How To Fix WhatsApp Not Connecting

Ultimate Guide To Fix WhatsApp Not Connecting

Find Out Potential Fixes That Can Help You To Fix All of Your WhatsApp Connection Issues!

Overview: Is your WhatsApp is not connecting? Is your WhatsApp saying “Trying to reach phone. Retrying in X seconds”? X could be any number of seconds such as 3, 5,7,9,11,13 seconds. Well, not to worry! In this article, you will know how to fix WhatsApp not connecting error. It doesn’t matter whether you are using it on Android phone, iPhone, Desktop or web.

So, let’s start with real user practical scenarios!

Practical Scenario 1: WhatsApp Web Is Not Connecting

Whatsapp Web connection problem

edit2: was top happy too soon, this didn’t solve it though

edit, something that worked for me was going into the wifi and mobile settings, then chosing sim and network, then selecting data saving, enable data saving and then selecting WhatsApp and allow WhatsApp to use unlimited data..

I don’t know why but my whatsapp web is always showing a message that my phone isn’t connected to the internet.. Whatsapp messages also come in when I unlock my phone but when I lock the phone the error message on whatsapp web just pops up again, what can I do?

Source: OnePlus Community

Practical Scenario 2: WhatsApp Stuck At Trying To Connect With a Spinning Circle on iPhone

Connecting problem

Since yesterday WhatsApp keeps trying to connect with a spinning circle at the top. I tried everything! Restarting my iPhone reinstalling WhatsApp, clearing the cache using a different wlan. Can anybody help please? I can’t see or send messages

Source: Reddit

That were just two practical examples, but there are countless number of users out there encountering such issues daily.

It is because WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps and it is used by almost more than 5 billion users all across the world. It is safe and secure to chat, send or receive photos, videos, documents and more.

But when your WhatsApp doesn’t connect, then you may not be able to stay in touch with your family, friends and coworker.

So, what causing this issue to occur? Let’s find out the reasons first.

Also Read: Is Your WhatsApp Not Working? Here What You Need To Do!

Reasons Behind WhatsApp Not Connecting Issue

There could be several causes. Some of the common causes could be:

  • Internet connection.
  • Maybe WhatsApp is down.
  • Outdated WhatsApp version.
  • Cache files got corrupted.
  • Device operating system issue (Android/iOS/Windows/Mac).
  • And so on…

The reasons for some of these problems that you encounter has to do with the way how your mobile device connects to the internet and how WhatsApp is itself designed.

How To Fix WhatsApp Not Connecting Issue

When you experience that your WhatsApp is not connecting, then you must look to fix the problem as soon as possible, so that you can use it without any issue.

Here are those potential fixes, just go through them one by one and check if it solves your WhatsApp connection problem.

Solution #1: Restart Your Device

No matter which device you are using, whether you are using WhatsApp on your Android, iPhone, Windows PC, Mac, Linux or KaiOS phone, you just need to simply restart your device.

Restarting the device has solved many issues, it is one of the easiest yet effective solutions to fix any kind of problems.

So, when your WhatsApp is not working, just restart your device and see if it solves your issue or not.

Also Read: [Android] Recover Deleted WhatsApp Messages Without Backup

Solution #2: Close and Restart WhatsApp

Another one of the best troubleshooting methods to fix WhatsApp not connecting on mobile data or wifi is to close and re-open WhatsApp.

It might be possible that the app itself might have an issue, so simply close and reopen WhatsApp.

Besides that you can also logout and then login back, it might also help you.

This will prevent any bugs or glitches that the app might have.

Solution #3: Update Your WhatsApp

Using the old version of the app is not the issue, but sometimes things might change on the server-side which considers some features useless.

Hence, you must check for the latest version of the app. Go to Play Store or App Store and check updates for your WhatsApp. And if any available, then kindly update it.

Solution #4: Check If WhatsApp Server Is Down

Sometimes, your WhatsApp won’t connect, if its server is down.

To check, visit Downdetector site, type WhatsApp and check its server status.

Check If WhatsApp Server Is Down

If you see a spike in the graph, then it means that the server is down. In such case, you can’t do anything about it. You have to wait until the server problem gets fixed by WhatsApp.

Also Read: [WhatsApp Tips] Create and Share Poll In Seconds

Solution #5: Check Your Internet Connection

It could be possible that your internet is not working properly, not stable or is completely down.

To check, you can try using other apps or browse something in a web browser. If nothing works, then your internet might be creating the problem.

If you are connected to WIFI or LAN, then check the router and see that it is connected to the internet properly. You can restart the router if it is not working or you can contact your internet service provider.

If you are using VPN, then temporarily disable it and check if that resolves the WhatsApp not connecting error or not working issue.

If you are using mobile, then make sure that the data connection is on. Simply swipe down on your phone screen and tap Mobile Data to turn it ON, if it is OFF.

Also check your roaming settings, if you are out of the country or network coverage area. Please note extra charges might be applicable if you enable it.

Solution #6: Clear WhatsApp Cache

The app cache after a long usage might get corrupt. Hence you can delete the cache files of your app, in order to solve the problem.

Here follow the steps to clear WhatsApp cache on Android:

  • Go to Settings > Apps.
  • Tap on Manage Apps.
  • Look for WhatsApp and tap on it.
  • Tap on Storage.
  • Tap on Clear Cache.

