Google assistant fault with voice triggered WhatsApp messages

[apshep]

Over the last week or so my galaxy S22+, my wife's S22 and daughters S20+ have all had the same problem where Google assistant is not able to send voice triggered WhatsApp messages saying "I'm not seeing a WhatsApp number for that contact". All 3 devices get the same 'error'. This happens with assistant in Android Auto as well as assistant when using the device only. 

I have cleared the cache on both assistant and WhatsApp, uninstalled and reinstalled both, synced the contacts in WhatsApp etc. 

my phone contacts list clearly shows the WhatsApp number for eack of the relavnt contacts therefore I assume it's an assistant issue. 

Has anyone resolved this?

I have alsi commented on a similar thread related to WhatsApp but nobody has resolved it.

SOLUTION:

THANKS TO 'gavlar 1'

For those that still have a problem; open the Samsung contacts app, click on the menu (left side), then settings (cog at the top right), then About Contacts...then click rapidly on the Contacts header. 9 times...you'll see a message at the bottom of the screen as you do it counting down. 

A page open s called '3rd party accounts visibility' turn on the WhatsApp slider. 

And now it works! Voice triggered WhatsApp in Google assistant. 

My question to Samsung is why do we need to do this? What happened that has caused the problem?

[keith30]

It's Google problem with it's app as been noted over the last week or so. Until they issue a fix they isn't much you can do..contact Google to see when it's going to be resolved in the future.

[apshep]

https://www.sammobile.com/news/one-ui-5-1-update-breaks-google-assistant-whatsapp-integration/
This article points the blame squarely back at Samsung. I've tried contacting WhatsApp support and a long time with Google support and they can't see a problem.
As all 3 of my family phones recently updated to OUI5.1 I suspect that is the issue.

[thingswillbebetter]

Happened to me as well, I think it's to do with Samsung update with one UI. Can we get some update on when Samsung is able to fix this pls?

[apshep]

I submitted it to support on 25t but they have yet to respond. Also via Google and WhatsApp. WhatsApp said it wasn't their problem, Google have pointed me through another reporting route which ironically crashes when I try to use it!

[Gavlar1 · Accepted solution]

Saw this on another thread:
OK simple go to about contact in your contact click 9 times up pops a menu activate the WhatsApp slider job done

[apshep]

Thank you!! That worked!

For those that still have a problem; open the Samsung contacts app, click on the menu (left side), then settings (cog at the top right), then About Contacts...then click rapidly on the Contacts header. 9 times...you'll see a message at the bottom of the screen as you do it counting down.
A page open s called '3rd party accounts visibility' turn on the WhatsApp slider.
And now it works! Voice triggered WhatsApp in Google assistant.

My question to Samsung is why do we need to do this? What happened that has caused the problem?

[SarahD72]

Cant thank you enough for this solution!

[sanoj23]

any idea what to do if your phone is not a samsung? 
I'm using the gw4 with a pixel phone

[HG54]

Brilliant. Same issue with my old S20, now resolved.