WhatsApp - GrapheneOS Discussion Forum

MikeSender

Greetings! Pls help. I have downloaded WhatsApp APK file from the WhatsApp website when making an account and messaging my partner it is automatically banning me. I have tried creating 3 accounts and all the same is happening. Any advice on this?

GrapheneLover

I believe that's due to you using the APK version and not from the Google Play Store. The APK version gets flagged as a lot of spambots register like that. If you try using the Google Play Store version you should be fine. Another thing that it could be is that your phone numbers are flagged.

ayaen

I have faced this before, although I wasn't exactly banned. Don't recall what it complains about
but think it has something to do with the APK builds they distribute. Quite odd. But since then, I have installed WhatsApp via play store (Sandboxed google play services) and haven't come across that issue.

ayaen

I think it says something about non-official WhatsApp clients which is pretty strange considering I got it from here.

[deleted]

ayaen I have installed WA from that source number of times. Never faced any issues. I believe it is rather linked to the phone number provided on registration or network setup.

[deleted]

Have you tried using the official and verified version available on the Google Play Store? If the Play Store version works fine then you know what the issue is: WhatsApp clearly has an issue with you using the Package Installer version that's available on the app's website.