To pair WhatsApp on your phone with the desktop or web client, you need to scan a QR code displayed on the desktop or web client with the mobile app. While scanning the QR code, the mobile app sometimes shows you a ‘No Valid QR Code Detected’ error message.
Why does the ‘No Valid QR Code Detected’ error appear?
There’s no specific reason for the ‘No Valid QR Code Detected’ error while scanning a WhatsApp QR Code. It’s possible that the code you’re scanning has expired, or you are not scanning it properly.
The error can also appear due to corrupted WhatsApp Cache files on the mobile or a problem with the browser cache file. Whatever the reason, the ‘No Valid QR Code Detected’ can be easily fixed by following these steps.
1. Make sure you’re linking devices correctly
A camera icon is displayed on WhatsApp’s main screen for iPhone. If you tap on that camera icon to scan the QR code, you will get the ‘No Valid QR Code Detected’ error message no matter how many times you try.
You need to use the ‘Linked Devices’ option under Settings to scan the QR codes displayed on the computer screen.
1. Open the WhatsApp app on your Android or iPhone. Next, tap on the Settings icon at the bottom right corner.
2. Tap on the Linked Devices.
3. Tap the Link a Device button.
4. This will open the WhatsApp camera. Now, scan the QR code displayed on another device to link a device.
2. Make sure you’re scanning the official WhatsApp QR Code
WhatsApp is not a QR code reader app. Hence, if you use it to scan different QR Codes, you will get the ‘No Valid QR Code Detected’ error message. So, make sure you are scanning the correct QR Code.
3. Check Your Internet Connection
Another prominent reason the user gets the ‘No Valid QR Code Detected’ error while scanning a WhatsApp QR code from a mobile is an unstable internet connection.
WhatsApp needs an active internet connection to read the QR code and load the chats on the other device. Without the internet, the process will fail, causing errors.
Before you try the next methods, ensure you have an active internet connection.
4. Update the WhatsApp App
Bugs & glitches will be on the higher side if you use an outdated WhatsApp app on your Android or iPhone. If an outdated WhatsApp app is causing ‘No Valid QR Code Detected,’ you can easily fix it by updating it.
If you have an iPhone, open the App Store and tap the profile icon. On the next screen, scroll down and see all available updates. If the update button appears next to WhatsApp, tap it to update the app to the latest version.
5. Clear the WhatsApp Cache File
If you still get the error message, try clearing the WhatsApp app cache files.
1. Long-press the WhatsApp App icon on your home screen and select App Info.
2. Tap on Storage Usage.
3. Tap on the Clear Cache.
6. Clear the Desktop Browser’s Cache
Like the mobile app, you must clear the desktop browser’s cache files. Here’s how to clear your desktop web browser’s cache (Chrome).
1. Open the Chrome browser and click on the three dots at the top right corner.
2. On the Chrome menu, click on Clear browsing data.
3. Select All Time on the Time Range. Check the Cookies and other site data, and Cache images and files. Once selected, click on the Clear Data button.
After clearing the cache, open web.whatsapp.com and generate a new QR code to link to Android or iPhone.
7. Link with your Phone Number
If you’re still getting the same error while scanning the QR code, you can try to log in to WhatsApp Web with your phone number.
On the web.whatsapp.com page, you get an option to log in with your phone number. You need to click on that link and log in using your phone number.
8. Try Using a Different Web Browser
If you still get the error, chances are that your browser is at fault. You can verify whether your current web browser is the culprit by using another web browser. Switch to the Edge browser or Opera if you’re using Chrome and try to scan your code again.
If everything goes well, you can try reinstalling the Chrome browser or using the one that works well with WhatsApp.
These are some simple steps to resolve the ‘No Valid QR Code Detected’ error in WhatsApp. Let us know if you need more help fixing this particular error on your Android smartphone.