Clear WhatsApp Cache and Data

If that doesn’t solve your problem, then you might Clear Data/Storage as well.

Also Read: How To Check WhatsApp Number and Username on Android

Solution #7: Allow All WhatsApp Permissions

Many users do not allow all permissions to WhatsApp as they do not want to give access to their important data and information.

For example, if you deny Contacts permission, then WhatsApp will not be able to select contacts. Similarly, you might have denied background data as well.

Hence, you must allow all required permissions:

  • Go to Settings on your Android phone.
  • Go to Apps > Manage Apps.
  • Look for WhatsApp and tap on it.
  • Tap Permissions and allow access to all.

Allow All Permissions For WhatsApp

Solution #8: Does WhatsApp Deleted Your Account?

If you have stopped using your WhatsApp for a long time, then there are chances that your account might have been deleted and therefore you are facing WhatsApp not connecting error.

Let me tell you that this social media chat messenger deletes the account after an inactivity of 120 days. In this case, you have to create a new WhatsApp account.

Also Read: How To Disable WhatsApp Call (Voice/Video) On Android

Solution #9: Check That Your Device Has Sufficient Storage

If your phone or device is running out of storage, then WhatsApp is not able to download content. So, the first thing you should try is to free up some storage on your device.

Check Your Device Have Sufficient Storage Space

Furthermore, open WhatsApp > tap on 3 dot Menu > Settings > Storage and data > Manage Storage > then go to Review and delete items. Now check the content and delete unwanted photos, videos and other files.

Review and delete items on WhatsApp

Also Read: Why WhatsApp Photos Are Not Showing In Gallery On Android

Solution #10: Enable Background Data

Sometimes, you might have accidentally disabled background data and due to this your WhatsApp is stuck on connecting. Additionally, you are not receiving message notifications appropriately.

It can be fixed easily, just enable the background data:

  • On your Android go to Settings > App > Manage Apps.
  • Look for WhatsApp and tap on it.
  • Tap on Data usage and then toggle the button to ON position, next to Background data.

Enable Background Data For WhatsApp

Solution #11: Contact WhatsApp Support Team

If none of the solutions work for you, then it’s high time that you must contact WhatsApp support team.

Explain your exact problem to them in detail. In return, follow their troubleshooting steps. They will be able to help you in the right direction.

Also Read: How Do I Fix WhatsApp Backup Stuck On Android?

Related Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]

Question 1: What does it mean when WhatsApp says connecting?

Answer 1: When WhatsApp says connecting then it means that your device does not have a proper internet connection or it could be possible that the WhatsApp server itself is down.

Question 2: How To Fix Can’t connect to WhatsApp on iPhone/iPad?

Answer 3: To fix follow the steps below:

  • Restart your iPhone/iPad.
  • Update the app from the Apple App store.
  • Check network coverage.
  • Enable/Disable Airplane mode.
  • Turn on Cellular data.
  • Turn WIFI OFF and ON.
  • Update your iPhone/iPad operating system to the latest version.
  • Check WIFI settings: Reboot wifi router. Try different wi-fi hotspots. Contact your internet service provider (ISP) for further help.
  • Reset Network Settings: Go to General > Transfer or Reset iPhone Reset >Reset Network Settings.
  • Turn off VPN services.
  • Turn off roaming.
  • Reinstall the app.

Question 3: How To Fix Can’t connect to WhatsApp On Android?

Answer 3: In order to fix WhatsApp keeps connecting On Android, follow the below steps:

  • Restart your Android phone.
  • Turn ON and OFF Airplane mode.
  • Check network signal.
  • Turn OFF and ON mobile data.
  • Enable background data usage for WhatsApp.
  • Update WhatsApp to the latest version from Google Play Store.
  • Update your Android operating system to the latest version.
  • Turn OFF and ON wifi. Try connecting to different wifi hotspots. If needed reboot your wifi router. Contact your internet service provider (ISP) for further help.
  • Turn off VPN services.
  • Turn off roaming.
  • Reinstall the app.

Question 4: How To Fix WhatsApp Not Connecting On Web/Desktop/Windows PC?

Answer 4: To fix WhatsApp not connecting on WEB, Desktop or Windows computer, follow the below steps:

Open WhatsApp web or desktop app. If you see a yellow banner that says “Computer not connected”, then make sure that your computer has an active internet connection.

If the internet connection is active and yet it is not connecting or working, then try to refresh the page on WhatsApp web or close and re-open the Desktop app.

If still problem exists, then try to log out and then login back to WhatsApp web or Desktop.

Note: If you are using WhatsApp web, then make sure you are using the latest version of the browsers such as Chrome, Safari, Microsoft Edge, Opera, Mozilla Firefox. Internet Explorer is not supported.

Wrap Up

If your WhatsApp is not connecting or is stuck in ‘Connecting’ or not working, then you can try many troubleshooting steps to fix the issue. These include from restarting the device, checking the internet connection, checking for updates to reinstalling the app.

If none of the solutions work, then you can contact WhatsApp support for further help. But before that make sure to follow the solutions mentioned in this article carefully, one after another. And I hope you should be able to fix the problem by yourself.

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