How often does the error message ‘Unfortunately, WhatsApp has stopped’ bothering you when trying to text or make a call in the instant messaging app? If it’s a regular situation, you need to fix it. This guide will walk you through three (3) surefire ways to fix the problem. Continue reading.
You will often encounter this error on your Android device if the WhatsApp installation file is corrupt or corrupt. Some issues with the app’s cache can also cause the error. If you have recently updated your WhatsApp, there may be some conflict between the cache of the previous version and the cache of the newly installed version. A bug in the WhatsApp app can also cause it to crash and show the error message ‘Unfortunately, WhatsApp has stopped’.
Fortunately, these things can be fixed. Closing and reopening WhatsApp can put things back in order. Also, restarting your device can bring the app back to normal. However, if WhatsApp keeps crashing and error message keeps popping up on your screen frequently, the fixes listed below should help fix the problem permanently.
1. Clear Cache
You can start by clearing the cache of WhatsApp and then restart the app. Here’s how to achieve that.
Stage 1: Launch the Android Settings menu and select ‘Apps and notifications’.
Step 2: Tap on ‘See All Apps’.
Stage 3: Scroll to the bottom of the app list and tap WhatsApp.
Step 4: Next, select the ‘Storage and cache’ option.
Alternatively, you can long press the WhatsApp icon on the home screen and tap the attached i icon.
This will take you to the WhatsApp application information page. From there, select the ‘Storage and cache’ option.
Step 5: Tap on Bin icon with Clear Cache text to clear cache of WhatsApp.
Now, back to using your WhatsApp. If the error message ‘Unfortunately, WhatsApp has stopped’ still appears on your screen, then move on to the second troubleshooting method listed below.
2. Update WhatsApp
You may also encounter this error while using WhatsApp if you are running an old version of the app. Launch the Play Store app on your Android device and update WhatsApp accordingly.
Alternatively, you can tap the Update WhatsApp button below to update the app.
3. Reinstall WhatsApp
This has proven to be an effective solution for some Android users who are encountering the ‘Unfortunately, WhatsApp has stopped’ error on their devices. If none of the fixes mentioned above fix the problem, 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. But before continuing, you may want to check what happens when you uninstall WhatsApp.
from Play Store
Stage 1: Launch the Play Store app on your device and go to the WhatsApp page. You can also tap the ‘WhatsApp in Play Store’ button below to quickly visit the WhatsApp app page in the Play Store app.
Step 2: Tap the Uninstall button and tap OK at the confirmation prompt.
This will remove WhatsApp from your device.
Stage 3: To reinstall WhatsApp, tap the Install button on the app page and wait until it installs.
Set up 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 device’s Settings menu.
Stage 1: Launch the Android settings menu and select ‘Apps and notifications’.
Step 2: Select ‘See All Apps’.
Stage 3: Scroll to the bottom of the page and select WhatsApp.
This will open WhatsApp’s app info page. Alternatively, you can tap and hold the WhatsApp icon from your phone’s home page or app tray and select App info.
Step 4: Tap the Uninstall icon to delete WhatsApp from your device.
Step 5: Tap OK at the confirmation prompt. It is recommended to keep its data as you will be reinstalling the app. To do this, check the box provided.
After the uninstallation is completed successfully, visit the Google Play Store to reinstall WhatsApp on your device.
From Device Home
You can also uninstall WhatsApp directly from your phone’s home screen. Press and hold the WhatsApp icon and drag it to the uninstall icon at the top right of the screen.
Note: Before uninstalling WhatsApp from your device, it is recommended to backup your chats preferably to the cloud. This way, you can easily restore the app’s data when you reinstall the app.
Seamless WhatsApp
You should now be able to use WhatsApp without any problems. In rare cases where the error persists after following the troubleshooting tips mentioned above, you should update your device’s operating system. If the error persists after an OS update or your OS is up to date, you should factory reset your device as a last resort.
Next: Can’t make audio or video calls on WhatsApp? Learn how to fix WhatsApp call not working on Android and iPhone.
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