NEW DELHI — Thousands of office-goers and remote workers were forced to squint at their smartphones this morning as WhatsApp Web hit a technical snag. According to data from the real-time outage monitor Downdetector, reports of service disruptions began to climb sharply around 9:00 AM IST.
1. The Core of the Problem: Syncing Failures
The glitch appeared to be specifically targeted at the “linking” and “syncing” mechanisms of the platform. Users reported that while they could open the WhatsApp Web interface, the QR code would either fail to generate or, if scanned, the page would remain stuck on the “Loading your chats” screen indefinitely.
- Platform Isolation: Unlike major global outages that take down the entire ecosystem, this disruption was isolated to the Web and Desktop versions. The smartphone application on both Android and iOS continued to send and receive messages without delay.
- The iPhone Glitch: Several users on X (formerly Twitter) noted that the problem seemed particularly persistent for those trying to link accounts from iPhones.
2. Social Media Erupts in Frustration
As is typical with any Meta-owned service disruption, users flocked to X to verify if they were alone in their struggle.
“Is WhatsApp for everyone down?!!! Been an hour of trying to log in on iPhone and linked devices,” wrote one frustrated user.
The data supports these claims; Downdetector noted that even 30 to 45 minutes after the initial reports, the number of complaints continued to rise rather than drop, suggesting the “fix” was not an instantaneous one.
3. Current Status: Recovery Underway
As of the latest updates, the volume of reports has begun to subside, indicating that Meta has likely addressed the server-side issue. Most users are finding that clearing their browser cache or simply logging out and restarting their browser resolves the “syncing” hang-up.
Quick Fixes for WhatsApp Web Sync Issues
| Step | Action | Why it helps |
| 1. Force Refresh | Press Ctrl + F5 (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + R (Mac) | Clears temporary browser glitches. |
| 2. Relink Device | Go to Phone Settings > Linked Devices > Log out and Re-scan | Resets the encryption handshake. |
| 3. Check Internet | Ensure both phone and PC are on the same/stable Wi-Fi | Critical for the initial chat sync. |