How to Fix Connection Issues on WhatsApp

Do you encounter connection issues on WhatsApp?

Even with Facebook Messenger’s presence worldwide, WhatsApp remains unrivaled on any platform. With more than 2 billion registered users, it’s considered the largest and most used messaging service in the market. 

One reason for WhatsApp’s success is its tested platform that simply works and is very convenient. 

Nonetheless, this doesn’t mean that WhatsApp doesn’t come with its own problems. 

If you’re reading this, we can safely assume that you are experiencing connection issues on WhatsApp. 

Most of the time, connection issues on WhatsApp are caused by unstable networks or faulty servers. On the other hand, it can also be due to corrupted files, improper device configurations, and third-party applications. 

Today, we’ll show you what to do if you encounter connection issues on WhatsApp. 

Let’s begin!

1. Check WhatsApp Servers. 

Every time you encounter connection issues on WhatsApp, the first thing you should do is check where the problem is coming from. You can do this by visiting third-party sites like Downdetector to view the platform’s current status. 

Whatsapp Status

Sadly, server-related issues can’t be addressed on your end. If WhatsApp’s servers are down, the only thing you can do is wait for their team to resolve the problem. 

On the other hand, you can head to the following solutions below if there’s nothing wrong with WhatsApp’s servers. 

2. Restart Your Device. 

One of the quickest ways to fix most issues on WhatsApp or any platform is to restart your device. This should allow your system to reload its resources and eliminate temporary errors that cause connectivity issues to your phone. 

For Android devices, see the guide below to reboot your system: 

  1. Locate the Power button on your Android device. 
  2. After that, hold it down until the options menu appears. 
  3. Finally, choose Restart to reboot your system. 
connection issues on WhatsApp

If you’re using an iOS device, here’s what you need to do:

  1. Access the Assistive Touch on your display. 
  2. Next, go to the Device tab and tap on More
  3. Lastly, tap the Restart option. 
connection issues on WhatsApp

Once done, relaunch WhatsApp on your device to see if the problem is solved. 

3. Check Your Network Connection. 

A slow network is usually the cause of connection issues on WhatsApp. If you can’t access the app, it may indicate that your internet is running slow or unstable. To confirm this, run a test using Fast.com to measure your network’s current bandwidth. 

Speed Test

If the result indicates an issue with your network, unplug your router from the power source and wait 5 to 10 seconds before reconnecting it. This should re-establish the connection with your ISP’s servers.

Restart Router

Once done, perform another test to check if the problem is solved. Contact your ISP if the issue persists and ask them to fix their service. 

4. Ensure Airplane Mode is Disabled. 

Airplane Mode is a setting on smartphones and tablets for use onboard an aircraft. When it’s enabled, your device won’t receive and transmit wireless signals, so it doesn’t interfere with the airplane’s communication systems. 

If you experience connectivity issues on WhatsApp, you may have accidentally turned on Airplane Mode on your device. 

Before launching the app, ensure that Airplane Mode is turned off and your device is connected to Wi-Fi or cellular data. 

5. Turn Off VPN. 

VPNs could also cause connectivity issues not only on WhatsApp but your entire system. While they work great for protecting your data, some VPNs don’t function efficiently and could introduce delays and instability to your network. 

When this happens, applications on your device can’t establish a proper connection with its servers. 

To avoid this, turn off your VPN before accessing WhatsApp. 

PureVPN

On the other hand, you can try switching to PureVPN if your current service keeps giving you headaches. PureVPN uses high-speed servers worldwide to ensure fast and reliable connections while protecting your data. 

PureVPN also works well with most streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, and HBO Max. 

6. Reset Your Network Settings. 

You may have played around with your device’s settings and changed some configurations that caused network issues. It’s also possible that some third-party apps changed your device’s settings. 

Try resetting your network settings and see if the issue goes away. 

For Android users, check out the steps below to reset your network settings: 

  1. First, open the Settings app on your device. 
  2. After that, go to System
  3. Now, tap on Advanced and access the Reset Options tab. 
  4. Lastly, choose Reset Wi-Fi, Mobile, & Bluetooth. Follow the prompts to continue with the process. 
connection issues on WhatsApp

If you’re using an iOS device, you can reset your network settings by doing the following: 

  1. On your home screen, tap on the Settings app to launch it. 
  2. Next, go to General and open the Reset tab. 
  3. Finally, tap on Reset Network Settings and follow the on-screen instructions to continue. 
connection issues on WhatsApp

Once done, reconnect to your network and check if the problem is solved. 

7. Update WhatsApp. 

A temporary bug or glitch may have caused WhatsApp’s installation files to corrupt, causing connectivity issues to the app. If this is the case, try updating WhatsApp on your device.

On Android devices, here’s how you can update WhatsApp: 

  1. Launch the Play Store on your device. 
  2. Now, tap on your Profile and open the Manage Apps & Device tab. 
  3. After that, go to Updates Available and look for WhatsApp
  4. Finally, hit the Update button if there’s an available update. 
connection issues on WhatsApp

For iOS users, see the guide below to update WhatsApp: 

  1. First, open the App Store on your iOS device. 
  2. After that, go to your Profile
  3. Lastly, look for WhatsApp and hit the Update button. 
connection issues on WhatsApp

Go back to your account after the update and check if you can connect to the servers. 

8. Reinstall WhatsApp. 

If updating the app did not work, try reinstalling it to clear broken and corrupted files from your system. This should also ensure that you have the latest working version of WhatsApp installed on your device. 

Here’s how you can delete WhatsApp :

  1. On your home screen, locate WhatsApp
  2. After that, hold it’s icon until the selection menu shows up. 
  3. Finally, tap on Uninstall (Android) or Remove App (iOS) to delete WhatsApp
connection issues on WhatsApp

Once done, head to the Play Store or App Store on your device and reinstall the app from there. 

9. Contact WhatsApp Support. 

If the issue persists, the last thing you can do is ask for assistance from the experts. 

Visit WhatsApp’s Help Center and get in touch with their team to report the issue you’ve been experiencing on the app. Provide all the necessary details on your report to make it easier for WhatsApp to assess the situation. 

connection issues on WhatsApp

You can also check the guides on their page and see if you can find other solutions. 

That ends our guide for fixing connection issues on WhatsApp. If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below, and we’ll do our best to answer them.

If this guide helped you, please share it. 🙂

Author

  • John Sixto

    John is a staff writer at Saint and comes from a SAP ABAP development background. He has a Bachelors in IT and has been writing since 2018, with over 500 posts published. He loves to build PCs and has a deep curiosity in understanding how different components and configurations work. John spends hundreds of hours at a time, researching and testing the software and apps, before he proceeds to write about it. LinkedIn X (Twitter)

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