How often does the ‘Unfortunately WhatsApp has stopped’ error message interrupt you when you’re trying to send texts or make calls on the instant messaging app? If it’s a regular occurrence, then you should fix it. This guide will walk you through three (3) surefire ways to get the issue fixed. Read on.
You’d encounter this error on your Android device often if the WhatsApp installation file is corrupt or broken. Some problems with the app’s cache could also cause the error. If you recently updated your WhatsApp, there could be some conflict between the cache of the previous version and that of the newly-installed version. A bug in the WhatsApp app could also cause it to crash and display the ‘Unfortunately WhatsApp has stopped’ error message.
Luckily, these things are fixable. Simply closing and reopening WhatsApp could get things back in order. Also, restarting your device can also restore the app to normalcy. However, if WhatsApp continues to crash and the error message keeps popping up on your screen often, the fixes listed below would help permanently remove the problem.
1. Clear Cache
You can start by clearing WhatsApp’s cache and relaunch the app afterward. Here’s how to achieve that.
Step 1: Launch the Android Settings menu and select ‘Apps & notifications’ option.
Step 2: Tap ‘See All Apps’ option.
Step 3: Scroll to the bottom of the app list and tap WhatsApp.
Step 4: Next, select ‘Storage & cache’ option.
Alternatively, you can long-press the WhatsApp icon on the home screen and tap the enclosed i icon.
That will redirect you to the WhatsApp app info page. From there, select ‘Storage & cache’ option.
Step 5: Tap the Bin icon with the Clear Cache inscription to delete WhatsApp’s cache.
Now, head back to using your WhatsApp. If the ‘Unfortunately WhatsApp has stopped’ error message still pops up on your screen, proceed to the second troubleshooting method listed below.
2. Update WhatsApp
You could also encounter this error while using WhatsApp if you’re running an outdated version of the app. Launch the Play Store app on your Android device and update WhatsApp accordingly.
Alternatively, you could tap the Update WhatsApp button below to update the app.
3. Reinstall WhatsApp
That has proven to be an effective solution for some Android users encountering the ‘Unfortunately WhatsApp has stopped’ error on their devices. If none of the fixes mentioned above resolves the issue, you should uninstall WhatsApp from your device and reinstall it from the Google Play Store.
Check out three different ways to delete and reinstall WhatsApp on an Android device. Before you proceed, however, you might want to check out what happens when you uninstall WhatsApp.
From the Play Store
Step 1: Launch the Play Store app on your device and go to the WhatsApp page. You can also tap the ‘WhatsApp on Play Store’ button below to quickly visit the WhatsApp app page on the Play Store app.
Step 2: Tap the Uninstall button and tap OK on the confirmation prompt.
That will remove WhatsApp from your device.
Step 3: To reinstall WhatsApp, tap the Install button on the app page and wait until it is installed.
Setup your account, and you should no longer encounter the ‘Unfortunately WhatsApp has stopped’ error.
From Device Settings Menu
Follow the steps below to uninstall WhatsApp from your devices Settings menu.
Step 1: Launch the Android settings menu and select ‘Apps & notifications’ option.
Step 2: Select ‘See All Apps’.
Step 3: Scroll to the bottom of the page and select WhatsApp.
That will open up WhatsApp’s app info page. Alternatively, you could tap and hold the WhatsApp icon from your phone’s homepage or app tray and select App info.
Step 4: Tap the Uninstall icon to delete WhatsApp from your device.
Step 5: Tap OK on the confirmation prompt. Since you’d be reinstalling the app, it is advised that you keep its data. Check the provided box to do that.
After successful uninstallation, visit the Google Play Store to reinstall WhatsApp on your device.
From Device Homepage
You can also uninstall WhatsApp directly from your phone’s home screen. Hold the WhatsApp icon and drag it to the uninstall icon at the top-right section of the screen.
Note: Before uninstalling WhatsApp from your device, it is recommended to backup your chats, preferably to the cloud. That way, you can easily restore the app’s data when you reinstall the app.
WhatsApp Without Interruption
You should now be able to use WhatsApp without any issues. In the rare instance where the error continues after applying the troubleshooting tips mentioned above, you should update your device’s OS. And if the error continues after the OS update, or if your OS is up-to-date, you should factory reset your device as a last resort.
Next up: Are you unable to make voice or video calls on WhatsApp? Find out how to fix WhatsApp calling not working on Android and iPhone.
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Last updated on 07 February, 2022
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