Why is WhatsApp putting some user accounts under review for 24 hours?

New Delhi: Several WhatsApp users, including many in India, reported on Monday evening that their accounts had been placed "under review" for up to 24 hours, temporarily restricting access to the messaging platform's features without prior notice.

The issue began surfacing around 8 pm IST, with affected users taking to social media to report that they were unable to use the Meta-owned messaging app.

Users said the app displayed a message stating: "Account in review. Date requested: 3 Aug 2026. Your account activity and device info is being checked to make sure it follows our Terms of Service. We will notify you of the result typically within 24 hours."

The notice also included links to information on responsible use of WhatsApp and guidance on stolen phones and compromised accounts.

Responding to the reports, a WhatsApp spokesperson acknowledged that the platform's systems do not always get account reviews right.

"We are always working to stay ahead of those trying to abuse our service and ban accounts to help keep other users safe. Sometimes we get this wrong and if we do, we try to fix it as quickly as possible to get people back to chatting," the spokesperson said.

Several users expressed frustration over the sudden restrictions, saying their accounts had been flagged despite using the official version of the app.

One user wrote on social media that their account had been disabled without any explanation, adding that although an appeal had been submitted, the review page only displayed a generic message indicating the account would "typically be reviewed within 24 hours".

Another user, posting on X under the name Saloni, said her account had been disabled without warning despite using the official WhatsApp application. She added that the messaging service was essential for her work and appealed to the company for assistance.

It remains unclear how many users were affected or what triggered the reviews. WhatsApp has not announced any widespread outage or explained the cause of the issue.