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WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging platforms with over 2 billion active users, It allows users to seamlessly send messages, and media, use WhatsApp calling, and more with contacts worldwide. However, users have been running into an error notification telling them that the WhatsApp app is temporarily unavailable. This error causes users to not be able to access their accounts across all platforms, such as WhatsApp Desktop for PC, not just on their iOS or Android device.
This article will go over the causes and fixes of this issue below.
WhatsApp Is Temporarily Unavailable – Causes
WhatsApp is the world’s premier messaging service, users can freely send messages and media to each other, all that is required is a phone number to be associated with the account. Although it’s a great app it isn’t without its faults. from time to time the “WhatsApp is temporarily unavailable error” occurs and prevents communication with contacts.
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There are many reasons for this to occur, here are some of the causes:
WhatsApp unavailable in your area: When trying to use WhatsApp in an area or country that has restricted its use it will show an error message.
Internet connection: You are not connected to a stable and secure Wi-Fi or mobile network. WhatsApp is an online service so an internet connection is required to send messages, make voice calls, and video calls.
Your WhatsApp or your contacts WhatsApp isn’t updated to the latest version: Not having the latest version of WhatsApp can cause compatibility issues and glitches.
WhatsApp servers are currently down: This issue is on WhatsApp’s end,it can cause a widespread outage and prevent communication between contacts.
Clearing WhatsApp Cache: Caches allow for apps to work faster however, caches can cause errors to occur, and clearing the cache can sometimes help.
Firewall: Firewalls meant to protect your device can sometimes block communication with the servers.
You have been blocked: When blocked by a contact you are no longer able to continue WhatsApp chats with them. Trying to message them may cause the error message to appear. Although you are not notified there are ways you can tell if you are blocked.
WhatsApp Is Temporarily Unavailable – Fixes
Below are the steps on how to fix the ” WhatsApp is temporarily unavailable” error.
Step
WhatsApp unavailable in your area
When you are in a restricted area using a Virtual Proxy Network (VPN) can help circumvent this. Downloading and setting up a VPN such as ExpressVPN or NordVPN on your device is the easiest way to get around the issue.
Step
Internet connection
When connecting to WhatsApp this is done via a Wi-Fi network or by using mobile data. Ensuring that you have a secure and stable connection can fix the problem. This can be done by restarting your router/modem to restart your connection. Also, you can switch your internet connection to try and fix the problem. Additionally, you may be in airplane mode which prevents data usage when on mobile networks
Step
Updating WhatsApp
To update WhatsApp go to the google play store or app store. Then search for WhatsApp and update the app to the latest version. Doing this will hopefully resolve the issue.
Step
WhatsApp servers are down
Sometimes WhatsApp servers are taken down for maintenance this ensures that the app can continue to run smoothly. If your local server is down you will have to unfortunately wait until it comes back online. You can check for an app outage using a down detector.
Step
Clear Cache
The cache in your phone storage might have become corrupted and is causing the issue to occur. To clear cache complete the following steps:
- Open the device settings App on the home screen
- Tap on Apps
- Find and click on WhatsApp
- Select ‘Clear cache’
- Restart iPhone/Android by holding down the power button
Step
Firewall
Firewalls can prevent certain types of access. To allow communication between your WhatsApp application and the servers complete the following steps. Access your firewall settings and toggle WhatsApp to have the necessary permissions.
Step
You’ve been blocked
When you are blocked and you try to start a WhatsApp voice call or WhatsApp video call the error message will occur. Unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do here. If you believe it was an accident, then you should communicate through another method.
Why is it showing WhatsApp is temporarily unavailable?
There are many reasons why. The most likely reason is that your device isn’t connected to the internet. Ensuring that you have a secure Wi-Fi connection or enough data for your mobile network will most likely fix this.
How long is a WhatsApp temporary ban?
WhatsApp temporary bans can last from 8-24 hours. Within that time period, you will not be able to use a lot of the functionality of WhatsApp such as messaging.
Final Thoughts
WhatsApp is the world’s most popular messaging app but it has a history of errors occurring throughout the app. There are numerous reasons for the “WhatsApp is temporarily unavailable” message to occur which can be frustrating for users. However, with the above methods outlined in this article, it can easily be fixed. If you are still experiencing issues then contacting WhatsApp support directly is recommended.
For those trying to use the web browser version of WhatsApp, they may not be able to access their account because of WhatsApp a QR code scanning error, luckily we have fixes to the problem.