In the highly competitive world of chat apps, WhatsApp has managed to maintain its dominance due to its solid design, user-friendly interface, and end-to-end encryption. Since its acquisition by Facebook, the app has become even more stable and its user experience has improved significantly. However, even with its many fixes and improvements, WhatsApp may still encounter issues on certain devices. This could be due to a range of factors, including problems with the app itself, issues with the server, or interference from other applications on the phone.
If you are experiencing issues with WhatsApp not opening or frequently closing on its own, there are several steps you can take to resolve the issue. In this article, we outline nine effective ways to overcome WhatsApp cannot be opened.
1. Forcibly close the WhatsApp application.
If WhatsApp crashes once, it may be a minor issue that can be resolved by closing and reopening the app. On Android devices, you can access the multi-tasking function and reopen WhatsApp from the app drawer. However, if the app continues to crash, you can force close it by going to “Settings” > “Apps” on your device. Then select WhatsApp and click “Force Close” if available. Wait for a while, and then reopen WhatsApp.
2. Restart your phone.
Restarting your phone can often resolve issues with applications, including WhatsApp. Whether it’s due to cellular connectivity or other issues, a quick restart can reload the app’s memory and files.
3. Review the changes you made.
If you recently updated your Android system, installed a new app or game, or made significant configuration changes, this could be causing issues with WhatsApp. Try undoing any recent changes and re-test the app to see if it resolves the problem.
4. Check your connection.
WhatsApp should work well when accessed via WiFi or a 4G network, but poor connectivity can be the culprit of app crashes. Try switching from WiFi to 4G or vice versa and retest the app on another network connection.
5. Clear WhatsApp cache.
Clearing the app cache is a logical next step if WhatsApp keeps crashing on Android. This method clears memory and deletes temporary files used by the app. Clearing the cache can stop a crashing file. To clear cache go to the “Settings” and then “Applications” section of your phone. Select WhatsApp and then “Storage”, here you can clear cache and clear data.
6. Update WhatsApp.
WhatsApp regularly releases updates to the app to fix bugs, increase security and operate smoothly. If you miss update notifications, this could be the cause of your problem. Make sure your phone is set to update automatically or force an update by going to “Google Play” on the phone and selecting “Check for Updates”.
7. Update Android system.
Make sure that your phone’s Android version is up-to-date. If WhatsApp is running on a newer version than your phone, it could cause issues. To check and update the device, go to the “Settings” > “Software Update” section of your phone.
8. Free up phone storage space.
Device memory can play a significant role in app functionality. If your memory is full, remove unnecessary files, pictures, videos, and apps that you don’t need. Alternatively, consider external memory options like an SD card. To check device memory, go to the “Settings” and then “Storage” section.
9. Reinstall WhatsApp.
If none of the above steps work, try removing WhatsApp from your phone and reinstalling the latest version. This is the last option apart from resetting your phone to factory settings.
In conclusion, these effective ways can help resolve the “WhatsApp cannot be opened” issue on your Android phone. If you still experience issues with WhatsApp, report the problem to WhatsApp developers through the Google Play Store or check DownDetector for any outages or major issues with the app.