Can’t find new numbers on WhatsApp? Are some of your WhatsApp contacts missing? If your answer to these questions is yes, then you need to refresh your WhatsApp contacts.
By default, when you add a new WhatsApp number to your phone, WhatsApp automatically detects the number and adds the user to your contact list.
But sometimes, WhatsApp may not detect a new number, or you may notice that one of your contacts isn’t on your WhatsApp contact list anymore. This can happen for several reasons, such as a software glitch, outdated app, or device problem. The best solution is to refresh your contacts.
Do you know how to refresh WhatsApp contacts? In this article, you’ll learn how to refresh WhatsApp contacts on iPhone and Android using four easy methods.
In this article
Part 1: How to Refresh Contacts in WhatsApp on Android
The purpose of refreshing your WhatsApp contacts is to update your contact list to reveal missing numbers and new contacts. There are different ways to refresh your WhatsApp contact list, but you must grant WhatsApp permission to access your contacts via your device settings.
Go to Settings > WhatsApp > Permissions and ensure that WhatsApp has permission to access your contact list.
If you don’t grant permission to use WhatsApp contacts, you won’t find all your contacts on the app, including new and existing ones.
Are you using a Samsung, Huawei, or any other Android device? Here is how to refresh WhatsApp contacts on Android:
Method 1: Refresh Contacts Manually on Android
- Open WhatsApp on your Android phone and tap the New Chat icon (the green plus symbol) at the bottom right of your screen.
- On the next page, you'll see all your WhatsApp contacts. Tap on the Ellipsis icon (the three-dot menu) at the top right of your screen. Then select Refresh.
- WhatsApp will immediately refresh and update your contact list. You can search for new or missing contacts using the Search icon on the screen.
Method 2: Clear WhatsApp Cache Data on Your Android Phone
One common question is, how do I refresh my WhatsApp contact list if manually refreshing it doesn't work? You can clear the cached WhatsApp data on your Android phone. WhatsApp stores cache data on your phone to improve access to frequent contacts. Removing the cache data frees up space and allows WhatsApp to load more contacts.
Here is how I cleared WhatsApp's cache data on my Samsung phone:
- Go to Settings on your Android phone. Scroll down and tap on Apps.
- Scroll down to WhatsApp and tap on Storage.
- At the bottom of your screen, tap on Clear Cache. Then, relaunch WhatsApp and check your contacts list for new and missing numbers.
How to Refresh WhatsApp Contacts on iOS – iPhone & iPad
If you are using an iOS device, here is how to refresh WhatsApp contacts on iPhone and iPad in two methods:
Method 1: Refresh WhatsApp Contacts via Settings
Here is how I refreshed my WhatsApp contacts on my iPhone 13 via settings:
- Go to Settings on your iPhone or iPad and tap Privacy and Security.
- Tap on Contacts at the top of the screen to view the list of apps that have access to your iPhone contact list.
- Tap on the toggle switch next to WhatsApp a few times to refresh your contacts and ensure the icon is green.
- Open WhatsApp again and search for the missing or new contacts.
Method 2: Reinstall or Update Your WhatsApp Version
If you still can’t refresh WhatsApp contacts on your iPhone, you should reinstall or update your WhatsApp version. Chances are your current WhatsApp version is outdated, which is why the app is malfunctioning.
- Go to the App Store and search for WhatsApp.
- Tap on the Update icon next to the app to download the latest version of WhatsApp for your device to access your contacts.
Other quick methods to refresh your WhatsApp contacts include:
- Restart your phone and relaunch WhatsApp.
- Enable iCloud and Google Drive syncing to WhatsApp.
- Ask the missing or new number to text you so the contact appears in your chat feed.
Bonus: How to Track Multiple Contacts at Once on WhatsApp – WaLastseen
It can be not easy learning how to manage all your WhatsApp contacts, especially when you have multiple contacts online. But what if there was an easier way to keep track of your WhatsApp contacts? The WaLastseen mobile app allows you to track the active status and online activity of your favorite WhatsApp contacts simultaneously.
The WaLastseen mobile app is a user-friendly and reliable WhatsApp extension tool that gives you detailed insights about what your WhatsApp contacts are up to. You can check their current online status and last seen, and even monitor their daily timeline.
Advanced Features of the WaLastseen App
- Track Multiple Contacts Simultaneously: The app allows you to track more than one contact simultaneously, making it easier to keep tabs on your kids, friends, and family.
- Customized WhatsApp Tracking: You can customize the app to choose when to track without disrupting your schedule.
- Hidden Last Seen Reveal: Check the last seen information for contacts that have hidden their last seen from you.
- In-Depth Analysis of WhatsApp Activity: Find out who your contacts are chatting with and what they are up to online.
- Instant Online Notifications: Receive instant alerts when your target contacts are online on WhatsApp.
Follow this guide to track multiple WhatsApp contacts in 3 steps:
Step 1: Download WaLastseen
Go to your Android phone's Google Play Store app and search for the "WaLastseen: Chat App Tracker" app. Then tap on Install.
If you are using an iPhone or WhatsApp desktop app, you can use WaLastseen online to track multiple contacts.
Step 2: Add Your WhatsApp Contacts
Launch the app and tap on Add Contacts from the main interface. Then select Allow to grant the WaLastseen app permission to access your contacts list.
Once the app displays your WhatsApp contacts, tap Add next to the users you want to track. Tap on Add New to add a new contact.
Step 3: Start Tracking
Next, tap the Start Tracking icon at the bottom of your screen to track all the selected contacts simultaneously.
With the WaLastseen app, you can now monitor all your WhatsApp contacts at the same time and know when to refresh them if a number goes missing. So download the app now and start tracking freely.
Conclusion
So, what’s the bottom line? Many WhatsApp users wonder how to refresh their contacts on WhatsApp on Android or iPhone. You can easily refresh your WhatsApp contacts by following the methods explained above. However, you should be sure you have permitted WhatsApp access to your contacts before refreshing. Go to Settings > WhatsApp and check if the app can access contacts.
If you want to manage your contact list easily, download the WaLastseen and track all your contacts simultaneously. Also, use the MobileTrans WhatsApp backup tool to prevent permanent data loss by backing up your WhatsApp data to your computer.
- Track WhatsApp contacts' last seen status.
- Get instant online and offline notifications of them.
- Analyze their WhatsApp daily usage.
- Compare chat probabilities of two contacts.
FAQs
1. Why do saved contacts disappear on WhatsApp?
If your saved contacts disappear on WhatsApp, it may be due to privacy settings or low storage space, especially if you have a lot of stored cache data on your phone. Also, if someone deactivates or deletes their WhatsApp account, WhatsApp will remove their number from the app, so you may not find the person’s number in your contact list even if you refresh your WhatsApp contacts.2. Why can’t I refresh my WhatsApp contacts?
There are different possible reasons, such as a poor network connection, contact permission issues, and WhatsApp syncing problems. You should check if WhatsApp has access to your contacts via settings and update your WhatsApp version if you are using an outdated app version. If you still can’t refresh your contacts, contact WhatsApp support for help or restore your WhatsApp contact backup from your PC.3. If I refresh my WhatsApp contacts, will I lose my recent chats?
If you refresh your WhatsApp contacts on iPhone or Android, you won’t lose your recent chats. This is because refreshing your contacts doesn’t affect your chats. You can also benefit from refreshing your WhatsApp contacts because hidden texts may be restored to the top of your WhatsApp chat feed.
