Nexus 6P's Google Now + Whatsapp Problem

[msoon2k]

Hi guys,

I'm about to tear all my hair out here.

Over the last 3 days, I have been unable to send a new Whatsapp message via Google Now (OK Google). It brings up my contacts just fine and just before the message goes off, Google now says:

"You don't have an account for <name>".

This has been working just fine until a few days ago. Someone please help shed some light on this.

Thanks,

Mark:'(

 

[KillerQ]

Hi guys,

I'm about to tear all my hair out here.

Over the last 3 days, I have been unable to send a new Whatsapp message via Google Now (OK Google). It brings up my contacts just fine and just before the message goes off, Google now says:

"You don't have an account for <name>".

This has been working just fine until a few days ago. Someone please help shed some light on this.

Thanks,

Mark:'(

Turn off wifi and turn the phone off. Remove the sim. Turn phone on again. Open whatsapp and the Google app you're having issues with. Then turn the phone off again. Reinsert sim. Power on again. Try that.

Posted via my Nokia 8210 from the inside of a Kitten.

 

[msoon2k]

Hi KillerQ,

Thanks for your help.

I've tried what you suggested - twice - and still I get the same issue. Google now says contact not found.
If I manually go into whatsapp and send messages from there, there's no problem. There is some sort of issue between Google Now and Whatsapp specifically.

Any other ideas I can try?

Mark

 

[KillerQ]

Triple check that the contact name has their phone number under the mobile field. Also be sure there are no permission issues with whatsapp

Posted via my Nokia 8210 from the inside of a Kitten.

 

[msoon2k]

KillerQ - Double checked. Mobile number under name. Permissions for whatsapp - all switched on.

 

[JoeNM84]

Try uninstalling and reinstalling Whatsapp?

 

[KillerQ]

Yes. Absolutely uninstall and reinstall. Reboot in between.

I apologize, I thought you mentioned that you already tried uninstalling.... Definitely try that.

Hurry!

Huurrryyy!

Posted via my Nokia 8210 from the inside of a Kitten.

 

[msoon2k]

I've uninstalled Whatsapp multiple times. Even cleared cache and data - wiped it all clean.
Rebooted after uninstall, then reinstalled. Over and over. No difference.

This started happening after my Android Wear (Huawei) got updated to v1.4. I wonder if it has anything to do with it. Just FYI, when I try the "Ok Google - send a whatsapp to <name> " command, I do it from both my phone and the watch. It fails via both methods as it says the contact is not found even though the contact is clearly brought up on screen.

Last night, I realised the only person that Google Now can find - is my mum. She's the only contact that doesn't cause issues. How weird....

 

[KillerQ]

Your mom has hacked your phone

Posted via my Nokia 8210 from the inside of a Kitten.

 

[NoSmint]

Over the last 3 days, I have been unable to send a new Whatsapp message via Google Now (OK Google). It brings up my contacts just fine and just before the message goes off, Google now says:

"You don't have an account for <name>".

I've uninstalled Whatsapp multiple times. Even cleared cache and data - wiped it all clean.
Rebooted after uninstall, then reinstalled. Over and over. No difference.

Last night, I realised the only person that Google Now can find - is my mum. She's the only contact that doesn't cause issues. How weird....

Hi Mark

I have exactly the same problem with my new Galaxy S7 Edge. I just signed up to tell you that I found a decent workaround.

After a number of factory resets and cleaning my google contacts I always had it working in the first place, but once I reboot the phone the issue is reappearing again. I came across the same odd thing that the only contact which would always work is my mum.

Then I figured why is that. And then it came to me. My Mum is the only contact I assigned a google now nickname to. So I tried nicknames for other contacts and voila ... it works! For every contact you assign a nickname to (Mum, Dad, Brother, Sister, Girlfriend, etc) google now will have no problem sending WhatsApps if you use the nickname instead of the contacts name. So I just made my best friend my brother, other friends are aunt, cousin and so on.

