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What to do when you receive a "Message Waiting" notification?#

Why does "Waiting for message" occur?
When does "Waiting" appear?
Solution
Error "Waiting for message" when using GREEN-API methods for sending

Why does "Waiting for message" occur?#

WhatsApp protects your private messages with end-to-end encryption. This means that only you and your interlocutor have access to the messages you exchange.

In some cases, encryption keys take a long time to update, and new messages may show a notification "waiting for message. This may take a while.

waiting

According to our observations, the error may occur in a small number of chats in the following cases:

  • Transferring a number to another device;

  • Re-authorizing an account in the WhatsApp app.

This happens because the end-to-end encryption keys have not been updated.

The error may also appear in old messages when re-authorizing a WhatsApp account:

  • When using a backup, some messages may be pending before authorization.

  • When using a linked device and turned off the WhatsApp app.

When does "Waiting" appear?#

  • For example, you linked a device to WhatsApp Desktop, logged out of the WhatsApp application on your phone and used WhatsApp Desktop for 14 days.

After 14 days, the linked device will be logged out, and when you next log in to the WhatsApp application, all messages in all chats from the moment the linked device was authorized will have the error "Waiting for message. This may take some time".

  • For example, you turned off the primary device (usually a mobile phone). At this time, your interlocutor sends you a message via WhatsApp web and closes it.

After turning on the primary device, the message will have the status "Waiting for message. This may take some time" until the interlocutor turns on WhatsApp web from which the message was sent.

Solution:#

  • Delete all sessions on the mobile device (linked devices section) and scan the QR code again;
  • Ask the sender to open the WhatsApp app if the message was sent from the phone;
  • Ask the sender to re-authorize the linked device if the sending was from WhatsApp Web;
  • Update the app versions of the recipient and the sender's WhatsApp.

waiting2

Error "Waiting for message" when using GREEN-API methods for sending#

The error will occur when logging out of the instance while the primary device is off. Messages will be in pending status at the primary device.

To solve this issue:

  • Do not turn off the phone or turn it on more than once every two weeks;
  • Do not overuse spam so that WhatsApp does not log out your session;
  • Do not log out of the instance until you finish sending messages.