WhatsApp is usually stable and works well, except for a few moments like Christmas where it is saturated by the number of messages sent. Only in some cases does the server go down due to technical problems of the company, but there are also occasions in which it does not work due to causes of our mobile device.
This is why it is important identify the problem and provide a solution when Whatsapp has stopped working. In this guide you will learn how to check the source of the problem and apply a solution.
WhatsApp down?
Before doing anything, the first thing you should identify is whether the problem is with the service itself, that is, what WhatsApp server down and the same problem is happening to other users. In these cases you can be calm and the only thing left is to wait for Meta to solve the problem as soon as possible.
You can contact other users in another way and ask them if it also happens to them or look on social networks or the Internet if there is news regarding a fall. That way you know it’s not your thing.
Another method to know if WhatsApp has fallen is to go to downdetector. It is a service to detect falls in different services. It is a very popular place where users check these falls and it is the most practical to rule out this problem or certify that it is a fall.
In Downdetector you should look at the graph to see if peaks appear that may indicate a fall. A fall report will clear you up. And if you don’t see anything strange, the next thing is to do other checks as I indicate in the next section.
Internet problem?
Before you start checking settings and doing other things, The first thing is to check if your mobile has an Internet connection. Many times the problem is precisely that and nothing really happens to WhatsApp. For example, you could check that:
- You missed airplane mode by mistake and all transmissions have been disconnected.
- Check that you can browse the Internet or use the Internet in other apps without problem to rule out connection problems.
- In case there are also problems with the connection in other apps, then the problem may be with your WiFi or mobile data.
- If you’re only connected to WiFi, you can try restarting the router or turning the router off and on to see if that fixes it.
- In case you have only the mobile data connection, you should check if that connection is active and if you have good coverage at the moment.
- Sometimes, when neither your WiFi nor your mobile data connection works, it does not have to be your own cause. Sometimes the services provided by the provider also fail in a timely manner.
Is it my problem?
It may be a specific problem with your mobile or with the WhatsApp app. This also does not have to be downloaded, as it can be a fairly common problem. The app usually crashes if you’re signed up for the WhatsApp Betas program, although if you have the stable version of Google Play, you wouldn’t have to download a problem from the app itself.
If you suspect a problem with the app, you can try going to Settings, then Applications, find WhatsApp in the list, enter its settings and clear the cache. This usually works sometimes. If the problem persists, the next thing to do is to reinstall Whatsapp. But before that you should make a backup.
In case you have the Beta, you can also make a backup of all your messages and then go back to the previous version. In this way, you will be checking if it is a problem with the app itself. If so, after this you will have WhatsApp working again. Otherwise, you can continue reading.
Other common solutions
If the above has not worked, then you can also perform some classic maneuvers that serve to fix almost any type of problem with the operating system itself or with Android apps. To solve these problems, you should apply the solutions that I show you in the following list:
- Restart the mobile. This can be a solution for some specific problems with the app itself or with the operating system.
- Check for updates for WhatsApp and install the latest version. This also works on many occasions, since the outdated app has been able to stop working due to a specific error that is corrected with a patch in the new update.
- Connect and disconnect your network to see if that takes effect and it was a one-off connectivity issue while WhatsApp was running. You can also switch from WiFi network to mobile data or vice versa.
- If you have the WhatsApp Beta, go back to the stable version, which is the one that will give you the least problems. The Beta allows you to try new features before other users, but it is not the stable version of the app.
- Clear the cache and force close WhatsApp. To do this, go to Settings, then enter Applications, look for WhatsApp in the list of apps, click on it and now it’s a matter of pressing the buttons or options for these actions.
- Check the memory of your mobile device. Sometimes it’s as simple as having the storage space saturated and not letting you download new WhatsApp updates or the app itself can’t operate properly due to lack of space.
- If you have installed an update or an app recently and since then WhatsApp has stopped working, then you should think about going back in the update or uninstalling the app that is causing the problem.
As you can see, you don’t have to go to such extreme cases as deleting the cache partition or resetting the mobile to the factory. These solutions are extreme and should only be done in very extreme cases. This will prevent you from losing data, or having to install all the apps you had again, configure the mobile as it was, etc.