4 Ways to Fix Google Messages for Web Not Working

Try Basic Fixes

• Turn off VPN: If you’re using a VPN connection on your PC, you may want to turn it off. Google may block access to its web service if it detects your VPN IP as unauthorized. To ensure this isn’t the issue, try disabling your VPN temporarily and then using Google Messages for Web again.
• Update the app: Using an outdated version of the Google Messages app can also cause such problems. To avoid this, you must update the Google Messages app on your phone from the Play Store.

Fix 1: Reactivate Your Web Session

Another thing you can do is try disconnecting your phone from Messages for Web and connecting it again. This should help rule out any pairing issues.

Step 1: Access Google Messages for Web on your PC. Click the three-dot menu icon at the top and select Unpair from the list.

Step 2: Open the Google Messages app on your phone. Tap the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner and select Device pairing.

Step 3: Tap the QR code scanner button and point your phone’s camera towards the QR code displayed on your PC’s screen.

Fix 2: Enable Background Data for the Google Messages App (On Phone)

Google Messages for Web will fail to sync new data if you restrict background data usage for the Messages app on your phone. To avoid this, you must allow unrestricted data usage to the Google Messages app.

Step 1: Long-press on the Google Messages app icon and tap the info icon from the menu that appears.

Step 2: Go to Mobile data & Wi-Fi. Then, enable the switches next to Background data and Unrestricted data usage.

Fix 3: Clear Messages App Cache (On Phone)

Outdated or corrupt cache data collected by the Google Messages app can cause it to malfunction. As a result, you may encounter issues while using Google Messages for Web. Here’s what you can do to fix it.

Step 1: Long-press the Messages app icon and tap the info icon from the menu that pops up.

Step 2: Go to Storage & cache and tap the Clear cache option from the following screen.

Fix 4: Disable Browser Extensions

Third-party extensions running on your browser can also affect browser processes and lead to problems. One way to rule out this possibility is by disabling all the extensions and using Google Messages for Web again.

Type in chrome://extensions (Chrome) or edge://extensions (Edge) in the address bar and press Enter. Use the toggles to turn off all the extensions.

Similarly, you can disable extensions in any other browser you may be using. Once disabled, restart your browser. If Google Messages for Web works fine after this, you can enable all the extensions individually to isolate the one causing the issue.

If disabling browser extensions doesn’t work, you can try using Google Messages for Web in a different browser. This will help you determine whether the issue is browser-related.