A few days ago, I ran into a problem on my Poco X5 Pro running Android 13:
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WhatsApp messages wouldn’t send; the single gray tick wouldn’t turn into a double tick.
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Sometimes images, videos, or voice notes wouldn’t go through either.
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My mobile data and Wi-Fi seemed fine, and other apps were working perfectly.
At first, I thought it was WhatsApp’s servers, but after checking online, I realized it was likely a device or network issue. I had to troubleshoot carefully to get WhatsApp working in real-time again.
Step 1: Check Your Internet Connection
WhatsApp requires a stable internet connection.
Steps:
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Open a browser and try loading a webpage
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Test both Wi-Fi and mobile data
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If pages load slowly or not at all, fix the network first
In my case, my phone was connected to Wi-Fi, but switching to mobile data solved sending issues immediately.
Step 2: Restart Your Phone
Sometimes, background network processes get stuck and prevent WhatsApp from sending messages.
Steps:
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Press and hold Power → Restart
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Reopen WhatsApp and test sending messages
This cleared temporary glitches and restored normal message sending on my Poco X5 Pro.
Step 3: Toggle Airplane Mode
Airplane Mode resets mobile and Wi-Fi networks, which can fix sending problems.
Steps:
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Swipe down to enable Airplane Mode
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Wait 10–15 seconds, then disable it
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Reconnect to Wi-Fi or mobile data and test WhatsApp
After toggling, messages started sending instantly without any additional changes.
Step 4: Clear WhatsApp Cache
Corrupted cache can prevent messages from sending.
Steps:
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Go to Settings → Apps → WhatsApp → Storage → Clear Cache
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Do not clear data unless necessary
After clearing cache, WhatsApp performance improved, and previously stuck messages went through.
Step 5: Check Date & Time Settings
WhatsApp uses accurate date and time to sync messages.
Steps:
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Go to Settings → System → Date & Time
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Enable Automatic date & time based on network
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Ensure time zone is correct
On my phone, correcting date and time immediately fixed message sending issues.
Step 6: Check Permissions
WhatsApp requires proper permissions for network access.
Steps:
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Go to Settings → Apps → WhatsApp → Permissions
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Ensure Network access, Storage, Contacts, and SMS permissions are granted
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Reopen WhatsApp and try sending messages
After granting missing permissions, messages sent smoothly again.
Step 7: Disable VPN or Proxy
If a VPN or proxy is active, WhatsApp may fail to send messages.
Steps:
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Go to Settings → Network & Internet → VPN / Proxy
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Disable any VPN or proxy
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Retry sending messages
Disabling my rarely used VPN resolved persistent sending problems.
Step 8: Check for App Updates
An outdated version of WhatsApp may have bugs affecting message delivery.
Steps:
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Open Google Play Store → WhatsApp → Update
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Restart WhatsApp after updating
Updating to the latest version fixed a minor bug that caused messages to get stuck on sending.
Step 9: Reinstall WhatsApp (Optional)
If messages still don’t send, reinstalling WhatsApp can fix deeper app issues.
Steps:
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Backup chats via WhatsApp → Settings → Chats → Chat Backup
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Uninstall WhatsApp
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Reinstall from Google Play Store
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Restore chats from backup
This worked as a last resort for persistent sending problems.
Step 10: Check WhatsApp Server Status
Rarely, the issue could be WhatsApp server outages.
Steps:
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Visit https://downdetector.com and check WhatsApp status
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If servers are down, wait for them to be restored
I found that my problem was device-specific, not server-related, but checking saved me unnecessary troubleshooting.
Step 11: Restart Router or Switch Networks
For Wi-Fi users, slow or unstable networks can block message sending.
Steps:
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Restart the Wi-Fi router
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Connect to a different Wi-Fi network or switch to mobile data
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Test WhatsApp sending
Switching networks resolved occasional sending delays caused by router congestion.
Step 12: Optional — Factory Reset
If WhatsApp still doesn’t send messages despite all steps:
Steps:
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Backup important data
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Go to Settings → System → Reset Options → Factory Data Reset
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Reinstall WhatsApp and reconnect
This is rarely needed but can fix persistent network or app-related issues.
What Changed for Me
Before fixing:
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Messages were stuck with a single gray tick
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Images, videos, and voice notes failed to send
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WhatsApp was practically unusable over Wi-Fi
After following the steps on Poco X5 Pro, Android 13:
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Messages sent immediately on both mobile data and Wi-Fi
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Media files uploaded successfully
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WhatsApp became fully functional without reinstalling most of the time
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Why does WhatsApp show a single gray tick?
It means the message is not sent. Causes include network issues, incorrect date & time, or app glitches.
2. Can Airplane Mode fix WhatsApp sending issues?
Yes. It refreshes mobile and Wi-Fi connections.
3. Do I need to reinstall WhatsApp every time messages don’t send?
Not always. Most problems are solved by cache clearing, network reset, or app updates.
4. Could a VPN prevent messages from sending?
Yes. VPNs can block WhatsApp servers, causing stuck messages.
5. Will factory reset always fix sending issues?
No. It’s a last resort. Most problems are solved with the steps above.
Wrap-Up
WhatsApp not sending messages can be caused by:
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Network issues (Wi-Fi or mobile data)
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Corrupted app cache
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Incorrect date & time
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VPN or proxy interference
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Outdated app version
On my Poco X5 Pro, Android 13, the fixes that worked were:
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Restarting phone and toggling Airplane Mode
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Clearing WhatsApp cache
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Verifying date, time, and permissions
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Disabling VPN or proxy
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Updating or reinstalling WhatsApp if necessary
After following these steps, my WhatsApp now works consistently, sending text, images, videos, and voice notes without errors.