WhatsApp message not delivered? You’re not alone. WhatsApp serves 2 billion monthly active users worldwide, yet delivery rates have dropped from 70-90% to about 50% recently.

The numbers tell an interesting story. WhatsApp messages have a 98% open rate, and users read 90% of messages within 3 minutes of delivery. Yet many users face the most important delivery problems because of rising spam complaints and Meta’s tighter restrictions on marketing messages.

Your WhatsApp messages might not deliver for several reasons. Network issues, old app versions, account limits, or spam flags can block message delivery. Business users face extra challenges with template pacing and quality score issues.

This piece offers expert fixes for WhatsApp message delivery problems that work for both business and personal users. We’ve included simple troubleshooting steps and advanced strategies to help you get your messages through.

How To FIX WhatsApp Messages Not Sending! (2025)

Is your WhatsApp message stuck with that annoying “sending” status? Here’s how to fix this frustrating problem with solutions that work in 2025.

A single check mark on your WhatsApp message indicates it hasn’t reached the recipient. WhatsApp explains this happens due to poor connectivity, a turned-off phone, or the recipient being in a dead zone.

First, check these simple steps:

1. Verify your internet connection – Test both WiFi and mobile data to find what works best. You need a stable connection to deliver messages.
2. Update your WhatsApp – Download the latest version from Google Play or App Store. Old versions often cause delivery issues.
3. Restart everything – Close and reopen WhatsApp. A device restart can also fix problematic apps and refresh your network.
4. Clear cache and free up space – Remove old media files to create storage space. Your WhatsApp needs enough storage to work right.
5. Check if you’ve been blocked – Messages that show single tick marks to one contact might mean they’ve blocked you.

Make sure your phone number verification is complete after a fresh WhatsApp install. A quick toggle of Airplane Mode can fix stubborn connection problems.

How to increase WhatsApp sending speed?

WhatsApp messages that take forever to deliver can drive anyone crazy. Your messages might get stuck or videos refuse to upload because of bad internet. Let me show you how to speed up WhatsApp and fix those delayed message issues:

Ensure stable internet connection

Bad internet stands out as the biggest reason behind sluggish WhatsApp performance. Your signal might drop when you’re moving around or stuck in an area with poor coverage, making WhatsApp lag. Here’s what you can do to make it better:

• Switch between WiFi and mobile data to see which works better
• Switch on airplane mode for 30 seconds and turn it off to reset your connections
• Get closer to your WiFi router or find a spot with better signal
• You might want to think over apps like Speedify that can use multiple internet sources (WiFi, 4G, 5G) at once for better stability
• Stay away from VPN services since WhatsApp doesn’t play nice with them
• When campus or office WiFi acts up, try another network or use your personal hotspot

Update WhatsApp to the latest version

Old WhatsApp versions often cause things to slow down. New updates bring fixes and improvements that can solve sending problems:

• Look for updates in Google Play Store or Apple App Store
• Turn on auto-updates to stay current
• Developers release updates regularly to fix delivery problems

Restart the app and clear cache

WhatsApp builds up temporary files that slow things down:

• Close WhatsApp fully and start it again
• Android users can go to Settings > Apps > WhatsApp > Storage & cache > Clear cache
• iPhone users need to uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp since iOS doesn’t let you clear cache directly
• A clean cache helps fix glitches and makes the app run faster
• Your device might need a quick restart – turn it off, wait 30 seconds, then power it back up

More importantly, check your device’s storage space. WhatsApp needs enough free space to work smoothly. Delete old media files and large videos to boost performance.

Why are my WhatsApp messages not getting delivered?

Your WhatsApp messages show that dreaded single check mark? Many mechanisms could stop your messages from getting delivered. Let’s get into the most common reasons why your messages don’t reach their destination.

User has blocked your number

Messages will never reach someone who has blocked you on WhatsApp. You can spot this through:

• Messages that only show one gray check mark (sent but not delivered)
• You can’t see the contact’s last seen or online status
• Their profile photo never changes
• Your calls never connect

Yes, it is WhatsApp’s way to protect user privacy by stopping these messages from being delivered.

Message sent outside the 24-hour window

WhatsApp’s business accounts must follow a strict 24-hour customer service window. Users who message your business give you exactly 24 hours to send free-form responses. The window closes after that, and you can only send pre-approved template messages. Messages sent after this time won’t get delivered.

Recipient has muted or disabled notifications

Muted conversations don’t stop message delivery directly, but they change how people interact with your messages. A muted chat means:

• No sound or vibration alerts
• Message previews might appear (based on settings)
• Unread message indicators could still show

People might not see your messages right away, which makes it look like they weren’t delivered.

Template pacing or quality score issues

Business accounts using templates often face delivery problems due to quality issues:

• Templates get paused automatically with negative feedback or low engagement
• WhatsApp’s pacing system holds messages after certain limits
• “Active – Low Quality” templates face three-hour pauses initially, six hours on second strike, and possible disabling
• Marketing template limits control promotional message volume per user

Fixing WhatsApp Message Delivery Issues

Business users who don’t deal very well with WhatsApp delivery failures can quickly restore their messaging capabilities with well-laid-out solutions. Here are proven fixes that explain why delivery problems happen.

