WhatsApp not Scanning QR Code on iOS/Android? 11 Best Fix!

Are you worried about WhatsApp not scanning QR code on Android?

OR

You are an iPhone user and face the same issue.

I know it is a problematic and irritating situation, but you Don’t need to worry.

You are not alone in facing this problem; some also reported on Reddit that they have a couple of solutions and couldn’t fix the issue. 

Upcoming are 7 Solutions that would work and fix WhatsApp not scanning QR code.

Follow the list of FIXES on how to fix WhatsApp messages not not scanning QR code:

Solution: 1 Check if WhatsApp’s Servers Are Down

If WhatsApp is not working correctly for you, you need to check if it’s down for everyone or not. 

There are 2 places to check whether the WhatsApp server is down.

  1. Down Detector site
    Down Detector is a site that provides you with the status of various websites and their services. If your WhatsApp is not working or showing any issue go to Down Detector and check whether WhatsApp is having problems or not.
  2. WhatsApp Status Twitter account
    Visit the @wa_status Twitter page. If WhatsApp has any issue or maintenance work, then WhatsApp will have tweeted about it.
WhatsApp not scanning QR code-whatsapp twitter

If WhatsApp’s servers are good and the issue of WhatsApp not scanning QR code problem is still present, move to the next fix. 

Solution: 2 Restart Your Device

For Android

Restarting is a simple and basic solution for all glitches of android phones. After restarting, your android phone becomes fast and running smoothly.

You should restart the phone and open WhatsApp a few minutes after rebooting your device to see if the issue is solved or not.

reboot android

For iPhone

Restarting is a simple and basic solution for all glitches of
the iPhone. After restarting, your iPhone becomes fast and runs smoothly.

So, if your WhatsApp messages not delivered, you should restart your iPhone by following the steps below:

Press and quickly release the volume up button, press and quickly release the volume down button, then press and hold the side button. When the Apple logo appears, release the button(iPhone).

restart iphone

WhatsApp not scanning QR code problem is still present. Move to the next fix.

Solution: 3  Log Out From All Devices on WhatsApp

If your WhatsApp not scanning QR code, The next suggestion is to log out from all browsers. Here are the detailed steps:

For Android

  1. Open WhatsApp
  2. Tap on More options download 3
  3. Select Linked Devices
  4. Tap a device you want to lag out 
  5. At last, tap on LOG OUT
10

For iPhone

  1. Open WhatsApp
  2. Tap on Setting in the bottom right corner
  3. Next, tap on Linked Devices
  4. Tap a device you want to lag out 
  5. At last, tap on LOG OUT
3 1

If this solution is not working, then apply the next fix.

Solution: 4 Disable Browser Extensions

If your WhatsApp not scanning QR code, The next suggestion is to clear the browser cookies on your computer. Here are the detailed steps on how to clear Google Chrome cache & cookies.

  1. On your computer, open Chrome
  2. At the top right, click More options download 3
  3. Click More tools >> Clear browsing data

    Untitled 5 1
  4. At the top, choose a time range. To delete everything, select All time
  5. Next to “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files,” check the boxes
  6. Click Clear data

    Capture chrome clear alltime tcm34 328359

If this solution is not working, then apply the next fix.

Solution: 5 Check your Internet Connection

WhatsApp requires an active internet connection to function correctly. Sometimes slow or bad internet connection can create this issue, so make sure your network speed is good and switch mobile data to a wi-fi connection and vice versa.

Try troubleshooting your network connection to see if that resolves your issue.

For Android

  1. Go to Settings 
  2. Enable and then disable Airplane mode
  3. Tap on SIM cards & mobile network >> Mobile data (For Mobile data)

    1 6
  4. Tap on Wi-Fi >> Toggle on Wi-Fi (For Wi-fi)

    2 5

For iPhone

  1. Go to your iPhone’s Settings
  2. Enable and disable Airplane Mode
  3. Select Mobile Data >> Toggle on Mobile Data (For Mobile data)

    7 4
  4. Tap on Wi-Fi >> Toggle on Wi-Fi (For Wi-fi)    

    6 5

WhatsApp not scanning QR code problem is still present. Move to the next fix.

Solution: 6 Reset Network Settings

If you are facing WhatsApp not scanning QR code an issue, it may occur due to a network problem. Reset network settings may resolve this issue.

For Android

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Tap on Connection & sharing
  3. After opening Connection & sharing, go to last and tap on Reset Wi-Fi, mobile networks, and Bluetooth
  4. Tap on the Reset setting
  5. Enter your password
  6. Tap on OK
4 5

For iPhone

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Tap on General
  3. Scroll down to Transfer or Reset iPhone
  4. Tap on Reset

    14
  5. Now select Reset Network Settings
  6. Enter your passcode
  7. Tap on Reset Network Settings

    15

After Reset network settings, the WhatsApp not scanning QR code problem is still present. Apply the next fix.

