Why Can’t I Receive WhatsApp Calls Until I Manually Open the App?

Messaging apps like WhatsApp have become an essential part of our lives, allowing us to stay connected with the people who matter most to us. However, it can be quite frustrating when WhatsApp fails to notify us about incoming calls. In some cases, we may not even receive the call until we manually open the app. This issue can cause us to miss important calls and can be quite troublesome. In this article, we will explore the reasons behind this problem and provide solutions to fix it.

Table of Contents

  1. Reason 1: WhatsApp cannot send you notifications
  2. Reason 2: WhatsApp’s background data is restricted
  3. Reason 3: WhatsApp has a bug
  4. How to get WhatsApp to receive calls in the background?
    • Fix 1: Check WhatsApp’s notification settings
    • Fix 2: Check WhatsApp’s background data usage setting
    • Fix 3: Disable power-saving mode
    • Fix 4: Disable or reconfigure Do Not Disturb (DND)
    • Fix 5: Update WhatsApp

Reason 1: WhatsApp cannot send you notifications

One possible reason why you may not receive WhatsApp calls until you manually open the app is that WhatsApp cannot send you notifications. This can happen if your phone’s notification settings are not configured correctly. Even though you receive the calls, you won’t see or hear the notifications. To fix this issue, follow these steps:

  1. Open your phone’s Settings app and go to the Applications section.
  2. Find WhatsApp from the list of applications and open its App Info screen.
  3. Tap on Notifications to view the app’s notification settings.
  4. Make sure to enable notifications and select Allow sound and vibration.
  5. Scroll down to the bottom and tap on Notification Categories.
  6. Enable notifications for all the categories, especially Call notifications.

By enabling all the notification categories, you ensure that you don’t miss any notifications from WhatsApp.

Reason 2: WhatsApp’s background data is restricted

If you are not receiving any WhatsApp calls at all, it may be because WhatsApp is facing restrictions on background data usage. This means that WhatsApp cannot use your phone’s data in the background, resulting in missed calls when you are not actively using the app. To check and change this setting, follow these steps:

  1. Open Settings and go to Applications > WhatsApp.
  2. Scroll down on WhatsApp’s App Info screen and tap on Mobile data under the Usage section.
  3. Make sure that the slider next to Allow background data usage is enabled.

Enabling background data usage for WhatsApp should resolve the issue and allow you to receive calls even when the app is not open.

Reason 3: WhatsApp has a bug

In rare cases, WhatsApp may have a bug that affects certain app features, including receiving calls. This can happen if you can receive messages but not calls. The best solution in this case is to update WhatsApp to the latest version. WhatsApp regularly releases updates to fix bugs and improve overall performance. Updating the app can resolve any underlying bugs that may be causing the call reception issue.

How to get WhatsApp to receive calls in the background?

Now that we have identified the reasons behind the issue, let’s discuss the solutions to get WhatsApp to receive calls in the background.

Fix 1: Check WhatsApp’s notification settings

Incorrect notification preferences can often be the cause of calling issues on WhatsApp. To ensure that WhatsApp’s notification settings are properly configured, follow these steps:

  1. Open your phone’s Settings app and go to the Applications section.
  2. Find WhatsApp from the list of applications and open its App Info screen.
  3. Tap on Notifications to view the app’s notification settings.
  4. Make sure to enable notifications and select Allow sound and vibration.
  5. Scroll down to the bottom and tap on Notification Categories.
  6. Enable notifications for all the categories, especially Call notifications.

By enabling all the notification categories, you ensure that you don’t miss any notifications from WhatsApp.

Fix 2: Check WhatsApp’s background data usage setting

If you are not receiving any WhatsApp calls at all, the issue may not be with notifications but with WhatsApp’s background internet usage setting. To check and change this setting, follow these steps:

  1. Open Settings and go to Applications > WhatsApp.
  2. Scroll down on WhatsApp’s App Info screen and tap on Mobile data under the Usage section.
  3. Make sure that the slider next to Allow background data usage is enabled.

Enabling background data usage for WhatsApp should resolve the issue and allow you to receive calls even when the app is not open.

Fix 3: Disable power-saving mode

Power-saving mode is designed to extend the battery life of your phone by limiting certain app functionalities in the background. However, if you have power-saving mode turned on, it may prevent WhatsApp from receiving calls. To disable power-saving mode, follow these steps:

  1. Swipe down from the top of the screen to access the drop-down menu.
  2. Locate the power-saving mode icon and tap on it to disable the mode.
  3. Additionally, you can also turn off the data-saving mode to ensure that nothing is blocking WhatsApp from using the internet properly.

If you don’t want to disable the Data Saving mode completely, you can let WhatsApp use background data even in Data Saving mode. To do this, go to WhatsApp’s App Info screen, as discussed in the previous section, and enable the option Allow data usage while Data Saver is on.

Fix 4: Disable or reconfigure Do Not Disturb (DND)

Another reason why WhatsApp may not send you notifications is if you have Do Not Disturb (DND) enabled on your phone. DND mutes notifications from all apps except essential ones like Phone and Messaging. To disable DND or configure its settings for WhatsApp, follow these steps:

  1. Swipe down from the top of the screen to access the drop-down menu.
  2. Find and tap on the Do Not Disturb icon to go to DND settings.
  3. Under Allowed during Do not disturb, tap on App notifications.
  4. Tap the plus icon that says Add apps and select WhatsApp.
  5. Tap on Done to add WhatsApp to the list of apps allowed during Do Not Disturb.

By disabling or reconfiguring Do Not Disturb settings, you can ensure that WhatsApp sends you notifications.

Fix 5: Update WhatsApp

If none of the previous fixes work, it may be because WhatsApp has a bug that requires an update to fix. To update WhatsApp to the latest version, follow these steps:

  1. Open your phone’s app store (Google Play Store for Android or App Store for iOS).
  2. Search for WhatsApp and tap on the app to open its store page.
  3. If an update is available, tap on the Update button to install the latest version.

Updating WhatsApp to the latest version can resolve any underlying bugs and improve the overall performance of the app.

In conclusion, if you are facing the issue of not receiving WhatsApp calls until you manually open the app, there are several possible reasons behind it. It could be due to notification settings, background data restrictions, or even a bug in WhatsApp itself. By following the fixes mentioned in this article, you can resolve the issue and ensure that you receive incoming calls on WhatsApp even when the app is not open. Stay connected with your loved ones without any interruptions!

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