Verify your business account and phone number

A verified business account creates the foundation for reliable message delivery. Official Business Accounts get a blue checkmark verification that builds customer trust. Here’s how to achieve verified status:

• Complete the multi-step verification process through Facebook Business Manager
• Submit your business for verification through WhatsApp’s official channels
• You might want to work with a WhatsApp Business solution provider if you face challenges

Verified accounts get higher messaging limits and better delivery rates. Your business-initiated conversations stay capped at 250 per 24-hour period without verification.

Use approved message templates

Meta needs to pre-approve template messages to maintain quality standards. Your templates will deliver successfully when you:

• Create templates that line up with WhatsApp’s guidelines
• Categorize templates accurately (Marketing, Utility, or Authentication)
• Note that marketing templates have stricter delivery limits
• Skip links or emojis in authentication templates

Templates paused due to negative feedback follow a strict penalty system: first pause (3 hours), second pause (6 hours), and third strike leads to permanent template disablement.

Avoid sending too many messages at once

Message pacing keeps your account safe from spam flags:

• Space out messages at reasonable intervals
• Send messages in batches of 100-200 instead of all at once
• Message only users who have explicitly opted in
• Stay within the 24-hour customer service window for non-template messages

Monitor delivery reports and quality rating

Quality monitoring helps spot and fix delivery issues early:

• Subscribe to the phone_number_quality_update webhook to receive status changes
• Watch for “Flagged” status that shows your quality rating has dropped
• Track internal metrics like response time and customer experience completion
• Use A/B testing to improve user experience

Ready to boost your WhatsApp business communications? Check out our complete WhatsApp marketing solutions that improve delivery rates and involvement.

Advanced Troubleshooting and Tools

Standard fixes don’t always solve persistent WhatsApp delivery issues. Technical solutions might be your best bet. Your network settings could be the root cause of these message problems.

A network settings reset can fix connection errors from wrong configurations. You can find this option in Settings > General (iPhone) or General Management (Android) > Reset > Reset Network settings. This reset gives your network settings a fresh start and often solves deep connection problems.

Wi-Fi networks at your office or campus might block WhatsApp. You can direct your network to bypass traffic to “web.whatsapp.com” or “.whatsapp.net”. This change helps you get past restrictions that block proper connections.

You can try these third-party recovery tools if problems persist:

• Look up WhatsApp’s server status on their official Twitter during widespread outages
• Clean your browser cache and cookies while using WhatsApp Web
• Create a secure backup system to save your messages during fixes

Regular backups protect you from delivery problems. WhatsApp’s built-in backup features do their job well. In spite of that, switching between operating systems can be tricky. Dedicated WhatsApp transfer tools can help you keep your messages intact.

WhatsApp creates a unique 64-digit key for end-to-end encrypted backups. Keep this key safe – you won’t recover encrypted messages on new devices without it.

Want better management of your WhatsApp marketing campaigns? Explore complete WhatsApp marketing solutions that boost delivery rates and solve common messaging problems.

Conclusion

WhatsApp message delivery problems can definitely frustrate anyone who wants to communicate through this popular platform. In this piece, we’ve explored solutions that address both personal and business messaging problems.

Simple troubleshooting is your best defense against delivery failures. You can solve most common problems by checking your internet connection, updating to the latest app version, and clearing cache. Your device’s restart often fixes temporary glitches.

Business users face different problems because of WhatsApp’s strict policies. Your delivery rates will substantially improve when you maintain good template quality scores, respect the 24-hour messaging window, and get proper business verification. You should space out your messages instead of sending them all at once to prevent your account from being flagged as spam.

Network-related problems might need more advanced solutions. You can solve persistent delivery problems by resetting network settings or configuring office networks to allow WhatsApp traffic. These technical steps work when simpler fixes don’t help.

It’s worth mentioning that WhatsApp’s delivery system needs both sender and recipient to have working internet connections. Single check marks on messages might just mean the recipient is offline or has turned off their device.

FAQ

Wondering why your WhatsApp messages aren’t getting through? Let’s tackle the most common questions about WhatsApp message delivery problems.

Why WhatsApp messages are sometimes not delivered

Your WhatsApp message delivery depends on several factors you can’t control. The recipient’s phone number might be wrong or not even registered with WhatsApp. Some users haven’t accepted WhatsApp’s latest Terms of Service, which stops messages from going through. Meta sometimes chooses not to deliver messages “to maintain healthy ecosystem engagement.” This happens when the system flags users who send too many messages or when their template quality score drops too low.

Why is my WhatsApp message taking so long to deliver?

Messages with links take up to 10 seconds because WhatsApp creates link previews automatically. Files larger than 20MB take nowhere near the usual time to deliver, whatever your network speed. There’s another reason – your account’s delaySendMessagesMilliseconds setting controls the gap between messages. The system slows down substantially during mass mailings. WhatsApp adds up to 30 seconds of delay per message to prevent spam flags.

Why is my WhatsApp message only showing one tick?

That single gray tick means your message left your device but hasn’t reached its destination. You’ll see this when the recipient’s phone is off or they have connection problems. Running out of data can cause this too. On top of that, it happens if someone sees a notification without opening WhatsApp, or their notifications are turned off.