Exploring Message Delivery Challenges on WhatsApp

Find the causes of undelivered WhatsApp messages. Whether it’s due to recipient inactivity or country-specific restrictions, learn about the prevalent issues and identify potential solutions to ensure smooth communication

When a message on WhatsApp shows as sent but hasn't been delivered, several issues could be at play. Here’s a straightforward explanation of the most common causes and some potential solutions you can attempt.

Common Causes of Undelivered Messages

1. The recipient hasn't been online for the past 30 days, and messages cannot be stored longer than that period.

2. You have been blocked by the individual you are attempting to contact.

3. The recipient resides in a country where message delivery is not possible due to restrictions or sanctions.

4. Technical issues such as invalid request parameters, integrity errors, or the recipient has not accepted the latest Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. If it’s the latter, they should click here to accept the terms.

5. Outdated WhatsApp version. Make sure the recipient is using at least the following versions to receive messages:

   • Android: 2.21.15.15

   • SMBA: 2.21.15.15

   • iOS: 2.21.170.4

   • SMBI: 2.21.170.4

   • KaiOS: 2.2130.10

   • Web: 2.2132.6

6. The recipient is part of an experiment.

7. To maintain a quality experience for users, we restrict the number of marketing messages an individual can receive.

Steps to Take If Your Message Isn't Delivered:

1. Verify Messaging Capability: Confirm that the recipient is able to send messages to your WhatsApp business number.

2. Check for Blocking: Ask them to review their blocked contacts list to see if your number is included.

3. Terms of Service Compliance: Ensure they have accepted the latest terms of service by guiding them to the relevant section in their app settings.

4. App Update: Recommend that they update WhatsApp to the newest version available.

Country Limitations

Due to sanctions, some countries and regions are restricted from utilizing the WhatsApp Business Platform. These restrictions include:

Ineligible for businesses: Businesses located in Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and specific regions of Ukraine (Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk) cannot use the platform.

Ineligible for users to receive messages: Users in the aforementioned countries and regions, as well as in Turkey, cannot receive messages sent through the API. However, businesses in Turkey are still permitted to use the platform.