How to update WhatsApp on an Android phone or iPhone

Updating software is an important aspect of using any modern device. With regard to popular instant messengers, updating the version of the client application not only ensures the stability of its operation and obtains new functions, but also affects the level of security of the user transmitting information through the services. Let's look at how to get the latest version of WhatsApp, which operates on the two most popular mobile operating systems - Android and iOS.

Update WhatsApp on your phone

Downloading new versions of the messenger is important for several reasons. The first is that outdated versions do not work very stable. They contain errors more often, some settings may be missing, crashes may occur, etc.

The second reason is the opportunity to get more useful functions (viewing statuses, group calls for 8 participants, etc.). Developers are constantly working on new features, and there is no point in abandoning them if you communicate using this application from time to time.

It is important to note that updating WhatsApp will take literally a minute if the new version is not installed automatically. So we highly recommend doing this.

Now let's move on to the practical part of the article. We bring to your attention separate instructions for Android devices and for iPhone, because each case will have its own procedure and its own nuances.

Why update WhatsApp app

WhatsApp does not update on Android on its own. Users have to do this manually or spend a long time delving into the settings. In this regard, many simply stop dealing with this issue. But in vain.

You can download WhatsApp from the official app store

By downloading the latest version of the messenger, the user receives:

• improving the security of personal data storage. Due to the presence of a large number of personal correspondence on WhatsApp, the messenger regularly becomes the target of attacks from hackers and virus software. In this regard, each new version receives additional encryption keys to counteract such attacks;
• correction of previously noticed errors. Any software can fail. When releasing a new product to the market, developers are not able to calculate everything. Therefore, from time to time users encounter bugs and system failures. The purpose of updates is to fix identified problems;
• fresh functionality that didn’t exist before. In the first versions of the messenger there were no video calls, stickers, different ringtone options, themes, etc. If the user is interested in receiving new features of the utility, then it is worth systematically checking for the latest versions;
• always in touch. If you can still put up with mistakes, then you can’t with the lack of communication with other subscribers. By using an outdated version, a person risks spending an order of magnitude longer waiting for the desired message or call.

For your information! In 2022, WhatsApp will no longer support outdated versions of Android (2.3.7 and older), because such gadgets are no longer able to support the existing functionality.

Android 2.3.7 has a very outdated interface and operating protocols

Update on Android

To install WhatsApp, in most cases the Play Store application store is used. And with its help you can update the messenger to the latest version. But there is an alternative option that is suitable for those smartphones and tablets where this store is not available.

For ease of understanding, we will divide the further narration into several logical blocks.

Using the Play Market

If you downloaded the messenger from the application store, then it makes more sense to update it in the same way.

Step-by-step instruction:

1. Unlock your smartphone and tap on the store icon on the desktop or in the all applications menu.

2. Click on the menu icon on the left side of the screen. And if it is not there, then click on your avatar in the upper right corner.
3. Select an item "My apps and games".

4. On the new page, go to the “Updates” .
5. We look for the WhatsApp column in the list of applications.
6. Tap on the green button "Update".

7. We are waiting for the end of the procedure.

For the future, you can enable automatic updates for WhatsApp messenger. For this:

1. We return to the main page of the Play Store application .
2. Activate the search area.

3. Enter the WhatsApp and tap on the top link.
4. On the new page, click on the name of the messenger.

5. Call the context menu using the marked icon:

6. Activate the "Auto-update" .
7. We are closing the store.

Via the official website of the messenger

If the previous option does not suit you for some reason, you can update WhatsApp on your Android device through the official website. From there you need to download the current version of the messenger as apk file and install it over the current one.

Step-by-step instruction:

1. Launch the browser on your smartphone or tablet.
2. Tap on the address bar and enter the whatsapp.com link there.
3. Let's go to this site.
4. Scroll the page to the very bottom.
5. Click on the button Android In chapter "Download".

6. Now click on “Download Now” .
7. Save the WhatsApp .apk and launch it directly from the browser.
8. We agree with the installation in a new window.

In a similar way, you can download WhatsApp from third-party resources, but there is a chance of catching a virus or an adware worm, and we hardly need this.

If this is all clear, let's talk about updating WhatsApp on iOS.

How to set up WhatsApp auto-update

In order not to waste time constantly monitoring the release of a new version of WhatsApp, it is advisable to enable the automatic application update function. To do this, you will need to go back to Google's proprietary software store.

• Open the menu bar by tapping the three-bar icon in the upper left corner of the screen.
• Select from the list and go to the “Settings” section.
• Tap your finger on the “Auto-update apps” option.
• When a pop-up window appears on the screen, select one of the two options “Only via Wi-Fi” or “Any network” (in this case, updates will be downloaded, including through mobile traffic). After checking the desired item, press the “Done” button.

Now the “Automatic application update” mode will be active, and the network type will appear in the note.

Update on iPhone

The main way to download the new version of the messenger for iPhone is to use the App Store, where WhatsApp is distributed free of charge.

Step-by-step instruction:

1. Unlock your smartphone and tap on the icon App Store on the desktop.
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2. Activate the “Updates” at the bottom of the user window.
3. We are waiting for the system to generate a list of installed applications.
4. We scroll through the page looking for the WhatsApp .
5. Tap on the button "Update" Opposite the column with it.

6. We confirm that the procedure has been completed.
7. We are waiting for its completion.

Everything is done as convenient as possible for the user. However, in rare cases, errors occur when trying to run the procedure. Let's look at the main scenarios.

Advantages of the WhatsApp messenger

WhatsApp messenger is a program for exchanging messages and data, which is currently used by a multi-million audience of Android device users around the world.
One of the main features of this messenger is its versatility. At the moment, there are versions of the program for almost all popular operating systems. Consequently, you can synchronize the application on your smartphone or tablet with a similar program pre-installed on your PC. The functional features of the messenger include its intuitive interface, even for a beginner. Every user can understand how the program works.

You will also appreciate the practicality implemented in the file transfer process. No matter what version of the operating system you work with WhatsApp, you can select almost any file, click on the “Share” button and transfer this document to any contact saved in the messenger.

Common upgrade errors

There are many reasons for problems and factors that cause WhatsApp to not update. Let's look at their features and give recommendations for elimination. For ease of understanding, we will divide the further narration into several logical blocks.

Not enough memory

A certain amount of free memory on the device is required in order to unpack system files. If the phone is “clogged” with applications and media files, then the system simply has nowhere to install updates. The obvious solution is to get rid of unnecessary data, remove unused apps, and generally clean out your device.

Poor Internet connection

Whatever you do with the device’s memory, if the Internet connection is unstable or the speed is low, the problem will not be solved. If you have mobile Internet, check the amount of available traffic, make sure that the router settings are adequate, since the device itself reduces some of the speed.

It is possible that you cannot update or download WhatsApp because it is blocked in your state. In this case, any VPN service downloaded from the Play Store will help. By the way, let's talk about him.

Play Store cache is full

Often the problem lies in the poor quality of Google services, in particular the official store. We suggest clearing the software cache and checking the functionality of the WhatsApp update tools.

To make your plans come true:

1. Unlock your smartphone and tap on the gear-shaped icon in the notification shade.

2. Scroll the page to the “Application Manager” or “Applications” .
3. Open the section "Third Party", "All applications" or "System".

4. We scroll through the list of installed software created by the system.
5. Tap on the icon «Google Play Market".

6. Activate the button "Clear cache".

7. We confirm the seriousness of our intentions.
8. We do similar manipulations for the “Clear data” .

The built-in algorithms will do their part, and we go into the store and start the installation process of the new version of the messenger.

We looked at the most popular reasons that are responsible for the broken WhatsApp update process. And let's move on to the last question for today.

Possible problems

Updating applications is an important part of device security and personal data protection. Users often complain that for some reason they cannot update WhatsApp on their Android device. A similar phenomenon occurs when the system prompts you to update the messenger, but when you click the “Update” button, nothing happens.

There are several reasons why the application refuses to update.

Cause	Explanation	Solution
Settings error	The Android mobile device has incorrect settings, which is why errors with different codes appear	You need to reinstall your account; Clear cache in Play Market; Download the ARK file from the official website; Allow updates only via Wi-Fi
Memory	There is not enough free space on your smartphone to install updates	Remove unnecessary programs, files, documents, Clear cache in used applications
Problems connecting to the network	No stable internet connection or weak signal	Disconnect the Internet connection, and try again after a while Contact your Internet service provider - ISP or mobile operator, reporting the problem
Disabled "Unknown Sources" feature	In this case, you can download new versions of applications only from the Play Store.	Go to “Settings” → “Applications” → “Unknown sources”. Next to this option, check the box to allow downloading of programs from third-party resources.
System failure	Appears as a "Not available in your country" notification	You need to go to the official website of the developer and download the APK file of the messenger, save it on your device, and then install it

4.6/5 — (27 votes)

Updating WhatsApp on your phone without a password or login

The process of unpacking system files or downloading a more recent version has nothing to do with the password or login for your existing account. Therefore, you can update WhatsApp easily and simply.

