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WhatsApp has experienced a widespread connection error, affecting many UK users.

During the communication blackout, the top of the app displayed a spinning ‘buffer’ wheel alongside a ‘Connecting…’ message, though no connection was made.

The messaging app went down around 8.30am in the UK.

Many users took to other forms of social media to check the status of the service and share their connection woes.

According to downdetector.co.uk, outages are being experienced across the world.

The UK has been hit along with Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, Russia, Malaysia and more.

12 secret WhatsApp features you probably didn't know about 13 show all 12 secret WhatsApp features you probably didn't know about 1/13 Shutterstock 2/13 1. Stop photos and videos you receive in chats (WhatsApp media) from automatically downloading onto your phone and taking up precious space 3/13 2. Use WhatsApp on your computer just like you do on your phone with the web app "WhatsApp for Desktop." 4/13 3. Mute group conversations if they are very active and interruptive. 5/13 4. Reply directly to a message buried in a thread. 6/13 5. Share and send photos, videos, or GIFs broadly or with specific contacts on WhatsApp on its recently launched status update feature. 7/13 6. Turn off your read receipts. 8/13 7. Switch numbers easily. 9/13 8. Back up your WhatsApp chats and media. 10/13 9. Use Italics, bold, and strikethrough. 11/13 10. Make video calls. 12/13 11. Send a message to multiple contacts at once. 13/13 12. Stop all WhatsApp notifications from interrupting you by popping up on your screen. 1/13 Shutterstock 2/13 1. Stop photos and videos you receive in chats (WhatsApp media) from automatically downloading onto your phone and taking up precious space 3/13 2. Use WhatsApp on your computer just like you do on your phone with the web app "WhatsApp for Desktop." 4/13 3. Mute group conversations if they are very active and interruptive. 5/13 4. Reply directly to a message buried in a thread. 6/13 5. Share and send photos, videos, or GIFs broadly or with specific contacts on WhatsApp on its recently launched status update feature. 7/13 6. Turn off your read receipts. 8/13 7. Switch numbers easily. 9/13 8. Back up your WhatsApp chats and media. 10/13 9. Use Italics, bold, and strikethrough. 11/13 10. Make video calls. 12/13 11. Send a message to multiple contacts at once. 13/13 12. Stop all WhatsApp notifications from interrupting you by popping up on your screen.

​WhatsApp doesn’t appear to have released a statement about the communication blackout, or updated its users on the WhatsApp Status Twitter account.

The outage lasted for around 30 minutes, with UK users reconnected around 9am.

The connection error comes as the iPhone X is released, with users queuing outside Apple's Regent Street shop to pick up latest handset..