WhatsApp users encounter spam bans and web access errors

WhatsApp has temporarily or permanently restricted accounts that trigger its spam detection system. Causes include messaging contacts not in a user's address book, rapid addition of many contacts, repeated creation of new accounts, and receiving spam reports from recipients. Affected users are instructed to contact WhatsApp support through the app’s help center, providing their phone number, email, platform details, and a description of the issue; investigations can take two to three days.

On 14 July 2026, some users reported that WhatsApp Web failed to load, displaying a “database error in your browser” message. The problem appears limited to certain browsers or regions rather than a worldwide outage. Suggested remedies include refreshing the page, clearing cache and cookies, logging out and back in, re‑pairing the device with a new QR code, trying a different browser, or restarting the computer. The mobile app and desktop client remain functional.