The only requirement is that you must have access to the SIM card to which the messenger account is linked. This is necessary to pass two-factor verification after completing all procedures.

As for the login and password, they are not used in these operations. This is true for both Android and iOS.

Deleting a WhatsApp account

If for some reason you want to change your account in the WhatsApp messenger and at the same time erase all old data about using the application, you should use either deleting the account through the settings of the phone itself, or a simpler method - deleting it through the program interface itself. In the first case, you just need to go to the “Accounts” section in the settings of your smartphone or tablet and find “WhatsApp” among them for subsequent deletion. The second method is much simpler. Having given preference to it, you need to perform three simple steps:

1. Go to WhatsApp settings;

2. Go to the account section;

3. Click on the “Delete account” column

Please remember that to confirm the deletion procedure, you will again need to enter the phone number to which the account was registered. When deleting, you can o. This action will erase all user settings. In this case, you should be extremely careful, because if you uninstall backups, you will not be able to restore not only all settings, but also conversations with your contacts, as well as other information.

Completion

Updating WhatsApp on different fluid devices is not difficult, and the procedure takes just a few minutes. You can use the official App Store and Play Store or the project website (Android only), preferably avoiding third-party resources due to personal data security concerns.

Of course, the process can be disrupted by the reasons and factors that we discussed above. However, once the problem is clearly identified, it can be easily fixed using the built-in OS tools or settings of the application itself, so this should not be difficult.

If none of our recommendations help, then delete your copy of WhatsApp and install the latest version. Here are detailed instructions for reinstalling the messenger while saving the data.

The article offers comprehensive information on the topic, so go for it and you will succeed!

Reinstalling the application

From time to time there may be malfunctions in the operation of Android itself, and when updating it throws an error. By the way, more about them later. When faced with such a problem, the easiest way to fix the situation is to reinstall the application.

How to update Android on a Samsung, Lenovo tablet and other devices

To do this, you need:

1. Long press the application icon and move it to the trash.
2. Open Play Market.
3. In the search bar, enter the query “WhatsApp” or “Whatsapp”. The system will prompt itself.
4. In the list that opens, select the desired messenger and click “Install”.

The latest version of the utility is always available in the Play Market. After installation, just log into your account using your phone number.

Important! Using this method, correspondence can be deleted. Therefore, if you need to save them, it is better to backup the data (the function is in the messenger settings).

Backup chats on WhatsApp

How to check the current version of the application

Now let's talk about the relevance of the current version of WhatsApp installed on your smartphone. You need to know this information so as not to bother yourself with unnecessary work. The algorithm consists of several steps:

1. Click on the PlayMarket icon.
2. Move to the left menu.
3. Open the “My apps and games” option.
4. If the “Update” button is present, your version is considered outdated.

If you wish, you can centrally update all programs available on your phone. This can be done individually or by selecting the universal update function.

Clearing the cache on a mobile phone

If clearing the memory did not allow you to install WhatsApp updates on your Android smartphone, let's try deleting the cache. You can do this for each application and game. And also for the WhatsApp application itself. But this is a rather long process. It is better to use applications from Play Market and iOS. Use Clean Master or something similar from the mobile market.

Procedure:

1. The application will find cache and other unnecessary files on the mobile device. To do this, click on the “Garbage” button;
2. After a few seconds, you will need to confirm the removal of junk from your Android phone. The system will find the garbage and show you what it consists of. There will be system auxiliary files, reports and cache;
3. Click the "Clear Junk" button at the bottom.

The application is also capable of stopping unnecessary processes in the mobile device (cleaning RAM), and also provides a virus scanning function. For an additional fee, it is offered to use a full-fledged anti-virus system. After carrying out maintenance on your phone, try updating the WhatsApp application.

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What happens if you don't download updates?

How to update WhatsApp is now clear. You can download the new version for free; the changes will not affect saved correspondence and contacts. What problems can you encounter if you ignore updates:

• frequent freezes and crashes;
• the appearance of errors, as well as notifications that the version is out of date;
• recently added options will not be available;
• problems occur when sending or receiving files.

New WhatsApp builds often add useful options and change chat protection algorithms. Use the latest version of the messenger to get access to all features. Downloading is available for free.