Top 10 Ways to Fix WhatsApp Not Sending Messages on Android and iOS

Top 10 Ways to Fix WhatsApp Not Sending Messages on Android and iOS

WhatsApp is the world’s largest instant messaging platform with over 2 billion users. Even after the recent privacy fiasco, the Facebook-owned company tops the popularity charts on both the App Store and the Play Store. While millions of users are joining WhatsApp, several are complaining that messages are not being sent to their friends and family through the app.


Image of Whats App feature

There can be many reasons behind this strange behavior. Typically, WhatsApp works as advertised, but if you experience message sending failure, follow the troubleshooting steps below.

1. Update WhatsApp

WhatsApp frequently rolls out updates for its app on iOS and Android. WhatsApp not sending messages may be due to the recent buggy version installed on your device.

Open the App Store or Google Play Store on the device. Go to the update section and download the latest version to the device.

2. Quit the WhatsApp beta program

If you are part of the WhatsApp Beta program and sending a message fails with the version installed on the device, it may be a good idea to quit the beta program and go for the stable version from the App Store or from Google Play Store.

On iPhone, open the TestFlight app> WhatsApp> and select Exit Beta from the next menu.


Quit WhatsApp beta iOS

On Android, open the Play Store and go to WhatsApp. There you will see the option to exit the beta program.


Exit the beta version of WhatsApp Android

3. Allow WhatsApp to use mobile data (iPhone)

iOS allows you to restrict mobile data usage for certain apps from the settings menu. If the option is enabled for the WhatsApp application, you may not send or receive messages.


Use WhatsApp mobile data

Open the iPhone Settings app and scroll down to WhatsApp. In the next menu, slide the switch next to Mobile data to turn it on.

4. Activate the use of background data

Enabling this option allows you to send or receive WhatsApp messages even when you are not using the app. On iPhone, open Settings and go to WhatsApp. Then turn on background app refresh to allow WhatsApp to use the data in the background.


Refreshing the Whatsapp background app

Android users can long press the WhatsApp app icon and open the app info menu. Open the Mobile data and Wi-Fi menu and turn on the Background data option.


Android background refresh

5. Lock WhatsApp in the background (Android)

Some third-party Android skins like MIUI, Color OS, and FunTouch OS destroy background apps. If you send a message and immediately close the app, the system may force the background app to close and lead to message sending failure.

You need to lock the app from your phone’s multitasking menu. The system will keep the application alive all the time.

6. Disable data saver / low data mode

Data saver mode on iPhone or Android could prevent WhatsApp from working normally. If you have turned on low data mode on your phone, it may prevent WhatsApp from retrieving the latest messages.


Disable low data mode

To turn off iPhone low data mode, open Settings app> Cellular> Cellular data options and turn off low data mode in the next menu.

For Android phones, go to Settings> Network & Internet> Data Saver and turn the option off.


Data saver disabled

7. Disable battery saving mode

Battery saving mode is intended to prevent apps from running in the background to save battery juice. If you’ve enabled this option, consider disabling it from the Settings menu. IPhone users can go to Settings> Battery and turn off low power mode from the menu.


Turn off battery saver

Android users can go to Settings> Battery> Battery Saver and turn off the option.

8. Clear the cache

Clearing cache for WhatsApp will not spoil any personal data; it will only delete temporary files. To clear the cache, long press the WhatsApp app icon and open the app info. Go to Storage and cache, then clear the cache.


Clear android cache

9. Restart the phone and reinstall WhatsApp

Restarting the Android phone or iPhone often fixes some issues. You can restart your Android or iPhone device and check whether or not WhatsApp video call is working. If not, take a backup of your current WhatsApp data and try to reinstall the app.

10. Check if WhatsApp is down

It is advisable to check Downdetector to see if WhatsApp is having problems on servers or not. Visit the Downdetector website and search for WhatsApp. If you notice huge spikes in the chart for the past 24 hours, sit back, relax, and let the company solve the problem on their own.

Also on Guiding Tech

Start using WhatsApp again

WhatsApp plays a major role in the lives of many people. WhatsApp not sending messages can be a real headache for you. Follow the tips above and fix the problem on the go.

Then:

Learn how to manage WhatsApp storage on iPhone and Android by reading the article below.

Last updated Feb 16, 2021

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