How to Update WhatsApp on Android + Troubleshooting

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Manually update WhatsApp with or without Play Store
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Running an older version of WhatsApp? You can manually install WhatsApp updates in the Google Play Store app. If you don't see the option, you can try forcing an install by using an APK file. This wikiHow guide will show you how to update WhatsApp on Android, plus what to do if you can't download or open it.

Quick Steps

  1. Open the Google Play Store.
  2. Search for "whatsapp".
  3. Tap WhatsApp Messenger .
  4. Tap Update .
Section 1 of 3:

Using the Google Play Store

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  1. You’ll usually find it on your Android's home screen or in the app drawer. [1]
    • If your Android is not set to update apps automatically, WhatsApp won't update until you check for updates manually. You can use this method to update WhatsApp in this situation.
  2. On phones, it's the third tab at bottom of screen, and on tablet, it's the third tab at left.
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  3. It’s at the top of the screen. [2]
  4. It has a green chat bubble icon with a phone receiver inside. [3]
    • Alternatively, tap your profile icon > Manage apps and devices > Manage > WhatsApp .
  5. It’s the blue button next to Uninstall . The latest version of WhatsApp will now download and install on your Android. [4]
    • If the blue button does not say Update , you are already using the latest version of WhatsApp.
    • If you know you're running an older version of WhatsApp, you can try downloading the APK file to force an update instead. Otherwise, see our troubleshooting method.
  6. If you want to make sure you always have the latest version of WhatsApp on your Android, you can enable automatic updates in the Play Store. Here's how: [5]
    • Tap your profile icon at the top-right corner of the Play Store.
    • Tap Settings .
    • Tap Network Preferences .
    • Tap Auto-update apps .
    • Select Update over Wi-Fi only . We recommend this option so you don't have updates installing in the background when you're using mobile data.
      • If you have unlimited mobile data and don't mind using it to update apps, you can select Update with limited amount of mobile data (to still conserve some data) or Update all apps over Wi-Fi or mobile data .
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Section 2 of 3:

Using WhatsApp APK File

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  1. In most cases, you should only need to use this method to update WhatsApp if you installed it from an APK file. Before you can download any APK files, you must enable the setting to sideload apps through your web browser. The steps may vary depending on your phone or tablet. Do the following:
    • Open Settings .
    • Tap Apps or Apps & Notifications .
    • Scroll down or tap the three-dots icon.
    • Tap Special access or Special app access .
    • Tap Install unknown apps .
    • Tap your mobile browser.
    • Toggle on Allow from this source .
  2. Go to the WhatsApp download page for Android. Use your mobile browser to visit the link.
  3. This is below the Google Play button.
    • If prompted, tap OK or Download anyway to bypass the warning.
  4. You can find this in the Downloads section of your browser or in your file manager.
  5. WhatsApp will begin downloading on your device. When the installation is complete, you'll have the most up-to-date version of WhatsApp.
    • Once WhatsApp has been installed, tap it to open it. If it loads properly, be sure to delete the APK file since this can take up extra space.
    • If you're still having trouble, see the troubleshooting section.
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Section 3 of 3:

Troubleshooting

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  1. If your Android phone or tablet is almost at max capacity, you may not have enough space to update WhatsApp. Check your storage in your settings. If you're almost out of space, try transferring your photos and videos to a cloud service such as Google Photos or Drive .
  2. If you have an older Android device, it may not be compatible with newer WhatsApp updates. WhatsApp will only work on Android devices that have Android 5.0 or newer and can receive SMS messages or calls. [6] You can check your Android version in Settings > About phone/tablet > Android version . [7]
  3. If you're getting this error code, you may have your device set to the wrong region. If it's set to the correct region, WhatsApp isn't currently available for you. To check your region, do the following:
    • Open the Google Play Store .
    • Tap your profile icon.
    • Go to Settings > General > Account and device preferences > Country and profiles .
    • Select the country.
  4. If you're trying to update WhatsApp using cellular data, it may not be strong enough to properly download the update. Connect to Wi-Fi and try updating from the Google Play Store again.
  5. If you can't update WhatsApp, try completely deleting the app first. Then, download it again from the Google Play Store.
  6. This can help fix issues, including apps that won't update, by clearing any corrupted data. Do the following:
    • Open Settings .
    • Tap Apps & notifications .
    • Tap See all apps .
    • Tap Google Play Store .
    • Tap Storage .
    • Tap Clear Cache .
    • Tap Clear data .
    • Open the Google Play Store and try downloading WhatsApp again.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    Do I need data to update Whatsapp on my mobile?
    Community Answer
    You will need an internet connection, but not necessarily mobile data. Make sure you're connected to an internet source before you update so it won't use any mobile data.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/190860?hl=en
      2. ↑ https://faq.whatsapp.com/5481509731946576/?cms_platform=android
      3. ↑ https://faq.whatsapp.com/5481509731946576/?cms_platform=android
      4. ↑ https://faq.whatsapp.com/5481509731946576/?cms_platform=android
      5. ↑ https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/113412?hl=en
      6. ↑ https://faq.whatsapp.com/2366980643469578?cms_platform=android&helpref=faq_content
      7. ↑ https://support.google.com/android/answer/7680439?hl=en

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open the Play Store .
      2. Type “whatsapp” into the search bar.
      3. Tap WhatsApp Messenger .
      4. Tap UPDATE .

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