Solution: 7 Turn off VPN 

You have a VPN on your phone for other purposes, and WhatsApp may think you are one of those prohibited from using the app. OR If you use a VPN service to connect to another country’s server, the WhatsApp app might face issues loading the QR code. 

Disconnect any VPN on your PC or Mac and reboot the app. 

WhatsApp not scanning QR code problem is still present. Move to the next fix.

Solution: 8 Restart the WhatsApp App

For Android

If you have experienced any android app that doesn’t work correctly or face any software glitch, the simple solution is “restart” the app.

  1. Go to phone Settings
  2. Scroll down to Apps and tap on it
  3. Tap on Manage apps, find WhatsApp , and tap on it
  4. Tap on Force stop at the bottom
  5. A warning popup opens, then Tap on OK
4 5

For iPhone

A:How to close an app on iPhones with Notch?

  1. Swipe up from the bottom(app bar) to see the most recent apps
  2. Swipe up on the app you want to close
restart app-snapchat add friend not working

B: How to close an app on iPhone With Home Button?

  1. Double-click the Home button to show your most recently used apps
  2. Swipe right or left to find the app that you want to close
  3. Swipe up on the app’s preview card to close the app
Iphone app 1

After restarting WhatsApp, if this solution is not working, then apply the next fix.

Solution: 9 Clear WhatsApp Cache & Data/ Offload the App

For Android: Clear WhatsApp Cache & Data

If restarting does not work and WhatsApp is still not launching on your Android, the following solution is to clear the Instagram cache and data.

  1. Go to phone Settings
  2. Scroll down to Apps and tap on it
  3. Tap on Manage apps, find WhatsApp , and tap on it
  4. Now tap on Clear data, and a popup menu will open
  5. Tap on Clear all data and tap on OK
3 6
clear data android

For iPhone: Offload the App

Offloading an app is an intermediate state between keeping and deleting. When you offload an app and the app deletes itself, the data are still saved on your phone.

Again, install the offloaded app, the app data is still saved, and you can use it like before.

  1. Open iPhone Settings
  2. Tap General
  3. Tap iPhone Storage and wait a while for it to load
  4. Tap the app you want to offload
  5. Now, in the last Tap Offload App
10 2

WhatsApp not scanning QR code problem is still present. Move to the next fix.

Solution: 10 Update WhatsApp App

If you are using an old version of WhatsApp, you can face WhatsApp not scanning QR code. Make sure you must update your app.

A newer version of the app contains bug fixes, improved security patches, and additional WhatsApp features.

For Android

  1. Open the Play Store and search for WhatsApp 
  2. If you see the update option
  3. Tap on Update and wait for it to update automatically
9 2

For iPhone

  1. Open App Store
  2. Tap on Apps icon at the bottom
  3. Tap on your profile icon in the top right
  4. You will see an updates list here as well, else click on purchased to see if your app needs an update
  5. Scroll down to see all the available updates for your installed apps; simply update WhatsApp here
7 3

WhatsApp not scanning QR code problem is still present. Move to the next fix.

Solution: 11 Reinstalling WhatsApp

Reinstalling WhatsApp is another way to solve WhatsApp not scanning QR code.

For Android

  1. Go to phone Settings
  2. Scroll down to Apps and tap on it
  3. Tap on Manage apps, find WhatsApp , and tap on it
  4. Now Tap on Uninstall
3 7

For iPhone

  1. Touch and hold the app
  2. Tap the Remove App icon
  3. Tap Delete App, then tap Delete to confirm
  4. Reinstall the app again
8 3

Again install the WhatsApp app to check whether its works correctly or not.

I hope this article helps you solve the WhatsApp not scanning QR code problem.

If you have any other solutions that worked for you or any queries, let me know in the comments below.

FAQs

Why I can’t scan the WhatsApp QR?

If WhatsApp is not working correctly for you, you need to check if it’s down for everyone or not. 

There are 2 places to check whether the WhatsApp server is down.

Down Detector site
Down Detector is a site that provides you with the status of various websites and their services. If your WhatsApp is not working or showing any issue go to Down Detector and check whether WhatsApp is having problems or not.

WhatsApp Status Twitter account
Visit the @wa_status Twitter page. If WhatsApp has any issue or maintenance work, then WhatsApp will have tweeted about it.

Why QR scan is not working?

You have a VPN on your phone for other purposes, and WhatsApp may think you are one of those prohibited from using the app. OR If you use a VPN service to connect to another country’s server, the WhatsApp app might face issues loading the QR code. 

Disconnect any VPN on your PC or Mac and reboot the app. 

Rimshah Wali
Rimshah Wali
Articles: 53

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *