WA FoldersWhatsApp account restricted? Why WhatsApp Web stops working
If WhatsApp shows "Your account is restricted right now," you can't use linked devices until the restriction ends, so WhatsApp Web and the desktop app stop working and may log you out. The restriction ends on its own when its time runs out, and WhatsApp says you don't need to do anything to remove it.
What a restriction blocks
WhatsApp's help center lists exactly what changes while your account is restricted. You can still message and call contacts and groups you've chatted or called with before. You can't:
- start chats or calls with new contacts
- create new groups
- add new members to groups
- use linked devices
WhatsApp adds that you may also be logged out of some companion devices. WhatsApp Web, the desktop app and a second phone are all linked devices, according to WhatsApp's linked devices article. So during a restriction, your phone is the only place you can use WhatsApp.
There's a softer warning too: "Your account may be restricted soon." That's WhatsApp telling you a restriction is coming if the same activity continues.
Why WhatsApp restricts accounts
WhatsApp says a restriction means recent activity on your account might be showing signs of spam, automated or bulk messaging, which breaks its Terms of Service. It also warns that anyone doing spam, automated or bulk messaging could have their account banned, which is a bigger problem than a restriction.
In practice, look at anything that sends messages for you. Tools that blast the same message to a list, auto-reply bots and unofficial WhatsApp apps are the usual suspects. If you use one of them, stop before the restriction ends.
How to see how long it lasts
WhatsApp doesn't publish a fixed length, but you can check the time left:
- Tap New chat.
- Pick a contact you've never chatted with before.
- A pop-up shows the time remaining if you're still restricted.
When the time is up, WhatsApp sends you a notification in the app. After that you can link WhatsApp Web again by scanning the QR code from your phone, the same way you did the first time.
Restricted, locked or banned?
These three messages mean different things, and only one of them clears by itself.
- "Your account is restricted right now" is temporary and ends on its own.
- "Account locked due to inactivity" means you need to re-register your phone number as soon as possible. WhatsApp says that if you don't, your account and its data may be deleted.
- "This account can't use WhatsApp" is a ban, which WhatsApp covers in a separate article about account bans.
This is also different from Restricted Chat, a per-chat privacy setting that someone in one chat switches on. Restricted Chat blocks linked devices for that single chat. An account restriction blocks them for your whole account.
What WA Folders does and doesn't do
We build WA Folders, a Chrome extension for WhatsApp Web, so we get asked whether extensions cause restrictions. We can only answer for ours, and we checked our current code before writing this.
WA Folders doesn't send messages. Its quick replies paste text into the message box of the chat you have open, and the code never presses Enter or clicks Send, so you send each one yourself. It has no bulk send or broadcast feature, and its panel says "Local only. No bulk send." It also never starts chats with new contacts.
Your folders, notes and search index are kept in Chrome on your computer, not in your WhatsApp account. While a restriction keeps WhatsApp Web logged out, WA Folders has nothing to show, because it only works on what WhatsApp Web loads. Once you link WhatsApp Web again, your folders are still there. If WhatsApp Web hangs after you reconnect, our guide to WhatsApp Web stuck on Loading your chats goes through the fixes in order.
FAQ
How long does a WhatsApp account restriction last?
WhatsApp doesn't give a fixed length. To see the time left, tap New chat and pick a contact you've never chatted with before. The pop-up shows how long the restriction has to run.
Can I use WhatsApp Web while my account is restricted?
No. A restricted account can't use linked devices, and WhatsApp Web is a linked device. You may also be logged out of it. Link it again with the QR code once the restriction ends.
Do I need to appeal a WhatsApp restriction?
No. WhatsApp says you don't need to take any action, and the restriction ends automatically when the time passes. You get a notification in WhatsApp when it does.
Can I still message my contacts while restricted?
Yes, on your phone. You can keep chatting and calling contacts and groups you've talked with before. You can't start chats with new contacts, create groups or add people to groups.
Can a Chrome extension get my WhatsApp account restricted?
WhatsApp restricts accounts for spam, automated or bulk messaging, so a tool that sends messages automatically is a risk. WA Folders never sends messages. It only organizes, searches and exports chats you open in WhatsApp Web.