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  • Writer's pictureAngelika Muderris

What to Do When WhatsApp is Not Working on Your Mobile Phone

WhatsApp is the most popular mobile messaging app on the globe. It has two billion monthly active users, and one of the reasons they spend their time on WhatsApp is because it provides them with various options.


WhatsApp allows users to send, receive and forward various things. These include texts with attached images, GIFs, audio, and video at no cost. Moreover, it is free of charge for both parties.


This messaging app allows you to send video messages too. You can even edit them before sending them. This feature is still free of charge.


According to a study, one of the factors in the popularity of WhatsApp is the delivery of messages.


WhatsApp delivers messages immediately and quickly. Moreover, chat apps like WhatsApp provide more details about the interaction and process.


As such, you will understand why some people were confused when they found themselves unable to use WhatsApp on their phones.

WhatsApp is the most popular mobile messaging app on the globe. (Photo credit: lifewire)

Why WhatsApp Is Not Working On Your Mobile Phone


There is a recent update of the WhatsApp application. It means that some older Android phones and iPhone models will not be able to use the app anymore.


According to WhatsApp, users with Android phones running OS 4.0.4 and older cannot use the app anymore. And if you are using an iPhone, you will need iOS 10 or later.


WhatsApp claims that you would have the best experience on a smartphone running the latest version of iOS.


Inevitably, older, slower phones will not be able to access the new features of WhatsApp. That is because retired processors power these devices. They also generally have limited internal storage.


Are you at risk if you are using an older mobile phone? Yes, you could be. That is because you will stop receiving vital security updates after as little as two years. However, it depends on the smartphone brand and model you purchased.


Is your old mobile phone no longer supporting security updates from the latest software? You are a much easier target for hackers looking to get their hands on your vital personal data.


Why is WhatsApp not working on iPhone devices or Android phones? It is possibly because of one of these reasons:

  • Your Smartphone Needs Updating. You will not be able to install WhatsApp if your phone is running an older operating system. Do you want to use WhatsApp, but you cannot upgrade to an OS that supports the app? You might want to consider purchasing a new smartphone.

  • WhatsApp Servers Might Be Down. There is a possibility that the issue might not be because of you. It might be because the company experienced server outages. It means users are not able to send messages or make calls through the app. You can check Downdetector for an overview of WhatsApp outage reports.

  • App Needs Updating. Are you running an old version of WhatsApp on your mobile phone? You will find that you will not get access to the latest features and bug fixes. Phone experts suggest that you check your app store. Make sure to check if there is an updated version of WhatsApp available for download.

  • Low On Storage. Is WhatsApp running slow? You might want to see how much space WhatsApp is taking up on your device. You can do it by going to the Chats tab. Select More Options and tap Settings. After that, choose the Storage and Data option, and tap Manage storage.

  • Your Internet is Faulty. WhatsApp will flounder or run slow if your internet connection is poor.

What to Do When WhatsApp is Not Working on Your Phone


Yes, there are several reasons WhatsApp is not working on your mobile device. Fortunately, you can fix them fast.


Is your WhatsApp not connecting on your mobile phone? Here are the ways you can fix WhatsApp problems on Android phones and iPhone devices:

  • Check If WhatsApp is Down. The reason for WhatsApp not working could be due to the service being down. To see if the problem is WhatsApp itself, you should try using any other app or browser. If you see that the other apps are working, chances are the servers of WhatsApp are the issue. You can also use online tools, such as the website Down Detector. The Down Detector website lets you know if there are any issues with WhatsApp itself. So, if WhatsApp is down, all you need to do is wait until the app restores its service.

  • Close and Reopen the App. The cause of the problem might be the application. You can fix the issue by closing and reopening WhatsApp. You can also attempt to log out and log back in. This way, you can kill the pesky bugs and get all the gears back in place.

  • Check For Updates. Make sure that your phone is running the latest version of WhatsApp.

  • Restart Your Phone. Rebooting can fix most smartphone issues. It includes the problem in WhatsApp. Restarting your mobile phone is one of the first troubleshooting methods you should try.

  • Check Your Internet. The cause of the problem might be due to your internet being down. You can test other applications or the web browser. You should see if WhatsApp not working is an isolated issue.

If nothing else works, the issue might be involved your internet connection.


Are you operating over Wi-Fi or LAN? You should check the router.


Make sure to connect the router to the internet. If it is not, you might want to try restarting it.


If you are using a VPN, make sure that you turn it off. After that, check if that fixes the issue you are encountering.


Are you using mobile data? You should check if your data connection is on. Make sure to follow these steps:

  1. First, open the Settings app on your phone and head to Network & Internet.

  2. Next, select Mobile Network and toggle on the Mobile Data.

  3. If you are outside your country or network coverage, you should toggle Roaming on.

  • Clear The App Cache. Old data can get corrupted. It might be the reason for WhatsApp not working on your mobile phone. You might want to clear the app cache from time to time. Here's how you can do it:

  1. First, open the Settings app and go into Apps & Notifications.

  2. Next, find the WhatsApp application under the See all apps option.

  3. Then, tap on Storage & Cache and hit the Clear Cache option.

  4. After that, you can also select Clear Storage for a clean start.

  • Allow All App Permissions. The problems can come from not giving WhatsApp the necessary permissions to access essential information. If you want to change app permission settings, you only need to follow these steps:

  1. First, open the Settings app and go into Apps & Notifications.

  2. Next, find the WhatsApp application under See All Apps option.

  3. Then, select Permissions. Make sure that you allow access to everything.

  • Make Sure To Have Enough Storage. You will find that WhatsApp can have problems downloading content when the mobile phone runs out of storage. The first thing you should try is to clear some storage space on your mobile phone.

  • Make Sure to Enable Background Data. Is WhatsApp not giving you message notifications appropriately? There is a chance that you accidentally turned off background data. You can fix this in the settings. Here's how:

  1. First, open the Settings app on your mobile phone and head to Apps & Notifications.

  2. Next, find the WhatsApp application under the See All Apps option.

  3. Then, go to Mobile Data & Wi-Fi.

  4. Enable Background Data. You can find it under the App Settings option.

  5. You can also toggle Unrestricted Data Usage. It gives the app complete data access even when in Data Saver mode.

If you cannot upgrade your smartphone to an operating system that supports WhatsApp, you will need a new phone. Fortunately, you can purchase a new mobile device without spending so much money. You only need to buy a refurbished or second-hand phone.


When looking for a second-hand phone, make sure that you are shopping at a reputable retailer. QwikFone is one of the best and most reliable mobile phone companies in the UK.


Qwikfone offers a wide array of refurbished and second-hand phones. These include devices from Apple, Samsung, and Google. You will find that all the second-hand mobile phones from this brand come with a one-year warranty from the date of purchase.


The warranty includes all manufacturing defects. Every second-hand phone from QwikFone also comes with a set of brand-new accessories and a 30-day cool-off period with a full refund guarantee.


If you want to learn more about the collection of second-hand phone devices from QwikFone, you only need to click the link right here: https://qwikfone.com/collections/second-hand-phones.

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