Is WhatsApp down?

Understanding WhatsApp availability

WhatsApp problems can affect individual features rather than the entire service. Text messages may remain pending while calls, media uploads, notifications, or WhatsApp Web continue to work. A failure across several features, devices, and connections is more consistent with a wider service problem than an issue limited to one phone, browser, conversation, or network.

For a possible broader incident, check the official Meta status page. It may report wider Meta service issues, but a clear status page does not rule out a short-lived WhatsApp disruption, a regional problem, or an account-, device-, or network-specific failure.

To narrow down the cause, compare WhatsApp on Wi-Fi and mobile data, test the mobile app and WhatsApp Web where available, and check whether the problem affects one conversation or every chat. Avoid reinstalling WhatsApp or clearing local app data until you know that relevant chats and backups can be restored.

Troubleshooting WhatsApp problems

Check for a wider incident

Open the official Meta status page and look for an active incident or update. If several WhatsApp features fail at the same time and similar behavior is reported by other users, a service-side problem is more plausible. Retry periodically rather than repeatedly changing settings or reinstalling the app.

Test the internet connection

• Switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data.
• Open another website or internet-connected app.
• If WhatsApp works on one connection but not the other, investigate the affected router, mobile-data access, VPN, proxy, firewall, captive portal, or restricted workplace or school network.
• If no internet-connected app works, resolve the local connection problem before treating the issue as a WhatsApp outage.

For browser or network connection errors, see [ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT](/guides/err-connection-timed-out) or [ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED](/guides/err-connection-refused).

Separate an app or device problem

Force-close and reopen WhatsApp, restart the phone, and install any pending update offered by the device. Check free storage, automatic date and time, mobile-data permission, notification permission, and background-data or battery-saving restrictions. These settings can delay notifications or prevent media and calls from working even when messaging is available.

If WhatsApp works on another device or in WhatsApp Web but not in the mobile app, focus on the app, phone permissions, storage, or device network settings. Confirm that the relevant backup can be restored before clearing app data or reinstalling.

Identify account- or conversation-specific symptoms

Test another chat if messages to one contact remain pending. A problem limited to one conversation or recipient is less consistent with a WhatsApp-wide outage. If WhatsApp shows an account, verification, or access notice, follow the instructions displayed in the app; generic outage troubleshooting may not resolve an account-specific restriction.

Check the affected feature

• Messages stuck on sending: test another chat and another connection.
• Notifications missing: check notification permission, Do Not Disturb, background access, and battery restrictions.
• Calls failing: test Wi-Fi and mobile data and check microphone and camera permissions.
• Photos or videos not sending: check storage and file-access permission, then see whether text messages send normally.
• WhatsApp Web not connecting: reload it, try another browser or network, and check the linked-device session and phone connection.

If the same failure occurs on every available connection and device, record the time, affected features, and exact error text before checking the status page again.