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4 Ways to Fix WhatsApp Not Working on Mobile Data

Quick Tips
  • Ensure you haven’t disabled cellular data access for WhatsApp.
  • Disable any data saver settings on your smartphone.
  • On your Android device, go to the app info page for WhatsApp and enable Unrestricted Data Usage.

Before you begin, ensure you have no problems with using the internet via mobile data on your smartphone. Further, update WhatsApp to the latest version from the Play Store or App Store.

Fix 1: Enable Cellular Data for WhatsApp

If you’ve disabled cellular data access for WhatsApp, here’s how you can turn it on.

On iPhone

Open Settings > Mobile Service, scroll down, and enable the toggle for WhatsApp.

On Android

On Android, tap and hold the WhatsApp app icon, select Connection Method, and ensure Mobile Data is turned on.

Note: This option may not be available on all Android devices, and we’ve demonstrated the process using an MIUI device. If you don’t see any such option, don’t worry – there’s no way to block WhatsApp from accessing cellular data on your device.

Fix 2: Enable Autostart/Background App Refresh

If you disable the background app refresh/autostart for WhatsApp, the app won’t send push notifications. Disabling background app refresh helps preserve the phone’s battery life, which restricts WhatsApp from fetching data about new messages or media in the background. 

On iPhone

Open the Settings > General > Background App Refresh and turn it on. Scroll down and also turn on the toggle for WhatsApp.

On Android

Open Settings, go to apps, and select Auto Launch. In the list of apps, turn on the toggle for WhatsApp.

Also Read: How to enable or disable Autostart for Android apps

Fix 3: Disable Data Saver Settings

Data saver settings on your phone limit mobile data usage for apps, and WhatsApp may be affected if you’ve enabled this feature.

On iPhone

Open Settings > Mobile Data > Mobile Data Options and turn off Low Data Mode.

On Android

Open the Settings app, go to Network & Internet> Data Saver, and turn off Use Data Saver.

Fix 4: Disable Data Restrictions for WhatsApp (Android)

Android lets you restrict mobile data usage on a per-app basis. If you’ve enabled any data usage restrictions for WhatsApp, here’s how you can turn it off.

Tap and hold the WhatsApp app icon, select App info, go to Mobile Data & Wi-Fi, and enable Unrestricted Data Usage.

Also Read: 3 ways to fix WhatsApp not working on Wi-Fi

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Last updated on 23 July, 2024

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