Definitive guide to solutions to the most common WhatsApp Web problems

Who uses Web WhatsApp You know: being able to manage your mobile messages on your computer is a real treat, especially if you spend long hours in front of your PC or simply prefer not to have to pick up your phone every time a new message arrives. However, like any technological tool, you may have encountered glitches, errors, or limitations that complicate the experience more than once. Fortunately, most of these problems have a solution. and here we are going to tell you How to solve each one, step by step, so you stay connected without headaches.

You may have come across that WhatsApp Web won't load, the QR code won't appear, messages stop arriving, or you can't attach a file.Other times, you simply notice that the platform is down, the browser isn't supported, or notifications have been disabled. Whatever your problem, you're sure to find an explanation and several simple ways to solve it here., so that neither your boss nor your friends nor your family have to wait for you to answer a technical question.

WhatsApp Web: Why are there so many problems?

Before we dive right into the solutions, it's worth understanding where the main WhatsApp Web errors come from. This version works by synchronizing in real time with the app on your mobile phone.. Also It depends on both your internet connection on the PC and the connection and status of the mobile itself.. And if that was not enough, The browser you use, the extensions installed, the cookie settings or even the date and time of your PC can affect to its correct functioning.

Therefore, although the platform has improved a lot and allows more and more functions (including sending large files or using multiple devices in parallel), errors keep appearing from time to timeThe important thing is to know how to recognize what causes the problem and what to do in each case.

Browser not supported or outdated

One of the most common errors when trying to access WhatsApp Web is to encounter a warning that says that the browser is not supported or you need to update it. WhatsApp Web works without problems on Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, Microsoft Edge and SafariIf you use a different one or a version that's too old, you'll almost certainly get an error.

What can you do if this happens to you?

• Try it in a different browser and 100% compatible from the list above.
• Update your browser to the latest version: This is key to ensuring compatibility and security.
• Check that The URL you entered is correct: Make sure that in the address bar you have put web.whatsapp.com without errors.
• Avoid using Internet Explorer: It is not supported by WhatsApp Web and is no longer supported by any service.

Can't access this website

Are you trying to open WhatsApp Web and seeing a browser message like "This website can't be reached"? This error usually has two main causes: The address is misspelled or your internet connection is not working.

• Verify that you have stable internet connection on your computer. Try opening another page like Google.com to make sure.
• If no website works, restart the router or contact your internet provider.
• If only WhatsApp Web fails, check that the address is spelled correctly: web.whatsapp.com.
• In some cases, disable airplane mode on your PC or laptop and try again.

QR code not loading or scanning

Another desperate situation: you open the web and The QR code to link the mobile phone does not finish displaying. This is usually a clear symptom of a bad connection or something in your browser (such as an AdBlock type extension or VPN) is interfering.

Solutions?

• Wait a few seconds: Sometimes the connection gets saturated and takes a while to load.
• Refresh the page by pressing F5 or Ctrl+R.
• If it persists, try a incognito window where extensions are usually disabled.
• Disable extensions, especially ad blockers and VPNs.
• Make sure you have a good internet connection on both your PC and phone.
• If your mobile phone camera is having trouble scanning, clean the lens and adjust the screen light.

Connection problems: Phone offline and computer offline

One of the most common messages that can appear to us is that of “Phone offline” o “Computer offline”This happens when the mobile device where you have the WhatsApp app installed does not have internet access or when the PC itself loses the connection.

• Check that your phone is on and connected to a Wi-Fi or mobile data network.If you're out of battery or your connection is unstable, WhatsApp Web won't work.
• Open WhatsApp on your phone and try sending a message directly to check if you can connect.
• Also make sure that the computer is connected to the internet (check if the WiFi or network icon appears correctly).
• If everything is fine but the fault persists, refresh the page and if necessary, log out and re-pair the device.

