It’s one of the most popular messaging apps in the world.
But it appears that WhatsApp has crashed this afternoon, with thousands reporting issues.
According to Down Detector, the problems started at around 3:10pm, and are affecting WhatsApp users around the world.
So far, more than 68,000 issues have been logged on Down Detector UK.
Of those who reported issues, 59 per cent said they were struggling to send messages, while 22 per cent were experiencing a server connection.
The remaining 19 per cent said the problem was with the app.
Meanwhile, reports are now coming in from the US, where more than 8,200 problems have been logged.
Meta, which owns WhatsApp is yet to comment on the issue, although MailOnline has contacted them for comment.
It’s one of the most popular messaging apps around the world. But it appears that WhatsApp has crashed this afternoon, with thousands reporting issues
So far, more than 68,000 issues have been logged on Down Detector UK. Of those who reported issues, 59 per cent said they were struggling to send messages, while 22 per cent were experiencing a server connection
Reports are now coming in from the US, where more than 8,200 problems have been logged
While WhatsApp is yet to comment on the outage, several users have flocked to X (formerly Twitter) to discuss it.
‘Me running to X to see if WhatsApp is actually down or it’s my network,’ one user tweeted alongside a GIF of people rushing down an escalator.
Another added: ‘No need to switch flight mode on and off, whatsapp is indeed down.’
And one joked: ‘WhatsApp is down, and now X is the new customer care center.
‘Everyone’s here like: “Is it just me?” “Is it my WiFi?” “Did I forget to pay my internet bill?”
‘No mate, we’re all in this together refreshing X like it’s a WhatsApp alternative!’
While the reason for the latest outage remains unclear, it comes four years after Meta experienced a seven-hour blackout that cost the company an estimated $100million in lost revenue.
The global outage – which hit Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger – was caused when a faulty update disconnected its servers from the internet, meaning engineers had to travel to its Santa Clara data center to fix the glitch in-person.
While WhatsApp is yet to comment on the outage, several users have flocked to X (formerly Twitter) to discuss it
WhatsApp users flocked to X as soon as they realised WhatsApp wasn’t working
But the repair was delayed, according to one insider who was posting on Reddit, because of ‘lower staffing in data centers due to pandemic measures’.
The glitch, which prompted calls for a break-up of big tech firms, also brought down messaging services that remote-working staff use to communicate.
So those who knew how to fix the servers couldn’t get that information to the teams inside the data-center, the insider said.
Also disabled were key-fob entry systems at Facebook’s main campus in Menlo, meaning those who had been WFH but rushed back to the office could not get inside while those already inside were unable to access conference rooms and other areas that required a pass.
