01-06-2026 08:18 AM
I am trying to send an invite to join whatsapp but am getting a message in messenger saying "currently unable to send your message. It will send when the service becomes available".
Not been an issue before, but in the last month or 2 I have upgraded and now have the new security software/protection?
I doubt thats the issue, but thats the only change.
I have tried. Airplane mode off/on. Its a new contact so no duplicate number. I have checked my parental controls and although they dont match the EE help I cannot see an issue there. I have checked whatsapp data settings (although not restricted to whatsapp). I texted OFF to 150 but it came back to say my security default was already Off.
The number is an international number but I have never had problems before.
I tried getting help from the online chatbot but shocker it just wants to sell me stuff.
Not sure what else to check, and I dont really have the time to be on hold to EE during office hours when I should be working.
01-06-2026 08:21 AM
@PaulMoxon your issue is with what’s app not EE.
01-06-2026 08:43 AM
Whatsapp isnt sending the messages, messenger is. Whatsapp is up to date.
I have just tried switching phone to another network for over 8.30 mins then switching it back (a solution for a similar problem I saw elsewhere).
I will however pop over to the whatsapp community and see what they say so thanks for the pointer.
01-06-2026 01:43 PM
@PaulMoxon Why are you using messenger to try and setup what’s app ? It’s two separate services. You setup in what’s app and you get sent a text message to confirm this is via the text message app on your phone.
01-06-2026 04:24 PM
I am not,
I go into whatsapp > start a new chat > select a person > the person I want to select has "not in whatsapp send invite" so I click invite and whatsapp tries to text them the invite to download whatsapp.
The invite message is showing in my SMS messenger as failed to send for the reasons stated above.
I just click Invite against the persons name in whatsapp and it tries to text them using my sms client.
I also sent the person via another app the wa.me/{my number} but I am not sure they understand as English is not their primary language.
01-06-2026 04:27 PM
the issue is I cant see why it is not sending, as my SMS is sending when i try and send a test message and I also receive sms not problem. I have reached out to whatsapp support to see if they can suggest what might be causing the issue.
as you can see from my initial message. I have tried a number of options with the kind of technical detail I dont normally get when people log IT tickets with me.
01-06-2026 04:53 PM
Welcome to the Community, @PaulMoxon
What format is the WhatsApp invite that you're trying to send?
If this is just a link it should be via SMS, which would have no issues, but if it's more complex than that, it may be trying to send as an MMS.
You need to have this set up on your account, and can be blocked by our account bars and spend caps.
Alternatively if you're on pay as you go, you would need to have credit in order to send this.
Peter