Messages and notifications are not arriving

Another of the most desperate failures: You don't receive notifications or messages on your computer, when you know someone's sending you something. The reasons can vary, but the most common is that you haven't given WhatsApp Web permission to display notifications in your browser.

What can you do?

• Click the lock next to the URL in the address bar.
• Look for the section Notifications and put it in Allow.
• Check that you do not have it activated in Windows el Concentration assistant or “Do Not Disturb” on macOS.
• If the problem persists, refresh the page, restart your browser, or try logging out of all sessions and logging back in from scratch.

WhatsApp Web open on another computer or window

If you see a message that indicates that WhatsApp Web is open elsewhereDon't worry! For security and account management reasons, you can only have it active on one browser at a time (except in multi-device beta mode, which has certain limitations).

• Click on the option «Use here» to move the session to your current browser.
• If you need to close all open sessions, from your phone go to WhatsApp > Linked Devices and click on Close all sessions.
• Avoid having WhatsApp Web open in multiple tabs; always use just one to avoid confusing syncs.

Can't view old photos, videos, or files

It is common to try to see a old photo or video and it does not load or gives an error. This happens because WhatsApp does not store these types of files indefinitely on its servers.If you or the other person has deleted the image or file from your phone, that file will no longer be available on the web.

• Check if the file It is still available on the mobile app. If it's there, you can probably forward it to yourself or download it. For more Tricks, check out Tricks to organize WhatsApp.
• If the file does not appear anywhere, ask your contact to forward it to you if you keep it.
• You can also try deleted file recovery apps, although their effectiveness varies.

Problems sending large files or videos

The web version of WhatsApp has size limitations for the files you can send. Although the limit is higher on mobile and they have gradually increased the capacity, on the web you have to adjust to the restrictions of the moment, which can be around 64 MB or 100 MB for certain types of media files.

• If you need to send a large video, use a video compressor or cut it into several parts to reduce its size.
• Another practical option is to upload the file to a service like Google Drive and share the link via WhatsApp. To do so, see How to send documents via WhatsApp.
• In some countries, video uploads of up to 2GB are allowed in beta, but this feature is not yet globally available.

The session closes automatically or does not synchronize messages

Sometimes, WhatsApp Web may suddenly disconnect for no apparent reason., losing sync, or asking you to rescan the QR code. Although this happens less and less, it's still a common annoyance, especially after security updates or forced disconnection by the app.

• Refresh the tab or restart the browser.
• Sign out from your PC and pair your device with your phone again.
• Check that there are no time or date issues on your PC, which can cause synchronization and encryption errors. You can check error with incorrect date.
• Clear your browser's cache and cookies if the error persists.

Browser issues: cache, cookies, extensions, and date/time

Sometimes, WhatsApp Web errors are not directly related to the platform, but to how your browser behavesExcessive cache, corrupted cookies, extensions that block website loading, or an incorrect date/time on your system can all be the cause of the issues.

• Clean the cache and cookies in your browser settings (look for the “Clear browsing data” option).
• Disable extensions, especially those that block ads, VPNs, or similar, and see if the error goes away.
• Check that the your computer's date and time are set correctly, as this may cause secure connection problems.
• Restart your browser after completing all these steps.

WhatsApp platform down

From time to time, WhatsApp (and by extension WhatsApp Web) may stop working completely for a few minutes or even hours. If this happens, don't go crazy trying solutions: it's best to Check the status of the service on websites such as Down Detector or search on social media for massive reports.

• If you notice that you cannot log in from your mobile or the web, Wait for the WhatsApp servers to be restored.
• These incidents are usually one-off and short-lived.

Related article:

The 7 most dangerous WhatsApp errors that put your privacy at risk

Isaac

Passionate writer about the world of bytes and technology in general. I love sharing my knowledge through writing, and that's what I'll do on this blog, show you all the most interesting things about gadgets, software, hardware, tech trends, and more. My goal is to help you navigate the digital world in a simple and entertaining way.