There are a few different reasons why you might see a message saying “unavailable” in WhatsApp when trying to contact someone. The most common causes include:
- The person you’re trying to reach has you blocked
- Their phone is turned off or not connected to the internet
- They have set their WhatsApp status to invisible
- There are issues with your internet connection or the WhatsApp servers
Let’s explore each of these possibilities in more detail.
They Blocked You
If someone has blocked you on WhatsApp, trying to send them messages will result in an “unavailable” status. When blocked, your messages will not go through to the other person and you will not see any updates to their profile picture or last seen status.
There is no notification when you are blocked, so the only way to know for sure is if the other person suddenly goes “unavailable.” If you are blocked, any messages sent will remain stuck on a single check mark and never get delivered.
Some reasons why someone might block you on WhatsApp include:
- Harassing or inappropriate behavior
- Excessive messaging
- Relationship issues or breakup
- Professional disagreement
- Wanting to cut off communication
If you think you may have been blocked, you can try reaching out on another platform like phone, email or social media. If the person does not respond there either, then blocking is the likely cause of being marked “unavailable” on WhatsApp.
Their Phone is Offline
A very common reason for the unavailable status is that the other person’s phone is turned off, has run out of battery, or does not currently have an internet connection.
WhatsApp requires an internet connection to send and receive messages. When someone’s phone is offline, WhatsApp has no way to deliver your messages to them.
Some reasons a person may be offline include:
- Phone ran out of battery
- Intentionally turned off their phone
- In an area with poor cell reception
- Airplane mode is activated
- Changed SIM cards
- Phone is broken or damaged
If someone is offline or has connection issues, your messages will remain pending until their phone comes back online. Once it reconnects, the messages will deliver normally. Being offline is often a temporary situation that will resolve itself when the person gets back to an area with signal or charges their phone.
They Set Status to Invisible
WhatsApp provides an invisible or hidden status option that allows users to hide their online presence and last seen time.
If someone has set their status to invisible, other users will see them as “unavailable” in the chat list. Your messages will still be delivered to an invisible contact, but you won’t be able to tell if they have read them or when they were last active on WhatsApp.
People use the invisible status to get more privacy and avoid distractions from constant messaging. Reasons someone might want to go invisible include:
- Avoiding unwanted conversations
- Focusing on work without notifications
- Preventing status tracking by certain contacts
- Taking a break from social media
Going invisible is a purposeful choice by the user. It does not indicate any delivery issues with your messages. They will still get your texts while their status remains hidden.
Issues With Your Connection
In some cases, the “unavailable” message is caused by a problem on your end rather than the recipient’s. Network issues, connectivity problems, or app glitches could all display the unavailable status even when the other person is online.
Potential sources of connection issues include:
- Poor cellular signal
- WiFi network outage
- VPN or firewall blocking WhatsApp
- Restricted internet connectivity
- Outdated app version
- WhatsApp Web session expired
- Operating system or phone update issues
If you are having trouble loading your contacts and conversations, first check your own internet and app connectivity. Make sure WhatsApp has all the necessary permissions enabled, restart your phone, connect to a different WiFi network, and install any pending app updates.
This can determine if the issue is isolated to your device or account before assuming your messages are not going through due to the recipient being unavailable.
WhatsApp Server Problems
Large messaging platforms like WhatsApp can occasionally experience downtime or server outages that affect all users globally. While not as common as individual connectivity problems, widespread service disruptions do happen.
When WhatsApp servers are down, no one will be able to send or receive messages. This can make it appear like your contacts are unavailable even when the issue is on WhatsApp’s end.
Other signs of a WhatsApp outage include:
- Can’t access chats or see contacts
- Messages get stuck on sending
- Difficulty logging in and connecting
- Error messages appear
Major outages typically get resolved within hours once WhatsApp engineers are made aware and can investigate. Your messages will eventually go through when service is restored.
How to Tell if Someone Blocked You on WhatsApp
It can be unclear if an unavailable status means someone blocked you, their phone is off, or they set themselves to invisible. Here are some tips for figuring out if you were potentially blocked:
- You can no longer see their profile photo or status
- Your messages remain on a single check and never get delivered
- Any calls you attempt go straight to voicemail
- The contact disappears from any WhatsApp groups you shared
- You are unable to add the contact back into your phone
If you remain “unavailable” to a specific person for an extended time, that indicates blocking rather than a temporary connection issue or invisible status. Being unable to see someone’s profile details or recent activity is also a strong sign of blocking.
Confirm You’re Blocked
To get definitive confirmation that you’ve been blocked on WhatsApp:
- Try messaging the person from another device or contact number
- Ask a mutual friend to check if your profile/status is visible
- Check if you can add the person back as a new contact and message them
If your messages still don’t go through or you remain hidden from their view on multiple devices, that verifies you have indeed been blocked.
What to Do If You’re Blocked
Getting blocked on WhatsApp can be frustrating and confusing, especially if you don’t know why it happened. Here are some tips on what to do next:
- Reflect on if you may have done anything to upset or bother the person. If so, learning from that is more constructive than getting angry.
- Respect their decision and look for alternative contact methods if needed, like phone, social media, email, etc.
- Ask mutual connections if they know anything about why you may have been blocked.
- Make sure you did not accidentally block them yourself somehow.
- Be patient and allow some time to pass before trying to re-establish contact.
Harassing or repeatedly messaging someone who has blocked you will only make the situation worse. Take the opportunity for self-improvement and wait until calmer heads may prevail.
Prevent Getting Blocked in the Future
To avoid getting blocked on WhatsApp in the future, keep these tips in mind:
- Respect other people’s boundaries and privacy.
- Don’t send excessive messages if someone is not responding.
- Avoid inappropriate or abusive language in conversations.
- Don’t use WhatsApp to stalk, harass, or argue.
- If someone requests you stop messaging them, honor that wish.
- Make sure your communication is wanted and welcomed first.
Remember that blocking is a defense mechanism against unwelcome interactions. The most effective way to avoid being blocked is always considering the recipient’s comfort and perspective when messaging.
Conclusion
Seeing “unavailable” in WhatsApp is often just a temporary glitch or connectivity issue. But in some cases, it means you were blocked by the recipient. To determine the cause:
- Check your own device’s internet connection and WhatsApp’s server status.
- See if the person’s profile photo, status and messages remain inaccessible for an extended time.
- Have someone else confirm if your messages reach the recipient and their profile is visible.
- Don’t react angrily or excessively message someone who blocked you.
With some patience and reflection, a misunderstanding that led to blocking can often be resolved. Going forward, always keep your messages respectful to avoid repeat issues.