Quick answer
A clock or “Waiting for network” usually points to a connection problem on your side. Check that Wi-Fi or mobile data is on, open a website to test it, turn airplane mode on and off, and restart your phone. A single check mark that stays for a long time can mean the other person’s phone is off, offline or out of data, or they haven’t opened WhatsApp. WhatsApp says they may also have blocked you. If messages aren’t reaching you, check your storage, your phone’s date and time, and that WhatsApp is up to date.
Does this match what you see?
- A clock icon next to your message, or “Waiting for network”.
- Your message has one check mark and never gets a second.
- People say they messaged you, but nothing arrived.
- Text sends, but photos, videos or documents fail.
- You can’t message one contact, or can’t type in a group.
- Messages reach your phone but not WhatsApp Web or Desktop.
iPhone & iPadAndroidComputer (browser)
Based on WhatsApp Help “Can’t send or receive messages” (supplied by the site owner). Menu names in phone settings vary by phone model.
Why this happens: the possible causes
What each message mark means, according to WhatsApp, and what to do. Below the table, how common each cause is, is our estimate.
| What you see | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| A clock | Not sent yet, usually a connection problem | Fix your connection |
| One check mark | Left your phone, not yet on theirs | Sent but not delivered |
| Two check marks | Delivered to their phone | Nothing is wrong |
| Two blue check marks | They’ve read it | Nothing is wrong |
- No working internet connectionCheck this first
WhatsApp says a clock or “Waiting for network” could be due to connectivity issues.
- The other person’s phone is off or offlineCheck this first
WhatsApp says one check mark can mean their phone is off, out of coverage or out of data, or they haven’t opened WhatsApp.
- Your phone is out of storagePossible
WhatsApp says when storage is full, new messages and media may not be saved.
- Wrong date and time, or an old app versionPossible
WhatsApp lists both as things to check when messages aren’t arriving.
- You’ve been blocked, or blocked themPossible
WhatsApp says you won’t receive messages from a contact you’ve blocked, and if someone has blocked you, your messages to them always show one check mark.
- Group admin settingsLess likely
WhatsApp says an admin may have restricted who can send messages in a group.
Try these 60-second checks first
- Open a website in your browser to check your internet works.
- Turn airplane mode on, then off again.
- Update WhatsApp from the App Store or Google Play.
How to fix it, step by step
Work through these in order. They start with the quickest, safest checks and only move to steps that sign you out or remove data later.
Fix 1: Message stuck on a clock or “Waiting for network”
WhatsApp says a clock means the message hasn’t been sent yet, which could be due to a connection problem.
- Make sure Wi-Fi or mobile data is turned on and working.
- Open a website in your browser to confirm your connection works.
- On mobile data, move somewhere with a better signal.
- Turn airplane mode on and off to reset your connection.
- Restart your phone and try sending the message again.
Still stuck, or WhatsApp won’t connect at all? See WhatsApp not connecting for data saver, roaming, APN and Wi-Fi fixes.
Did it work? The clock changes to a check mark.
Did Fix 1 solve it?
Great, you fixed it with Fix 1. Tell us it worked, or bookmark this page in case it happens again.
Fix 2: Only one check mark (sent but not delivered)
WhatsApp says one check mark means your message left your phone but hasn’t reached the other person’s device.
- WhatsApp says if one check mark stays for a long time, the other person’s phone may be turned off or out of coverage.
- They may have run out of mobile data.
- They may have seen the notification but haven’t opened WhatsApp yet.
- If it never changes and your calls don’t connect either, WhatsApp says they may have blocked you. See can’t message one person.
Our note: your side is working when you see one check mark. There’s nothing to fix on your phone.
Did it work? A second check mark appears once their phone receives the message.
Did Fix 2 solve it?
Great, you fixed it with Fix 2. Tell us it worked, or bookmark this page in case it happens again.
Fix 3: You’re not receiving messages
WhatsApp says to first check whether messages are arriving without an alert, or not arriving at all.
- Open WhatsApp. If the messages appear as soon as you do, it’s a notification problem, not a messaging one. See WhatsApp notifications not working.
- If they still don’t appear, check that Wi-Fi or mobile data works, turn airplane mode on and off, then restart your phone and open WhatsApp again.
- Make sure your phone has enough storage. WhatsApp says new messages and media may not be saved when storage is full.
- Check that your phone’s date and time are set correctly.
- Update WhatsApp to the latest version.
- Missing messages from one person? Check you haven’t blocked them. From one group? Check you haven’t been removed.
WhatsApp says you won’t get notifications for archived chats unless you’re mentioned or replied to, and an archived chat stays archived by default when a new message arrives, so check your archived chats too.
Did it work? New messages show up in your chats.
Did Fix 3 solve it?
Great, you fixed it with Fix 3. Tell us it worked, or bookmark this page in case it happens again.
“Waiting for this message. This may take a while.”
WhatsApp says this can appear instead of a message if the message failed to deliver, you or the sender recently reinstalled WhatsApp, one of you isn’t on the latest version, or you moved to a new phone with the same number. To fix it:
- Ask the sender to open WhatsApp, so you’re both online at the same time.
- Check your connection: switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data, or move somewhere with better signal.
- Make sure both of you have the latest version of WhatsApp.
- If the message failed to deliver, ask the sender to resend it.
- Switch to your main phone, the one you registered with. WhatsApp says to log in on your main phone every 14 days to keep linked devices connected.
- Unlink and relink your linked device.
