How to Update WhatsApp on Android? 2 Ways, 6 Problems, & Solutions
Chatting on WhatsApp would be a convenient and interesting communication mode for Android users, but you should remember to update the application regularly or you may:
* Miss some new and useful features of the new version.
* Meet some errors and fail to use the WhatsApp on your Android phone successfully.
* Cannot run the mobile phone smoothly due to the outdated WhatsApp version.
Hence, for users who are using WhatsApp on their Android mobile phone, it is essential to learn how to update WhatsApp on Android and the solutions to fix the issues that would occur during the updating process.
Part 1: Guide to Update WhatsApp on Android
There are two ways to update WhatsApp on Android - in WhatsApp settings or Google Play Store. Both of them are easy to learn and you can complete the upgrade in a short time. The following are the specific steps of these two methods.
1. Update WhatsApp in the App settings
You can check the update information in the WhatsApp settings directly. The details are:
- Turn on the WhatsApp application on your phone and then select Options.
- In the Options section, you can tap on Settings and choose Updates.
- Tap on Check for updates to see whether there is a newer version available. If there is, you can go with the instructions on the screen to download and install the update on your phone.
2. Upgrade WhatsApp in Google Play Store
If you downloaded WhatsApp from Google Play Store before, you can choose to upgrade the application in the store as well. (WhatsApp downloading failed?) This means is also easy to operate - you just need to:
- Close WhatsApp on your Android phone first.
- Go to Google Play Store and look for the option My apps & games.
- Now you will see a list of applications that are installed on your phone. Just check if WhatsApp has a new update.
- If there is an update available, you need to tap on WhatsApp > Update and then you can upgrade the App easily.
Part 2: Problems You Might Meet While Updating WhatsApp
While downloading or updating WhatsApp on your Android phone, you might encounter some problems. Here are some common issues that would happen during the WhatsApp update and their solutions. You can take them as a reference.
Issue 1. App crashes after updating
WhatsApp may crash, freeze, or fail to open after the update is installed. This is usually caused by corrupted app data or conflicts with the previous version.
Clear the WhatsApp cache from your phone settings and restart the device. If the problem continues, back up your chats and reinstall WhatsApp to refresh the app completely.
Issue 2. Get a Google Play error code
When you update WhatsApp in Google Play, you might get an error code from the store, such as Google Play error 491, 495, 927, etc. Once a Google Play Store error code appears, you can try the methods below to try to solve it.
1. Restart the device: You can reboot the phone to fix the error simply.
2. Reconfigure Google account: Just go to Settings> Accounts> Google and tap on your account. Then open the menu and select Remove Account to delete the saved account first. Then just restart your phone and navigate to Settings> Accounts> Add account to add your Google account back.
3. Clear caches of Google Play: Clear the cache and data of Google Play Store and Google Play Services, then reboot your phone. If needed, remove and re-add your Google account before attempting the update again.
4. Reinstall WhatsApp: Go to Settings> Applications> WhatsApp> Uninstall to remove the App from the device and then go to Google Play Store to reinstall it.
5. Download WhatsApp APK file: Find the WhatsApp APK file from whatsapp.com and then download it to your phone.
Issue 3. Android version compatibility issues
Some older Android devices are no longer supported by the latest WhatsApp versions, leading to update errors or app failure.
Check your Android version in system settings and update it if possible. If your device no longer receives system updates, using an older supported device may be the only option.
Issue 4. Insufficient storage space
If you receive a message saying "There is insufficient space on the device" while updating the application, that means you need to make room for the updates.
To complete the deletion, you can select to delete some useless files on your phone, such as duplicate songs, unwanted photos, junk messages, and other files you don't need. Or you can choose to clear the caches and data of Google Play as well.
Issue 5. WhatsApp not available in your country
Another situation that you may face is that the application cannot be used in your country. This might be because the country you live in does not support WhatsApp, but it also may be caused by other reasons. So you can make an attempt in this case:
1. Download the WhatsApp APK file from whatsapp.com.
2. Turn on VPN apps on your phone and then download WhatsApp from Google Play Store.
3. App crashes after updating.
Issue 6. Update stuck or not downloading
The update may remain stuck at a certain percentage or fail to start at all. This often happens due to unstable Wi-Fi, slow mobile data, or temporary Google Play Store issues.
Switch to a stronger Wi-Fi network, pause and resume the download, or restart your phone. Clearing the cache in Google Play Store and Google Play Services can also help restart the update process.
Extra tips: During the updating or fixing process, you may lose or wrongly delete some WhatsApp data, so you need to know to how to restore WhatsApp chat history or images as well. You can click on them to get the details.
Part 3. FAQs about WhatsApp Update on Android
Q1. What new features usually come with WhatsApp updates on Android?
Updates often introduce new chat tools, privacy controls, and interface improvements. Recent versions have focused on message organization, group management enhancements, and smoother media sharing. Minor updates may also improve speed and fix bugs.
Q2. Do WhatsApp updates affect chat history or media files?
No, updating WhatsApp does not delete your chats or media. However, it's always recommended to back up your data to Google Drive before installing major updates, especially if you're switching devices or reinstalling the app.
Q3. How can I check if I'm using the latest WhatsApp version?
You can open Google Play Store, search for WhatsApp, and see whether an Update button appears. If it shows Open, your app is already up to date.
Q4. Are new features available to everyone at the same time?
Not always. WhatsApp often rolls out features gradually, so some users may receive updates earlier than others depending on region, device model, or account status.
Q5. Why does WhatsApp stop working on some Android phones after updates?
Older Android versions eventually lose support as WhatsApp raises system requirements. Devices running outdated Android systems may no longer receive updates or function properly.
Q6. What Android version is required for WhatsApp updates?
WhatsApp generally requires a relatively recent Android version to ensure security and feature compatibility. If your phone can't be updated, you may need to switch devices to keep using WhatsApp.
Q7. Why does WhatsApp crash or fail to open after an update?
This can happen due to app conflicts, corrupted cache data, or incomplete updates. Clearing the app cache, restarting the phone, or reinstalling WhatsApp usually resolves the issue.
Q8. What should I do if WhatsApp won't install from Google Play?
Check your storage space, internet connection, and Google Play services status. If the issue continues, restarting the device or reinstalling Google Play updates can help.
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