WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 2 billion users worldwide. One of the handy features of WhatsApp is the message preview that allows you to quickly glance at new messages without opening the chat. However, sometimes this message preview stops showing up due to various reasons.
What is Message Preview in WhatsApp?
The message preview in WhatsApp shows a snippet of the latest unread message in a chat when you receive a notification. This allows you to get an idea of what the message is about without having to open the chat. The preview usually shows the sender’s name and the first 2 lines of the message text.
This preview shows up on the lock screen when you get a WhatsApp notification and also in the notifications shade when you swipe down on Android phones. On iOS devices, it shows up on the notifications screen accessed by swiping down from the top.
Why is WhatsApp Message Preview Not Showing Up?
There could be a few reasons why the message preview has stopped showing up on your WhatsApp notifications:
1. Message Preview Setting Disabled
The most common reason for WhatsApp not showing message preview is that the preview option has been disabled in WhatsApp settings. To enable message previews:
- Open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Notifications > Message preview
- Toggle on ‘Show Preview’ option
This will enable message previews again and you’ll be able to see the sneak peeks in your notifications.
2. OS Notification Settings
Apart from WhatsApp’s own settings, your phone’s OS notification settings also impact whether you see message previews. On Android, go to Settings > Apps & notifications > WhatsApp > Notifications and enable ‘Allow peeking’ option. On iOS, go to Settings > Notifications > WhatsApp and enable ‘Show Previews’ option under the notification style.
3. Security Apps Blocking Preview
Some security and privacy apps have options to disable message previews and notifications to protect sensitive information. Check if you have any such app installed that might be blocking the WhatsApp message preview.
4. Unstable Internet Connection
An unstable internet connection can also prevent WhatsApp from downloading the full message required for preview generation. Switch to a better network or WiFi and check if the previews start showing up.
5. Outdated WhatsApp Version
Using an outdated version of WhatsApp can also cause issues with notifications and message previews. Make sure you are on the latest version of WhatsApp by checking for updates on Play Store or App Store.
6. Phone Update Issues
Sometimes a buggy phone software update can cause problems with notifications across apps including WhatsApp. See if a system update fixes it or try rebooting your phone.
7. Custom ROM
Using a custom ROM or modded OS can also lead to notification issues due to compatibility problems. Switch back to the official phone firmware in such cases.
8. Jailbroken/Rooted Device
Jailbroken iPhones and rooted Android devices are more prone to all kinds of system-level issues including with notifications. Consider unrooting or restoring your device if nothing else works.
9. Notification Log Limits
Android and iOS have limits on how many notifications can be stored in the log before old ones start getting deleted. If you don’t click on WhatsApp notifications for a long time, the message preview might not show up as old notifications get removed from log.
10. Do Not Disturb Mode
If Do Not Disturb mode is enabled on your phone during certain times, you will not get any message previews or notifications from WhatsApp or other apps. Check your Do Not Disturb settings if notifications are missing.
How to Fix WhatsApp Not Showing Message Preview
Based on the probable reasons above, here are some troubleshooting tips to fix WhatsApp not showing sneak peeks of messages on your notifications:
1. Check App Settings
First, open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Notifications > Message Preview. Make sure ‘Show Preview’ is enabled here. This allows WhatsApp to download message snippets for preview.
2. Verify OS Settings
Go to your phone’s main Settings > Apps & Notifications > WhatsApp > Notifications (on Android) or Settings > Notifications > WhatsApp (on iOS). Enable peeking/previews for WhatsApp notifications.
3. Disable Security Apps
See if you have any security, privacy or parental control apps installed that might be blocking previews. Temporarily disable such apps and check if that fixes the issue.
4. Switch Networks
Connect your phone to a stable WiFi or cellular data connection to rule out any connectivity issues.
5. Update WhatsApp
Make sure you are running the latest version of WhatsApp. Older versions may have bugs affecting notifications.
6. Update Your Phone
Check for any pending system software updates for your phone and install them. Reboot your device after the update.
7. Reset WhatsApp
If nothing else works, try resetting WhatsApp from settings. This will clear all cached data and notifications and re-register the app.
8. Unroot/Unjailbreak Device
For rooted Android or jailbroken iPhones, consider unrooting/unjailbreaking your device to eliminate any system-level issues.
9. Wipe Cache Partition
On Android phones, you can try wiping the cache partition from recovery mode to clear any corrupt cached data.
10. Factory Reset
If the issue persists after trying all options, you may need to factory reset your phone to eliminate any deeper system problems. Backup data first.
How to Customize WhatsApp Message Previews
Apart from just enabling or disabling message previews entirely, WhatsApp also gives you some customization options:
- You can set previews to show for all new messages or only for unread chats.
- The preview can be configured to always show sender and message or hide message content if unlocked.
- You can choose to hide or show message previews on the lock screen.
To customize message preview behavior as per your preferences:
- Go to WhatsApp Settings > Notifications > Message Preview
- Tap on ‘Advanced’ to see additional options
- Choose your preferences for preview content, lock screen visibility, etc.
This will let you configure sneak peeks to suit your privacy needs without fully disabling them.
Useful WhatsApp Tips
Here are some additional tips to improve your WhatsApp experience:
- Enable chat backups to Google Drive or iCloud so you never lose conversations.
- Set up fingerprint unlock on WhatsApp for extra security.
- Use WhatsApp on multiple devices by linking to up to 4 devices.
- Activate dark mode for comfortable night-time messaging.
- Enable auto-download for media files when on WiFi.
- Use chat filters to easily find unread chats or media files.
- Star important chats so they appear at the top.
- Use broadcast lists to send messages to multiple contacts.
Conclusion
WhatsApp message previews not showing is usually easily fixable by adjusting notification settings. Make sure to enable message previews in WhatsApp settings as well as OS notification settings. Also rule out security apps, connectivity issues, outdated apps, modded systems or full notification logs as potential causes. With the troubleshooting steps provided, you should be able to get WhatsApp message sneak peeks working again.