Photos, videos or documents won’t send
WhatsApp says if text sends but media fails, it’s usually file size, storage or permissions. See WhatsApp photos, videos or files not downloading for the full fixes.
Can’t message one person (have they blocked you?)
If you can message everyone except one contact, WhatsApp says they may have blocked you, changed their phone number, or deleted their WhatsApp account. WhatsApp lists these signs you may have been blocked:
- Your messages to them always show one check mark.
- You can’t see their “last seen” or “online” status.
- Your calls to them don’t go through.
- You don’t see blue read ticks, their status updates, or changes to their profile photo, and as a group admin you can’t add them to a group.
WhatsApp says even if you see all of these, there may be other reasons, and it can’t tell you whether or who has blocked you, or remove a block for you.
To block or report someone yourself, see how to block and report on WhatsApp.
Can’t send messages in a group
- A notice saying “Only admins can send messages” at the bottom of the chat means the admin has restricted messaging. Ask a group admin for permission.
- If you see “You can’t send messages to this group”, WhatsApp says you may have been removed from it.
- Can’t make someone an admin, or remove one? WhatsApp says it may be because you’re not an admin, one of you isn’t on the latest version, they’re already an admin, they’ve left the group, or there’s a network problem. WhatsApp says it can’t make anyone an admin for you.
- “Invite via Link unavailable”: WhatsApp says it sometimes limits a group’s invite links to deal with unwanted contact, spam or other Terms of Service violations, found through automated checks and user reports. It says the feature normally comes back after 7 days.
- “You can’t join the group or community because the invite link was reset”: WhatsApp says the old link no longer works. WhatsApp suggests asking a group admin to add you manually. Our tip: or ask them for the new link.
Messages not showing on WhatsApp Web or Desktop
WhatsApp says Web and Desktop are linked devices. They work even when your phone isn’t online, but they’re logged out if you don’t use your phone for over 14 days. If messages reach your phone but not your computer:
- Open WhatsApp on your phone to confirm your account is still active, then relink your computer if it was logged out.
- Refresh the page, or restart the WhatsApp Desktop app.
- If you see new messages in the browser but get no alerts, allow your browser to show notifications for WhatsApp. See unblock WhatsApp Web notifications in your browser.
Still not working? WhatsApp’s general steps
- Restart your phone.
- Update WhatsApp to the latest version from your app store.
- Check your phone’s date and time are correct.
- Make sure you’ve completed verification for your phone number.
- Clear WhatsApp’s cache.
- Uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp, but back up your chats first.
Keyboard, spell check or predictive text not working? WhatsApp says the keyboard is controlled entirely by your phone, not WhatsApp. Android: check Settings > System > Keyboard. iPhone: check Settings > General > Keyboard; tap the globe icon to switch keyboards. If typing or emoji are slow on iPhone, WhatsApp suggests Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Keyboard Dictionary.
How to know it worked
- Your messages get two check marks, and new messages arrive in your chats.
Still not working? Your next steps
- Same problem on Instagram or Messenger? See Instagram messages not sending or Messenger not sending messages.
Official help routes
SocialAppFix can’t see or change your account. For account decisions, recovery and appeals, only the platform’s own tools can help. These links go to the official sites.
Frequently asked questions
What does a clock mean on WhatsApp?
WhatsApp says the message hasn’t been sent yet, which could be due to a connection problem. Check your Wi-Fi or mobile data, toggle airplane mode and restart your phone.
Why does my WhatsApp message only have one check mark?
WhatsApp says it left your phone but hasn’t reached theirs. Their phone may be off, out of coverage or out of data, they may not have opened WhatsApp, or they may have blocked you.
What do two blue check marks mean?
WhatsApp says two check marks mean the message was delivered, and two blue check marks mean it was read.
How do I know if someone blocked me on WhatsApp?
WhatsApp lists signs: your messages always show one check mark, you can’t see their last seen or online status, and your calls don’t go through. They may also have changed number or deleted their account.
Why is WhatsApp Web not getting messages?
WhatsApp says linked devices are logged out if you don’t use your phone for over 14 days. Open WhatsApp on your phone, relink your computer, and refresh the page or restart the app.
Why am I not getting notifications for an archived chat?
WhatsApp says you won’t get notifications for archived chats unless you’re mentioned or replied to, and the chat stays archived by default when new messages arrive.
Did this solve your problem?
Your answer stays in your browser — nothing is sent or stored. The “tell us” link opens your own email app.
Out of date or didn’t work? Email us — never include passwords or codes.
Sources and how we checked this guide
We base steps on the platforms’ own help pages and the phone makers’ official guides. Menu names change often and can differ by device, app version and region. Where a platform page could not be independently read, we link it so you can check the current wording yourself.
- Can’t send or receive messages (external site, opens in a new tab)
- About “Waiting for this message. This may take a while.” (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Can’t change or assign a group admin (external site, opens in a new tab)
- What does “Invite via Link unavailable” mean? (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Can’t join group with invite link (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Being blocked by someone (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Can’t use keyboard in WhatsApp (external site, opens in a new tab)
Last reviewed 28 October 2026 by the SocialAppFix editorial team against the sources above. Next scheduled review: 28 April 2027. How we write and review guides.
What changed
- 28 October 2026: First published.
- 29 October 2026: Added “Waiting for this message” and group admin help.
SocialAppFix is an independent guide and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Meta or WhatsApp. We never ask for passwords, login codes or payment to fix an account.