New continent, new SIM card, same beloved humans. In Europe, everyone uses WhatsApp. It’s free over Wi-Fi, it keeps your family close, and it turns classmates into a lifeline (“Where’s the classroom?” “Which bus to Cassis?” “Is there homework or just croissants?”).
Here’s the catch: your US friends’ phones often don’t ring when you call via WhatsApp. Why? Notifications, Focus/Do Not Disturb, battery “optimizations,” and (my favorite) Disappearing Messages erasing the exact info we need. Let’s fix it before you leave your home country.
The 5-Minute Pre-Departure Checklist (send this to family & friends)
1) Install & add me
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Install WhatsApp (green icon).
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Add my contact with the full international format (e.g., +33 for France, +44 UK, +1 US).
2) Make the phone RING
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iPhone: WhatsApp → Settings → Notifications → Allow + Sounds ON.
Also iOS Settings → Notifications → WhatsApp → Allow.
If you use Focus/Do Not Disturb, add WhatsApp to Allowed Apps. -
Android: Settings → Apps → WhatsApp → Notifications ON (especially Calls).
Settings → Apps → WhatsApp → Battery → set to Unrestricted (so calls aren’t muted in the background).
3) Turn Disappearing Messages OFF for our chat
Open our chat → tap my name → Disappearing messages → Off.
(We’re trading homework, gate codes, and priceless dad jokes—don’t let them self-destruct.)
4) Do a 30-second test
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Send me “Hi 👋,” then try a quick voice call.
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If it doesn’t ring: check Focus/Do Not Disturb, volume, and Battery settings above.
5) Optional but gold
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WhatsApp → Settings → Storage and data → Media upload quality → Best quality.
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Turn on Two-step verification (Settings → Account → Two-step verification).
Copy-Paste Invite (send this to your people)
Hey! I’m moving/time-zoning soon and we’ll use WhatsApp to chat & call for free.
Please do 3 things now so your phone RINGS when I call:
Install WhatsApp and add my number in international format: +33 XX XX XX XX XX
Turn Notifications ON for WhatsApp (and allow calls). If you use Focus/Do Not Disturb, add WhatsApp to allowed apps.
Open our chat → tap my name → Disappearing messages → Off so trip details don’t vanish.
Can we test a call now? Merci! 💚
Why WhatsApp wins (Family & Friends back home)
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Free & easy: Calls and messages over Wi-Fi save real money.
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Video calls that work: Low-bandwidth friendly; grandma sees the market olives in HD.
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Star & Pin: Star important messages (flight #, hotel address) and pin our chat to the top.
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Send big things: High-quality photos, PDFs, and voice notes for when typing with thumbs is chaos.
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Live Location: “Yes, I’m actually on the right bus this time.”
Why WhatsApp wins (Classmates, teachers, and new friends)
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Group sanity: One class group = homework, room changes, and café plans in one place.
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Voice notes = pronunciation practice: Quick corrections without scheduling a call.
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Polls: “Test at 9 or croissants at 9?”
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Docs & pics: Snap the whiteboard, share PDFs, and star what matters.
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Mentions: Type @Name so people actually see the message (looking at you, Julien).
Tiny Setup That Saves Your Future Self
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iPhone Focus: Settings → Focus → pick your Focus → Allowed Apps → add WhatsApp.
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Android Battery: Settings → Apps → WhatsApp → Battery → Unrestricted (prevents silent missed calls).
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Media Quality: Settings → Storage and data → Media upload quality → Best quality (for photos you’ll want to keep).
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Linked devices: Use WhatsApp Web/Desktop to type faster (great for study notes).
Common Oops & Easy Fixes
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“It still doesn’t ring.”
Check: Notifications ON, volume up, not on silent, Focus/DND exclusions set, Android battery set to Unrestricted. -
“Your messages disappeared!”
Turn Disappearing messages → Off in our chat. -
“You sound like a robot.”
Switch to Wi-Fi or move closer to the router. (Or embrace your inner Dalek, your call.)
Postscript from a Serial Over-Preparer
I learned this the hard way: landed in Europe, called my mom on WhatsApp, and got… silence. Her notifications were off, Focus was on, and Disappearing Messages had wiped the flight info. We fixed it in five minutes and now the phone rings like a church bell in Provence.
If you do one thing today: invite your people and run the 30-second test call before you fly. Your future self (and your classmates) will thank you.
Bonne route—and text me when you land. I’ll answer with a very French “Allô?” 📞🇫🇷