After updating to iOS 26, some users report having problems with their WhatsApp. The issue is that although text messaging seems to be working, video and audio calls are not working in the app.
Many people use WhatsApp to communicate with friends and family via text messages, voice only or video calls. It is especially convenient for calling someone located in another country because WhatsApp doesn’t use your phones voice plan. It instead uses data or Wi-Fi. It is free to use and works on Android, iPhone, Mac and PC.
If you are experiencing difficulty making calls with WhatsApp after installing the latest iOS 26 on your iPhone, here are some things you should try:
Airplane mode
Turn on Airplane Mode, wait a few seconds, and turn it off.
- Open the Settings app.
- Find Airplane Mode near the top of the settings list. Toggle it to the ON position. Wait 10 seconds.
- Toggle Airplane Mode OFF again.
Restart your iPhone
The simplest fix for many problems is a basic restart.
- iPhones without Face ID: Press and hold the power button until the "slide to power off" slider appears on the display. Swipe the power icon left-to-right to shut down your iPhone. Wait a few seconds, then press and hold the power button again until the Apple logo appears on the center of the screen.
iPhones with Face ID
Simultaneously press and hold the side button and either volume button until "slide to power off" appears on the screen. Swipe the power icon from left-to-right to turn off your iPhone. To turn your iPhone on again, press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
iPhones with Face ID
Simultaneously press and hold the side button and either volume button until "slide to power off" appears on the screen. Swipe the power icon from left-to-right to turn off your iPhone. To turn your iPhone on again, press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
Update your iPhone
If you are not currently running the latest version of iOS 26 on your phone, you should update your iPhone. Updates often include bug fixes.
- Open Settings.
- Tap General.
- Select Software Update.
- If an update is available, tap Update Now and follow the on screen instructions.
Force Restart
A force restart can be useful for clearing up many of the issues that you may experience with your iPhone. This includes situations where your phone is frozen and unresponsive.
Press and release the volume up button, followed quickly by the volume down button. Press and hold the side button. Do not release the side button until the Apple logo appears.
Update WhatsApp
Most people will have their apps updating automatically, but in case you have turned off that feature, open the App Store and tap on your profile icon in the top-right corner. Scroll down and look for WhatsApp. If you see it, tap Update next to the app.
Uninstall and then Reinstall WhatsApp
Offloading WhatsApp will uninstall the app, but will keep the the app’s data for when you reinstall.
- Open Settings.
- Tap General.
- Tap iPhone Storage.
- Scroll down to find WhatsApp and select it.
- Select Offload App. Tap Offload App again to confirm.
- Wait until the Reinstall App option appears, then tap Reinstall App.
Reset Network Settings
This will reset Wi-Fi networks and passwords, cellular settings, and VPN and APN settings that you’ve used before.
- Go to Settings.
- Select General.
- Select Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Tap Reset.
- Tap Reset Network Settings.
Reinstall WhatsApp
Back up chat history
Open WhatsApp and tap on Settings. Tap on Chats and then Chat Backup. Tap Back Up Now to make sure your chat history is safely backed up.
Delete WhatsApp
Press and hold on the WhatsApp iconuntil a menu appears. Tap on Remove App. Tap on Delete App. Tap Delete again to confirm.
Reinstall WhatsApp
Open the App Store on your iPhone and search for WhatsApp. Tap the Download button.
Contact WhatsApp
If your problem persists, you can contact WhatsApp support for more help.