I cannot post links but you can find possible nicknames by looking for "google now nicknames" and open the first support.google.com link.

I know it's not exactly a solution but at least it will work for a few contacts so you can use your most important contacts at least.

Hope I helped a bit
Greetings from Germany
Nils

 

[KillerQ]

Nils,

Great find!

Here's the link http://fieldguide.gizmodo.com/use-nicknames-with-siri-and-google-now-to-reach-contact-1754906508


That's too bad that Google isn't reading the full profile on either of your phones. I wonder if that's a glitch or an intentional update...it wouldn't make sense if they forced this on people.

Thanks for sharing

Posted via my Nokia 8210 from the inside of a Kitten.

 

[msoon2k]

Thanks for your feedback Nils. Much appreciated and good to know I'm not the only one with the issue and that it's not limited to Nexus phones.

I've tried looking at Google contacts sync issues as a lot of people have had that issue over the years but it turns out ... that wasn't the real issue either. I just don't get why the problem exists with a third-party app and not the regular messaging app. Also if i type in "Send a whatsapp to <name>", Google Now brings up the contact and sends off the message without issues. Only when Google Now voice is used, that my phone acts up. I just can't see the connection here...

 

[KillerQ]

Thanks for your feedback Nils. Much appreciated and good to know I'm not the only one with the issue and that it's not limited to Nexus phones.

I've tried looking at Google contacts sync issues as a lot of people have had that issue over the years but it turns out ... that wasn't the real issue either. I just don't get why the problem exists with a third-party app and not the regular messaging app. Also if i type in "Send a whatsapp to <name>", Google Now brings up the contact and sends off the message without issues. Only when Google Now voice is used, that my phone acts up. I just can't see the connection here...

Msoon, try this to help me trouble shoot.

Take one of the contacts that you're having trouble with, delete it completely from your phone to the point that typing it in or searching won't show that old contact. Then, make it from scratch using your contacts app on your phone.

Then, verify that the new contact is saved (you can search for it and see it, etc.)

Reboot the phone, and THEN try the voice send message for that contact and see if it works THEN.

Your answer will guide me further down the problem solving path....

Thanks!

Posted via my Nokia 8210 from the inside of a Kitten.

 

[msoon2k]

Hi KillerQ,

I've tried exactly what you recommended. The contact was totally gone from my phone. Searching the contact on Google Now - the phone would NOT bring back any results. The contacts app was void of that contact and so was the Whatsapp contact list.

I rebooted my phone.

Then tried using Google Now to send a whatsapp. Doesn't work.

FYI:

- Sending a normal SMS works, it's only Whatsapp
- Typing "Send a whatsapp to <name" in Google Now, works too. It brings up the contact and asks me if I want to send it. I say yes and ... off it goes. Only the voice component doesn't work.

- I don't think my contact list is corrupted either. I've checked for duplicates via desktop Gmail contact, and consolidated all contacts (merged). No difference to whatsapp messaging - error's still there.

 

[KillerQ]

Are you using a Google voice number, by chance?

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[msoon2k]

Nope. Don't even know what that is. :|

Remember this only started happening 7 days ago..

 

[KillerQ]

Yes... So odd. I see your other posts on the Internet, and you're not getting much help in those other places....

OK, try this. For your mom's contact THAT WORKS, try changing it from 'mom' to 'Chris' or something like that. (basically, edit your mom's contact) That will tell me if it's something contained within the contact that's making it act up...

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[KillerQ]

Also.... Have you tried all of this after un-pairing your smart watch?

Posted via my Nokia 8210 from the inside of a Kitten.

 

[KillerQ]

I know it happened when your watch updated its android wear... Have you tried uninstalling the updates for Android wear AND Google Now on your phone?

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[msoon2k]

I tried unpairing my watch once... but I didn't try all this whilst having my watch unpaired. What are you thinking? The watch has something to do with this?