There are a few common reasons why your WhatsApp status may not be showing to your contacts. The most likely causes are that you have set your status privacy to “My Contacts Except…”, you are using an outdated version of WhatsApp, your phone lacks an internet connection, WhatsApp is experiencing a temporary outage, or there is a problem with your specific account.
You Have Set Status Privacy to “My Contacts Except…”
The most common reason your status does not show is because your status privacy is set to “My Contacts Except…” which allows you to exclude specific contacts from seeing your status updates. To change this, open WhatsApp Settings > Account > Privacy > Status > My Contacts Except… and delete any contacts you have excluded. Your status updates should now be visible to all your contacts.
Using Outdated Version of WhatsApp
If you are using an outdated version of WhatsApp that does not support status, your contacts will not be able to see your status updates. Make sure you are running the latest version of WhatsApp by checking for any available updates in your device’s app store. The most recent versions of WhatsApp have full support for status.
No Internet Connection
Since WhatsApp requires an internet connection to send and receive updates, a lack of internet connectivity can prevent your status from being visible. Check that your phone is connected to a WiFi or cellular data network. Try disabling and re-enabling your internet connection to refresh it. If you still cannot connect, your network may be down temporarily.
WhatsApp Outage
There are times when WhatsApp experiences widespread technical issues that result in outages. During major outages, core features like messaging, calling, and status can stop working. WhatsApp status in particular has been affected by several past outages. Check sites like Downdetector to see if others are reporting WhatsApp issues.
Problem With Your Account
In rare cases, there may be a problem specific to your account that is preventing your status from being visible. This can occur due to a bug, glitch, or if your account has been restricted in some way. Try logging out and back into your account. If the issue persists, contact WhatsApp support for help troubleshooting your account.
How to Troubleshoot WhatsApp Status Not Showing
Here are some steps to troubleshoot and fix WhatsApp status not showing:
- Check your internet connection – Make sure your phone has a stable internet connection via WiFi or mobile data.
- Update WhatsApp – Update to the latest version of WhatsApp from your device’s app store.
- Check status privacy settings – Go to WhatsApp Settings > Account > Privacy > Status and check you have not excluded any contacts.
- Close and reopen WhatsApp – Force close the WhatsApp app and restart it to refresh.
- Log out and back in – Log out of your WhatsApp account, then log back in to reset your account connection.
- Restart your phone – Power cycle your phone by turning it off completely, waiting 30 seconds, and powering it back on.
- Clear app cache – Clear the cache and data for WhatsApp by going to your phone’s Apps settings.
- Reinstall WhatsApp – As a last resort, uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp to do a clean reinstallation.
- Contact WhatsApp – If all else fails, contact WhatsApp directly via in-app support for further help.
WhatsApp Status Settings
Make sure to also check your WhatsApp status settings and preferences to ensure status is enabled properly:
- Keep status enabled – WhatsApp > Settings > Account > Privacy > disable “Turn off status”
- Set duration – Set your preferred status duration – 24 hrs, 7 days, 90 days
- Allow replies – Choose if you want to allow contacts to reply privately to your status updates
- Viewed by – Select who can view your status – Everyone, My Contacts, My Contacts Except…
- Seen by – Choose who can see if you’ve viewed their status – Everyone, My Contacts, My Contacts Except…
Common WhatsApp Status Issues
Here are some common WhatsApp status problems and how to fix them:
- Status not uploading – Check internet connection, restart WhatsApp, clear cache, reinstall app.
- Status not showing – Check privacy settings, update WhatsApp version, restart your phone.
- Can’t see someone’s status – They may have privacy set to “My Contacts Except…”, or blocked you.
- Disappeared from status tab – Statuses expire after 24 hrs by default. Set longer duration in settings.
- Can’t reply to status – The status owner may have disabled replies in their settings.
WhatsApp Status Tips and Tricks
Here are some tips to help you get the most out of WhatsApp status:
- You can upload photos, videos, GIFs, and text as your status update.
- Long press on a status to reply privately, mute, report, or block the user.
- View full-screen status updates by tapping twice on the status thumbnail.
- Set custom privacy for your status instead of all contacts or none.
- Status updates expire after 24 hours by default, but you can change this duration.
- See exactly who has viewed your status updates for the past 30 days.
- Pin important status updates so they don’t expire and stay at the top of your profile.
- Preview your status before posting by tapping “View Once” after creating it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my WhatsApp status not uploading?
If your WhatsApp status is not uploading, it’s likely due to a poor internet connection, outdated app version, full storage space on your phone, or a problem with your specific account. Try changing networks, updating WhatsApp, clearing storage space, reinstalling the app, and contacting WhatsApp support if needed.
Why can’t I see someone’s WhatsApp status updates?
If you cannot see someone’s WhatsApp status, the most common reason is they have set their privacy to exclude you specifically or allow only certain contacts. They may have also blocked you entirely. In rare cases, it may be due to a glitch preventing their status from uploading.
How do I know who viewed my WhatsApp status?
You can see exactly who has viewed your WhatsApp status updates in the past 30 days. Go to WhatsApp Settings > Account > Privacy > Status > Viewed by… to see the list of all contacts who have viewed your status.
Why does my WhatsApp status disappear after 24 hours?
WhatsApp statuses disappear after 24 hours by default. This is to keep them current and recent. However, you can change the expiration in WhatsApp Settings to 7 days, 90 days, or 24 hours. Just adjust the “Status Duration” setting to make statuses last longer before expiring.
How do I save someone’s WhatsApp status?
To save someone else’s WhatsApp status, open their status and take a screenshot using your phone’s screenshot function. You can also screen record their status video to save it. Make sure to only save statuses ethically and with permission to respect privacy.