WhatsApp client is stuck at 99% loading and never reaches the `ready` state since today (January 28, 2026)

[akshayarunkumar]

Is there an existing issue for this?

• I have searched the existing issues.

Is this a problem caused by your code, or is it specifically because of the library?

• I have double-checked my code carefully.

Describe the bug.

WhatsApp client is stuck at 99% loading and never reaches the ready state since today (January 28, 2026). The loading screen shows "Loading screen 99 WhatsApp" and hangs indefinitely, even though the WhatsApp Web UI appears to be fully loaded in the browser.

• Client gets stuck at "Loading screen 99 WhatsApp" indefinitely
• The ready event never fires
• Cannot proceed to test message events due to initialization hang
• WhatsApp Web UI appears fully loaded in the browser window, but the library doesn't detect it as ready
• This behavior started today without any code changes

Expected Behavior

Expected to send message, once loaded

Steps to Reproduce the Bug or Issue

Steps to Reproduce

1. Initialize WhatsApp client with basic configuration:

const { Client, LocalAuth } = require('whatsapp-web.js');

const client = new Client({
    authStrategy: new LocalAuth({ clientId: 'test' }),
    puppeteer: {
        headless: 'new',
        executablePath: '/Applications/Google Chrome.app/Contents/MacOS/Google Chrome'
    }
});

client.on('loading_screen', (percent, message) => {
    console.log('Loading screen', percent, message);
});

client.on('ready', () => {
    console.log('Client is ready!'); // This never executes
});

2. Observe the console output showing "Loading screen 99 WhatsApp"
3. Client hangs at 99% and never proceeds to ready state
4. Cannot test message functionality due to initialization failure

### WhatsApp Account Type

Standard

### Browser Type

Chrome 144.0.7559.96

### Operation System Type

macOS (also tested on Linux)

### Phone OS Type

Android

### WhatsApp-Web.js Version

1.34.4

### WhatsApp Web Version

2.3000.1032556457

### Node.js Version

v24.12.0

### Authentication Strategy

LocalAuth

### Additional Context


- The issue started on January 28, 2026
- Script was working perfectly until yesterday night (January 27, 2026)
- No code changes were made between working and non-working states
- This appears to be related to a WhatsApp Web update that was pushed overnight
- Also experiencing the "stuck at 99%" loading issue (Issue #3971) which suggests WhatsApp Web made breaking changes

## Related Issues

- #3971 - The READY event is never triggered due to A/B testing
- This may be part of the same WhatsApp Web update that broke multiple features

[32netlabs-wq]

me too

[Clophy]

same problem

[touregeldi]

same problem

[axlwild]

Could you try to replace this code in node_modules/whatsapp-web.js/src/Client.js?

BEFORE

window.AuthStore.AppState.on('change:state', (_AppState, state) => { window.onAuthAppStateChangedEvent(state); });
window.AuthStore.AppState.on('change:hasSynced', () => { window.onAppStateHasSyncedEvent(); });

After:

const appState = window.AuthStore.AppState;
if (appState.hasSynced) {
    window.onAppStateHasSyncedEvent();
}
appState.on('change:hasSynced', (_AppState, hasSynced) => {
    if (hasSynced) {
        window.onAppStateHasSyncedEvent();
    }
});
appState.on('change:state', (_AppState, state) => { window.onAuthAppStateChangedEvent(state); });

[kangoka]

Could you try to replace this code in node_modules/whatsapp-web.js/src/Client.js?

BEFORE

window.AuthStore.AppState.on('change:state', (_AppState, state) => { window.onAuthAppStateChangedEvent(state); });
window.AuthStore.AppState.on('change:hasSynced', () => { window.onAppStateHasSyncedEvent(); });
After:

const appState = window.AuthStore.AppState;
if (appState.hasSynced) {
window.onAppStateHasSyncedEvent();
}
appState.on('change:hasSynced', (_AppState, hasSynced) => {
if (hasSynced) {
window.onAppStateHasSyncedEvent();
}
});
appState.on('change:state', (_AppState, state) => { window.onAuthAppStateChangedEvent(state); });

I just tested it, and it worked.

