How to Fix Cannot Connect to WhatsApp on Android? 6 Trusted Solutions
The device sends you a prompt says that you are unable to connect to WhatsApp when you attempt to launch and use the application on Android phone? Don't be nervous while seeing this message, because it is just a common WhatsApp connection failure. And with the help of this tutorial, you can fix cannot connect to WhatsApp on Android issue by using the 6 simple methods.
Case 1. Fail to Connect to WhatsApp
If your Android phone fails to connect to WhatsApp, you can check and adjust some details about the device to fix the problem first. All of them are basic and common means, and you can take a little time to inspect them.
1. Basic check for your Android phone
- Ensure that the network you are using is strong enough. To inspect this, you can launch a browser to enter a webpage and see if the page loads smoothly. If not, you need to connect to another network. (Your phone cannot connect to WiFi?)
- Reboot your phone. A phone reboot can shut down the running background software and refresh the device, which might be able to solve the unsuccessful connection problem.
- Restart the Wi-Fi router. The Wi-Fi you are using might be weak or in bad condition. And normally, restarting the Wi-Fi router can fix this problem simply.
- Update WhatsApp in Google Play. A new version of application can fix some bugs in the App, so you can go to Google Play to see whether there is an update available for WhatsApp. If there is, you can upgrade the software by following the instructions to have a try.
2. Reset the settings on Android
- Disable Airplane mode: The Airplane mode would disable all the network connections on the Android phone, so you need to turn it off when you want to use WhatsApp. Just go to Settings> More> Airplane mode and toggle the button off to disallow the feature.
- Reconnect Wi-Fi: If you are using a wireless network, you can reconnect Wi-Fi you connected to adjust it. Just navigate to Settings> Wi-Fi to switch the feature off and wait for a while. Then you can tap on the button to turn it back on again.
- Keep Wi-Fi on during sleep mode: Sometimes your phone might enter sleep mode when the phone is losing battery or the device is set aside for a long time. In this case, you can go to change the setting to make the Wi-Fi on even when the phone is in sleep mode. To achieve this goal, you can tap on Wi-Fi> menu> Advanced> Keep Wi-Fi on during sleep.
- Adjust the cellular data: It is possible that there is no usable wireless network you can use at that moment, so you can only connect the phone to cellular data. In this case, you can adjust the cellular data as well to make it stronger as well. You can click Settings> Data Usage> Cellular data and tap on the button to turn it off and switch it on.
- Disallow network restriction: The network you are using might be restricted so you need to check for that by visiting Settings> Data Usage> Network restrictions. If you have set any network restrictions, just toggle off the button to disable it.
Also Read: How to Fix WhatsApp Issues on Android Phone? 10 Smart Strategies
Case 2. WhatsApp Cannot Connect over a Specific Wi-Fi
It is probable that WhatsApp only cannot connect over a specific Wi-Fi. In this case, it is obvious that the issue is caused by Wi-Fi connection. So you can try the means below to settle the problem.
1. Forget the Wi-Fi and then reconnect to it
- Click on the icon of Settings on your Android screen and then select the Wi-Fi option.
- Tap on the unusable Wi-Fi and then select Forget to remove it from the list.
- After that, click on Add Wi-Fi network and then enter the Wi-Fi name and password to reconnect to it.
2. Log in captive Wi-Fi network
If the Wi-Fi you used is a captive network, you need to log in on your phone browser or it won't be able to be used.
Case 3. Won't Connect to WhatsApp on Data Network
There is a situation that is opposite to the previous one - WhatsApp works well on Wi-Fi network but fail to run over the cellular data network or all the software work normally on the data except WhatsApp. On this occasion, you need to contact your carrier to make sure your APN (access point names) has been set up correctly. To inspect that, just contact your network provider, and they will walk you through the setup.
Case 4: WhatsApp Stuck on Connecting
Start by force-closing WhatsApp and reopening it to refresh the connection. Next, go to Settings > Apps > WhatsApp > Storage (Manage Storage) and clear the cache (not data) to remove temporarily corrupted files. Check the Google Play Store to ensure WhatsApp is updated to the latest version, as outdated builds often struggle to connect. If the issue continues, restart your phone to reset background processes that may be blocking the app.
Case 5: WhatsApp Fails to Connect After an Android Update
After a system update, revisit Settings > Apps > WhatsApp > Permissions and confirm that network access, background data, and storage permissions are enabled. Then open Settings > Network & Internet and toggle Airplane Mode on and off to refresh the connection. Clearing the app cache can also help resolve conflicts caused by the update. If necessary, reinstall WhatsApp and restore your chat backup to ensure a clean connection.
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Case 6: WhatsApp Not Connecting Due to VPN or Proxy
Disable any active VPN, proxy, or private DNS service, as these can block WhatsApp servers. Switch to a different Wi-Fi network or mobile data to test whether the issue is network-specific. If the problem persists, reset network settings via Settings > System > Reset Options > Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth, which will remove hidden conflicts. Reconnect to your network and reopen WhatsApp to check if the connection is restored.
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