WhatsApp Couldn’t Connect Device Error 9 Ways of Fixing 

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A guide to fixing the WhatsApp Couldn’t Connect Device error when linking devices, including checking connectivity, permissions, restarting, and 9 ways to troubleshoot.

Introduction 

One lesser-known feature of WhatsApp is Companion Mode or Multiple Devices, which lets users connect up to 4 extra devices to their account. Thanks to companion mode, you can use your account separately on different phones. 

However, to keep using it on other devices, you first need to connect the devices to your account. Connecting another device to a WhatsApp account is very easy, but sometimes, you may have issues while scanning the QR code or during the linking process.  

Lately, many users got an unusual error message while trying to connect their devices to WhatsApp Web. The error message says ‘WhatsApp web couldn’t connect device’, stopping users from accessing chats on their computer.  

Why can’t you connect a device?

There could be various reasons why WhatsApp fails to connect to a device. Below, we have mentioned a few obvious ones.  

• Your computer/mobile has no or unstable internet. 
• You are using a VPN/Proxy on your device.  
• The WhatsApp app is outdated. 
• Bugs & issues 
• Corrupted web browser cache.   

How To Fix ‘WhatsApp Couldn’t Connect Device Error  

So, if you get the ‘WhatsApp Web Couldn’t Connect Device’ error message and are stuck on the login screen, keep reading this guide. Below, we have shared some simple steps to fix the ‘WhatsApp Couldn’t Connect Device Try Again Later’ error. Let’s begin.  

1. Make Sure Your Internet is Working  

Check that your Internet Connectivity is working  

Like every other web-based service, WhatsApp web also needs steady internet to connect to your device. The linking process is done completely over the internet, therefore, unstable internet connectivity can only lead to problems.   

So, before you try the next methods, check that your internet is working and is stable. You can visit the fast.com site to check internet speed.  

Even if your internet is working, it’s useful to reconnect to the WiFi network you’re currently using.  

2. Restart the devices   

If you are trying to connect to WhatsApp web on a computer from the mobile app but keep failing to do so, you need to restart both devices.   

You’ll have to restart your computer as well as your Android smartphone. Restarting will possibly fix any bugs & issues that are stopping it from working properly.   

So, restart both devices and then try to connect again. If the problem continues, follow the next methods.   

3. Disable the VPN or Proxy Apps   

The main interface of the ProtonVPN  

Security & Privacy apps like VPNs, Antivirus software, Firewalls, etc often interfere with incoming connections, leading to errors.   

Using a VPN app on mobile while connecting to WhatsApp web can delay the connection to the server, causing the login error.

So, if you are using any VPN/ Proxy or Firewall app on your mobile or computer, it’s recommended to turn them off to properly make a connection. Once turned off, try the Connected Devices feature of the mobile app to connect to the web account.   

4. Check the App Permissions   

If you have dismissed the permissions that WhatsApp asks for during installation, you won’t be able to connect devices because it needs multiple permissions to work properly. So, if you’ve denied any permissions, you will have problems.   

So, it’s important to check that the required permissions are allowed. Here’s what you need to do:  

1. Tap and hold the app icon on your home screen and click on App Info.   
2. On the App Info screen, navigate to Permissions.   
3. On the next screen, make sure the Camera, Microphone, Notifications, Phone, Photos, and Video permissions are allowed.   

That’s it, After selecting the permissions, restart your app and scan the QR code displayed on the web to clear the prob.  

5. Check the WhatsApp Server Status  

Check if WhatsApp’s Servers are working  

Like every other web-based service, the WhatsApp servers can occasionally have downtime. The servers are often down due to server loads and maybe because of being taken down for maintenance.  

If you are still getting the ‘WhatsApp Couldn’t Connect Devices’ error messages, you may be trying to connect the device when the servers are down.  

You can check the server status of your App from the webpage. If the servers are down, you must wait a few hours until the servers start working again.  

6. Clear the WhatsApp App Cache  

An outdated or corrupted app cache is often the main reason for errors like WhatsApp not being able to connect to the device. Try again later. You can fix the outdated or corrupted app cache by clearing the app’s existing cache file. Here’s what you need to do:  

1. Press and hold the app icon on the home screen and select App Info.   
2. now, tap on Storage Usage.   
3. On the Storage Usage, tap on Clear Cache to make things right   

All done, This will immediately clear the WhatsApp cache file on your smartphone.  

7. Clear the Web Browser Cache

Like your mobile app cache, you must also clear the cache file of the browser you’re using for your WhatsApp Web. Right down, we have mentioned the steps to clear the Chrome browser cache procedure. 

1. Click on the three dots at the top right corner of your page
2. On the Chrome menu now select Clear Browsing Data.   
3. Select All Time on the Time Range
4. and check Cached Images and Files. Once done, click the Clear Data button.

Finally, This will clear the outdated cache file of your Chrome web browser.   

8. Reinstall  the App

If nothing has worked so far, reinstalling WhatsApp may help. Reinstallation has already helped many users; hence, you can also try doing it.  

To reinstall on your phone/Android, simply press and hold the WhatsApp app icon and select the Uninstall option. Once uninstalled, reinstall it again from the Google Play Store.   

9. Reach out for Support  

If you have come this far, you are out of luck. Anyway, the only remaining option to resolve the WhatsApp Couldn’t Connect Device try again later error is to contact the support team.   

You can contact customer Support and tell them about the problem you’re facing. You also need to tell them all the troubleshooting steps you’ve tried.  

WhatsApp’s support team will investigate the issue and reply within a few days. In the meantime, you can use the best App Alternatives to meet your communication needs.   

Final Words

The ‘WhatsApp Couldn’t Connect Device’ error when trying to link devices can be frustrating. This guide offers 9 troubleshooting tips to try, including checking connectivity and permissions, clearing app caches, reinstalling it, and contacting support if still unresolved. Following these methods should help users successfully link devices to your WhatsApp.