Fix contacts not showing up on WhatsApp: Android, iPhone

Sometimes newly added contacts won't show up in WhatsApp Messenger. This problem can occur for many reasons, but there are plenty of ways to get things back under control. In this article we will show you

How to refresh your WhatsApp contact list?

Before beginning, verify that your device is currently running the application's latest version.

Android: Open the PlayStore > My Apps > Installed > WhatsApp Messenger > Update.

iOS: Open the iTunes App Store > Updates. Here, you'll find all the information pertaining to the version of WhatsApp installed on your device.

How to allow WhatsApp to access your address book?

Next, you'll need to make sure that WhatsApp has the necessary permissions to access your address book.

Android: Go to Apps > Settings > Security > Permissions > Contacts and grant the necessary permissions to WhatsApp Messenger. If your smartphone doesn't provide a built-in option for managing app permissions, you can use a free app such as Permission Manager to overcome this limitation.

iOS: Go to Settings > Privacy > Contacts and toggle the switch displayed next to WhatsApp Messenger to On.

How to unhide hidden contacts groups in address book?

If the problem still persists, then you'll need to verify whether the missing contacts are part of a hidden contact group and unhide them.

Android: Open the Contacts app > Settings > Contact to Display > All.

iOS: Open Contacts > Groups and check for hidden contact groups.

How to show all contacts in WhatsApp?

Open WhatsApp > Settings > Contacts and then tick the Show All Contacts checkbox. WhatsApp will now display all your contacts, including the offline contacts.