WhatsApp Says Blocking Third-Party Clients Not Banning Users Permanently

WhatsApp changed its app policies in January banning users utilising third-party clients (such as WhatsApp+), but recent reports suggested the company was banning users "permanently" who continue using those third-party apps. The company has clarified this is not the case however.

As per TechCrunch, a WhatsApp spokesperson has confirmed that company is not banning users "permanently".

While users were earlier seeing a 24-hour timer counting down the end of their "temporary" ban after using a third-party app, and then later saw no clock when banned for using a third-party client again, the firm says this doesn't mean the users have been banned for life. Users can get the service back in few days' time after uninstalling the third-party client.

"If a user doesn't uninstall WhatsApp+ then they will continue to be banned until they stop using it. But there is no permanent ban," a WhatsApp spokesperson told TechCrunch.

To remind you, WhatsApp after banning users of third-party clients like WhatsApp+ in January had asked them to uninstall the third-party application first and install an authorised version of WhatsApp from the official website or app stores to reuse the service.

(Also see: WhatsApp Web Now Works on Firefox and Opera Browsers)

Meanwhile, the much-anticipated WhatsApp voice calling feature reportedly went live again briefly over the weekend, with users running the latest version of the app (version 2.11.552) able to activate the feature if they received a WhatsApp call, and able to pass on the feature by calling other users. The 'invites' however ran out by Sunday, according to Android Police.