Fix WhatsApp Icon Disappeared on iPhone/Android: 6 Ways

Many iPhone users prefer using WhatsApp for its convenient features. However, some individuals have experienced the WhatsApp icon seemingly disappearing from their iPhone or Android device, particularly after a software update or jailbreaking.

That sounds bad, but don't worry. The icon hasn't actually vanished; it's just become invisible. Here, we'll outline 6 methods to promptly restore the WhatsApp icon on your iPhone or Android device.

How to fix WhatsApp icon not showing in iPhone

For iPhone users, When your WhatsApp icon missing from home screen, you can use these 4 ways below to solve your problem.

Method 1. Check the Screen Time

Screen Time, an integrated feature on iPhone, allows you to restrict your app and website usage. It even grants you the ability to deactivate particular apps. So you might have unintentionally deactivated the WhatsApp using Screen Time.

You can access the Settings app > Open Screen Time. If prompted, input your passcode > Choose Content & Privacy Restrictions > Allowed Apps > Make sure the switch next to WhatsApp is in the enabled position (turned ON). If not, switch it back on.

Method 2. Restart your iPhone

For some situations, restarting your iPhone can be a useful way to fix the temporary bugs within the iPhone. After reboot your device, WhatsApp icon will appear. If you also encounter the Settings icon missing, this way can help you get Settings icon back on iPhone. 

For iPhone 8 Plus/8/X or later: Press and release the Volume Up button > Press and release the Volume Down button > Press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.

For iPhone 7 Plus or 7: Press and hold the Sleep/Wake and Volume Down buttons simultaneously > Continue holding both buttons until the Apple logo appears.

For iPhone 6 or earlier: Press and hold the Home button and Sleep/Wake button at the same time > Keep holding both buttons until the Apple logo is displayed on your screen.

Method 3. Search it in the App Library

If you discover that the WhatsApp icon disappeared from iPhone, you can use the App Library on your iPhone to locate it: Go to the Home Screen and swipe left until you reach the App Library page > Type "WhatsApp" in the search bar to find it > Then you can long-press the icon and tap Add to Home Screen to get it back.

Method 4. Reset Home Screen Layout

Many users enjoy customizing their Home Screen layout by arranging apps into folders or moving them around. It's possible that during this customization, you accidentally relocated the WhatsApp to a place you don't remember.

Resetting the Home Screen Layout is available to address the issue: Navigate to Settings > General > Reset > Select Reset Home Screen Layout to make it.

Tips: If you find that other app icons are missing, such as the music icon disappearing, it is likely that it has been accidentally hidden.

How to restore WhatsApp icon on Android

For Android users, you can restart your device or get the icon back to the home screen manually to fix the issue.

Method 1. Restart your Android device

To address the issue, you can try to restart your Android device. Just press and hold the Power button until the Power menu appears on the screen. Then, select the Restart or Reboot option from the available choices to finish the process.

Method 2. Get the WhatsApp icon back manually

Here's another easy method to restore the WhatsApp icon on your Android device manually.

Step 1. Open the Settings from your menu and tap on the "Apps" option > Tap the three vertical dots in the top-right corner and select Protected Apps.

Step 2. Locate and click on WhatsApp in the list of apps to untick it. If it's a slider, click on it to turn it on.

After making this change, reboot your device. Then your WhatsApp icon may reappear on your Android device.

Bonus: Back up WhatsApp data without opening it on iPhone

When you encounter the WhatsApp icon disappeared on iPhone issue, the concern is often about potential data loss. In such a situation, whether you've retrieved the icon using the methods mentioned earlier or not, FoneTool can help you easily back up WhatsApp data on your Windows PC.

 Super-fast backup speed: You can easily back up all WhatsApp data from iPhone to PC in a very short time. For intance, thousands of photos can be moved in a few minutes.
 No Apple ID limitation: You can easily restore WhatsApp backup to another iOS device even they are using different Apple IDs.
 No data leakage: FoneTool only relies on a USB connection, so you can move all your data in an absolutely secure environment.
 Easily access data: Once the backup is completed, you can simply export the WhatsApp backup to your computer to view them directly.

Now you can download the handy FoneTool on your Windows PC and learn how to back up WhatsApp without opening it.

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to computer. Then open FoneTool.

Step 2. Go to WhatsApp or WA Business according to your needs. Here we take WhatsApp as an example and tap on the Get Started button.

Step 3. You can check Enable Backup Encryption to encrypt your private data > Click the Backup Storage Path option to set up your backup location > Click Start Backup to begin the task.

After that, you can go to the My Backups page to restore it to your iPhone or another iOS device next time.

Conclusion

Now you can know how to easily fix the WhatsApp icon disappeared issue on iPhone or Android device. For iPhone users, whether you have successfully retrieved the WhatsApp icon using the methods mentioned above or not, FoneTool can help you quickly backup WhatsApp data on your Windows PC to avoid data loss.

Except for the WhatsApp backup feature, you can also use FoneTool to fully back up iPhone like iTunes/iCloud or selectively back up photos, videos, music, contacts and messages on iPhone efficiently.

FoneTool - All-in-one iPhone Data Manager

Transfer, backup and manage data on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch in an easy way.

• iOS 18 Compatible
• iPhone 16 Supported

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