Here’s a strange one - I occasionally keep my phone offline, turning off both WiFi and mobile data (for that peace of mind!). But for some reason, WhatsApp will sometimes “break through” and show me new messages.
At first I thought it was happening only when I turned on the phone - I’d turn off the phone, making sure it is offline, and when I turned it back on, WhatsApp messages would appear, even though the phone was still offline. I thought it might be that the default for the phone when it is turned on is to be on-line, so that these messages would come through. But this is also happening when the phone is just on.
Any ideas why this is happening, and - more importantly - why? Need that peace of mind…
Was the message created after you have turned off your data connection? Otherwise, it could also be a delayed notification?
Is Wi-Fi and mobile data really turned off, for both SIM cards?
Is Bluetooth turned off? (It could be used with tethering.)
Consider using the airplane mode. It is easily accessible and turns off/on the mobile connection, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth in one go and saves your battery. (Calls and SMS will be disabled, too.)
Are those messages really WhatsApp messages, not SMS?
Wi-Fi connection and disconnection activities are logged with FRITZ!App WLAN. Of course, only activites after installation of the app are logged. Go inside the app on “Connection details” (second from bottom, just above “Give feedback”) to access the log.
If WhatsApp really connects/disconnects Wi-Fi itself, there surely is an option to turn that off. (Can anybody with WhatsApp help out and mention where to find this option? I do not have WhatsApp.)
I’m afraid the only way to stop that from happening would be to restrict those permissions from Whatsapp, e.g. with #dic:xprivacy .
In the upcoming Android Marshmallow, that possibility should be built in, but I can’t say if Marshmallow can take away the permission to altersystem settings.
Thanks everyone! I had a closer look during reboot (when I turned off the wifi and data via the ‘settings’ view) - and the phone definitely connects to wi-fi for a few seconds, and then turns it off.
It doesn’t seem to do so when on aeroplane mode, so from now in I’ll put the phone in aeroplane mode before I turn it off (I didnt’ think of doing that, so thanks for that suggestion!), and will keep an eye and see if it still does it in times other than when rebooted, or did I just imagine it.
I think it’s important to be able to use a smartphone as just a phone some of the time…
With airplane mode, you cannot use your smartphone as a phone. You will be disconnected, nobody can call you. Airplane mode has the same effect as turning off your smartphone.
Yes, of course. Sorry, should have been clearer - what I meant to say is that it is a little annoying that it is proving to be kind of tricky to keep the phone off line (while still acting as a phone), as I think it’s important to be able to use a smartphone just as a phone…
I had the same situation and wondered about it.
At night I turn of my wifi, but still in the morning I had messages and somtimes even an email.
Then I found it:
It is in the Wifi-settings.
If you click on advanced…
The second setting about scanning is probabely enabled.
This give your apps the right to ‘break trough’ and scan for messages, even if the wfi is turned off.
Well that’s very interesting… surprised that I didn’t notice this option (and a little surprised this option even exists! though I suppose it would make sense in certain contexts)
Hi Michelle, did you change the scanning setting? Did it work for you? because I disabled it, and I still got a WhatsApp message when my wifi and data was turned off!