[amiinqur]

Changed the code:
await this.pupPage.evaluate(() => {
const appState = window.AuthStore.AppState;
if (appState.hasSynced) {
window.onAppStateHasSyncedEvent();
}
appState.on('change:hasSynced', (_AppState, hasSynced) => {
if (hasSynced) {
window.onAppStateHasSyncedEvent();
}
});
appState.on('change:state', (_AppState, state) => { window.onAuthAppStateChangedEvent(state); });
window.AuthStore.Cmd.on('offline_progress_update', () => {
window.onOfflineProgressUpdateEvent(window.AuthStore.OfflineMessageHandler.getOfflineDeliveryProgress());
});
window.AuthStore.Cmd.on('logout', async () => {
await window.onLogoutEvent();
});
});

Tried it, still not working.

[32netlabs-wq]

it works

[Clophy]

Could you try to replace this code in node_modules/whatsapp-web.js/src/Client.js?

BEFORE

window.AuthStore.AppState.on('change:state', (_AppState, state) => { window.onAuthAppStateChangedEvent(state); });
window.AuthStore.AppState.on('change:hasSynced', () => { window.onAppStateHasSyncedEvent(); });
After:

const appState = window.AuthStore.AppState;
if (appState.hasSynced) {
window.onAppStateHasSyncedEvent();
}
appState.on('change:hasSynced', (_AppState, hasSynced) => {
if (hasSynced) {
window.onAppStateHasSyncedEvent();
}
});
appState.on('change:state', (_AppState, state) => { window.onAuthAppStateChangedEvent(state); });

i tried, client.on(ready) is working now but client.on(message) doesnt work

[jeffreycahyono]

Could you try to replace this code in node_modules/whatsapp-web.js/src/Client.js?
BEFORE
window.AuthStore.AppState.on('change:state', (_AppState, state) => { window.onAuthAppStateChangedEvent(state); });
window.AuthStore.AppState.on('change:hasSynced', () => { window.onAppStateHasSyncedEvent(); });
After:
const appState = window.AuthStore.AppState;
if (appState.hasSynced) {
window.onAppStateHasSyncedEvent();
}
appState.on('change:hasSynced', (_AppState, hasSynced) => {
if (hasSynced) {
window.onAppStateHasSyncedEvent();
}
});
appState.on('change:state', (_AppState, state) => { window.onAuthAppStateChangedEvent(state); });

i tried, client.on(ready) is working now but client.on(message) doesnt work

Yes I also tried, ready is working but can not respond to message

[timothydillan]

Hey guys! I encountered this same issue along with others and have compiled a list of fixes. Try it out and see if it fixes your issues!

Link to instructions:
#5754 (comment)

[barisyeman]

Could you try to replace this code in node_modules/whatsapp-web.js/src/Client.js?

BEFORE

window.AuthStore.AppState.on('change:state', (_AppState, state) => { window.onAuthAppStateChangedEvent(state); });
window.AuthStore.AppState.on('change:hasSynced', () => { window.onAppStateHasSyncedEvent(); });
After:

const appState = window.AuthStore.AppState;
if (appState.hasSynced) {
window.onAppStateHasSyncedEvent();
}
appState.on('change:hasSynced', (_AppState, hasSynced) => {
if (hasSynced) {
window.onAppStateHasSyncedEvent();
}
});
appState.on('change:state', (_AppState, state) => { window.onAuthAppStateChangedEvent(state); });

it works

[amiinqur]

Hey guys! I encountered this same issue along with others and have compiled a list of fixes. Try it out and see if it fixes your issues!

Link to instructions: #5754 (comment)

Working. Thanks!

[akshayarunkumar]

both fixes worked. @axlwild for initialization and fix by @timothydillan for message event worked. Thanks to both!