Many WhatsApp users have been wondering where the poll option is within WhatsApp chats. This handy feature allows you to easily create polls and surveys to send to groups or individual chats. However, it seems the poll option has disappeared from the WhatsApp interface for some users. In this article, we’ll investigate where the WhatsApp poll option has gone, why it’s missing, and how to get it back, if possible.
What is the WhatsApp Poll Option?
The WhatsApp poll option allows users to create polls with multiple choice questions to send to groups or individual chats. It’s a quick and easy way to survey friends, family, colleagues, or organizations on WhatsApp.
To use it, simply type a question and add up to 12 possible answer choices. You can allow users to select only 1 answer or multiple answers. Once created, the poll is sent as a special chat message that recipients can tap to vote and see results in real-time.
The WhatsApp poll option has become popular for quickly gathering opinions, feedback, and information. But recently some users have reported it’s gone missing from their WhatsApp interface.
Why is the WhatsApp Poll Option Disappearing?
There are a few possible reasons the WhatsApp poll option seems to have disappeared, including:
1. An Intentional Removal by WhatsApp
WhatsApp may have intentionally removed or hidden the poll option on some accounts. The feature is not available on WhatsApp Business accounts, so it’s possible WhatsApp is testing removing polls from personal accounts as well.
2. A/B Testing By WhatsApp
WhatsApp frequently A/B tests new features and changes with small groups of users. It’s possible the poll option was removed from your account as part of an A/B test before wider rollout.
3. A Bug or Glitch
Since many users are still able to access the poll option, your inability to find it may also be due to a bug. Bugs affecting certain accounts or devices could cause the poll option to disappear temporarily.
4. An Update Changed the Poll Location
With WhatsApp continuously updating their interface, it’s also possible a recent update moved the poll option to a different spot that you’re not finding.
How to Get the WhatsApp Poll Option Back
If the poll option is gone from your WhatsApp chats, here are some tips to try and get it back:
Update to the Latest WhatsApp Version
Make sure both your mobile device operating system and the WhatsApp app are updated to the latest versions. installing the newest updates may fix any bugs or changes that removed access to polls.
Restart Your Phone
If a bug or glitch is preventing you from seeing the poll option, simply restarting your device can often resolve temporary issues like this.
Reinstall WhatsApp
Uninstalling and reinstalling the WhatsApp app essentially refreshes the app and syncs the latest available features. If polls were there before, reinstalling may bring back the option.
Use WhatsApp Web or Desktop
Try accessing your WhatsApp account through WhatsApp Web in your browser or the desktop app. If the poll option appears there but not on your phone, it indicates an issue with your mobile app.
Clear Cache and Data
Wipe the WhatsApp cache and app data through your device settings. This clears out any corrupt temporary files or outdated data that could be causing polls to disappear.
Contact WhatsApp
If all else fails, contact WhatsApp directly through their help center. They may be able to diagnose and resolve the issue if it’s specific to your account.
Workarounds for Creating Polls Without the Poll Option
If you can’t get the built-in WhatsApp poll option back, there are a couple workarounds for creating polls and surveys without it:
Send a Message with Question and Answers
Manually type out your poll question and answer choices in a standard chat message. Ask recipients to vote by responding with their choice’s number or letter.
Use a Third-Party Polling App
Apps like Poll Maker for WhatsApp allow you to create polls outside WhatsApp that get sent as image files. This gives you poll functionality without the standard feature.
Conclusion
The WhatsApp poll option provides convenient in-app polling but seems to be disappearing for some users lately. This is likely due to intentional removals, A/B testing, bugs, or interface changes by WhatsApp. Updating the app, restarting your phone, reinstalling the app, using WhatsApp Web, and contacting WhatsApp support can potentially restore access to the built-in polls. But if not, manually typing polls or using third-party apps can serve as workarounds for those without the poll option. With any luck, WhatsApp brings back broader access to integrated polls in the future updates.
| Reason | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Intentional removal by WhatsApp | WhatsApp may have removed polls from some accounts as a test |
| A/B testing | You may be part of a small test group without polls |
| Bug or glitch | A technical issue could temporarily hide polls |
| Interface update | A change may have moved the poll option elsewhere |
| Fix | Details |
|---|---|
| Update WhatsApp | Get the latest app and OS version |
| Restart device | Refresh to resolve temporary issues |
| Reinstall WhatsApp | Syncs latest features and fixes bugs |
| Use WhatsApp Web/Desktop | Access account online to check for polls |
| Clear cache and data | Clears corrupt files that could hide polls |
| Contact WhatsApp | They can diagnose and fix account-specific issues |
| Workaround | Method |
|---|---|
| Typed message | Manually type poll question and choices |
| Third-party app | Use an external polling app that integrates with WhatsApp |