApp
If all else fails, deleting and reinstalling WhatsApp can work wonders to resolve pesky issues like non-functioning links. This essentially provides a clean slate for WhatsApp settings and data on your iPhone.
To delete and reinstall WhatsApp:
- Delete WhatsApp from your Home screen by long pressing the app icon and tapping Delete App.
- Go to the App Store and re-download the latest WhatsApp version.
- When prompted, log back into your WhatsApp account using your phone number.
Once WhatsApp finishes re-activating with your number, try links again. Having a 100% clean instance of the app often resolves strange issues that can’t be fixed otherwise.
Contact WhatsApp Support
If no amount of standard troubleshooting fixes the links issue in your WhatsApp app, it’s time to contact WhatsApp support for additional help:
- Open WhatsApp > Settings > Help > Contact Us.
- Email the WhatsApp support team describing your links problem in detail.
- Include your iPhone model, iOS version, WhatsApp version, and what troubleshooting you’ve tried.
- A WhatsApp representative will respond with customized troubleshooting help.
- They may provide steps not covered in standard troubleshooting guides.
- If there’s a larger underlying issue, they’ll gather details to improve WhatsApp for everyone.
Directly contacting WhatsApp support provides the best chance to resolve uncommon issues not fixed by standard troubleshooting. Include as many details as possible when you reach out.
Conclusion
Links failing to open is one of the more frustrating WhatsApp issues that can occur on iPhone. With the app’s heavy reliance on tapping links to view media and articles, non-working links severely limits WhatsApp’s capabilities.
Fortunately, a combination of standard troubleshooting techniques like updating the app, resetting network settings, reinstalling WhatsApp, and contacting WhatsApp support directly can usually resolve link problems. Don’t hesitate to methodically try every troubleshooting step covered in this guide.
Persistence pays off when dealing with finicky issues like WhatsApp links not working. Don’t give up until you’ve exhausted all options. With the right fix, you’ll be back to seamlessly tapping on links and enjoying everything WhatsApp has to offer.
Here’s a quick summary of the troubleshooting tips covered in this guide:
Quick Fixes
- Update WhatsApp to the latest version
- Check your internet connection
- Restart your iPhone
- Force quit and relaunch WhatsApp
- Enable WhatsApp’s cellular data setting
- Verify WhatsApp’s app permissions
Advanced Troubleshooting
- Update your iPhone software
- Try using an alternate browser
- Check link formatting
- Reset network settings
- Delete and reinstall WhatsApp
- Contact WhatsApp support
Following the comprehensive troubleshooting advice in this guide should get WhatsApp links opening properly again in no time. Just stay calm, remain thorough, and keep tweaking settings and adjustments until links work as expected once more.
| Quick Fixes | Advanced Troubleshooting |
|---|---|
|
|
|
|