When you see just one tick on WhatsApp, your message has left your device but has yet to reach the recipient, even if they’re online.
It could be because their phone is off, they’re not connected to the internet, or the app is closed. Stay patient. Your message will get through!
Understanding The WhatsApp Tick System.
The tick marks on WhatsApp are part of a system that shows the status of your message. Here is a detailed explanation:
- Single Grey Tick – A single grey tick indicates that your message has been successfully sent from your device but has yet to reach the recipient. This can occur if they are offline, their device is turned off, or if they have exited the app.
- Double Grey Ticks – Two grey ticks signify that your message has been delivered to the recipient’s device. However, they still need to read it. They may still have the app closed or have yet to open your chat.
- Double Blue Ticks – The recipient opens your chat and reads your message when the two grey ticks turn blue. Please note that this feature requires the recipient to enable ‘Read Receipts.’ If disabled, you will not be notified when they have read your messages.
Please maintain patience while awaiting the reading and response of your messages. Be assured that WhatsApp’s tick system functions accurately, giving you an accurate indication of your message status.
What Does WhatsApp’s Single Tick Mean Even When Online?
The single tick is particularly intriguing because it appears even when the recipient seems to be online. Here’s an in-depth exploration:
Understanding The Single Tick
The single tick in WhatsApp indicates that your message has been sent from your device. However, it does not necessarily mean the message has been delivered to the recipient’s device.
Here are some scenarios that can cause a single tick even when your contact appears online:
Connection Issues.
Even if your recipient’s status shows as ‘online,’ they may be experiencing internet connectivity issues. This could prevent your message’s delivery, resulting in a single tick.
App Not Active.
If the recipient’s WhatsApp application is inactive on their device, your message will not get delivered, hence the single tick. This situation can occur even if their status appears as ‘online.’
Phone Switched Off.
In rare cases, a person’s status may still appear ‘online’ even if their phone is switched off or out of battery. In such instances, your message will be delivered once the device is powered on and connected to the internet.
Confirming Message Delivery
As soon as the recipient’s device receives the message, the single tick will turn into double grey ticks. However, these double ticks only signify delivery, not that the recipient has read the message.
It’s also important to note that these indicators rely on the recipient’s settings. If ‘Read Receipts’ are disabled, you won’t see when your messages have been read.
Why Is WhatsApp Showing Online But Only One Tick?

When a WhatsApp user appears as ‘online’ but your message only receives one tick, it could be due to the abovementioned reasons.
Ensure the recipient’s device is connected to the internet, and their app is active before assuming a delivery issue. Additionally, if you want confirmation that your messages have been read, look for double ticks that are tinted blue.
This indicates that the message has been read. If you still have issues with your single ticks, contact WhatsApp support for further help.
Yes, someone can appear ‘online’ on WhatsApp and not receive messages. One common situation is when the recipient’s phone is not connected to the internet. The ‘online’ status on WhatsApp only sometimes indicates real-time activity.
It could be a remnant status from the last active session, which remains visible even after the app is closed or the device is disconnected from the internet.
Secondly, if the recipient has not opened the app, the message will not be delivered, resulting in a single tick despite the ‘online’ status.
Finally, if the recipient’s device is powered off or out of battery, the ‘online’ status may still appear due to a glitch. Still, the message will be delivered once the device is powered on and reconnected to the internet.
Therefore, while the ‘online’ status generally indicates a user’s activity, there are better ways to confirm message delivery.
Why Is There One Tick On WhatsApp Unless The App Is Open?

The single tick denotes that your message has been successfully sent to the recipient’s device but not necessarily received.
This is because messages are delivered when the recipient opens and “receives” them from their device. If the app is closed or inactive, delivery will only occur once it is opened again.
Therefore, if you want assurance that the recipient has seen a message, you should use the double tick feature, which indicates that the message has been read or heard.
If you still have questions, please get in touch with WhatsApp support for further help. They can further clarify why there may be a single tick even when someone is ‘online.’
They will also advise you on using WhatsApp features best for your messaging needs.
What Is End-To-End Encryption?
End-to-end encryption is a secure communication method that prevents third parties from accessing data while it’s transferred from one end system or device to another.
In the context of WhatsApp, the messages you send are secured with a lock, and only the recipient has the unique key needed to unlock and read the messages. Here’s how it works:
- Initiating a chat: When you start a conversation on WhatsApp, the app generates special security keys using the trusted Signal Protocol. These keys are exchanged and verified between phones at the beginning of the conversation.
- Message encryption: Once the keys are verified, each outgoing message is encrypted with a unique lock and key. This ensures that every message is secured with its lock and key, guaranteeing the confidentiality of the conversation.
- Message transmission: The messages are transferred over the network in an encrypted format, which can only be unlocked with the unique key at the recipient’s end.
- Message decryption: Upon receiving the message, it is decrypted using the unique key. If the key matches the lock, the message is decrypted and displayed on the recipient’s screen.
- No third-party access: Thanks to this end-to-end encryption, WhatsApp cannot access the content of your messages, calls, and status updates. This means that only the intended recipient can see and access your communications.
Why Is My Message Not Delivered, But The Person Is Online?
When you see a single tick next to your WhatsApp message, it means the message has been sent from your device but has yet to be delivered to the recipient.
This can happen if the recipient’s phone is switched off, there are internet connectivity issues, or the recipient has deleted their WhatsApp account.
Once the message is successfully delivered to the recipient’s device, the single tick will change to a double tick.
Conclusion.
A single tick next to your WhatsApp message, even when the recipient is online, signifies that your message has been successfully sent from your device but has yet to reach the recipient’s device.
This could be due to some reasons, such as the recipient’s phone being switched off, network connectivity issues, or WhatsApp account deletion.
The tick transitions to a double tick when the message is successfully delivered to the recipient’s device.
Faqs.
A single tick next to your WhatsApp message, even when the recipient is online, signifies that your message has been sent from your device but has yet to reach the recipient’s device. The recipient’s phone may be off, there could be network connectivity issues, or the WhatsApp account could have been deleted. Once the message is delivered to the recipient’s device, the single tick will change into a double tick.
A single tick on WhatsApp doesn’t necessarily mean the contact has blocked you. It simply indicates that the message has been sent from your device but hasn’t yet been delivered to the recipient’s device. However, if your messages consistently show a single tick and never double ticks, and you also can’t see their last seen or online status, profile photo, or updates, these are potential signs that the contact might have blocked you.
Yes, a single tick can appear even if the recipient’s phone is on and they are connected to the internet. This could happen due to technical issues, such as server delays or the recipient muting your conversation. Once the message is successfully received on the recipient’s device, the single tick will change to a double tick.