WhatsApp To Stop Support for Older iPhone and Android Devices

Highlights

• WhatsApp will stop working on certain older iPhone and Android models.
• The change will be effective 1st October 2024.
• iPhones with iOS versions below 12 and Android phones with versions below 5.0 will lose support.
• Users can either update their phone’s operating system or upgrade to a newer model.

WhatsApp has recently announced that its mobile app will stop working on certain older smartphone models starting 1st October 2024. WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps worldwide with over 2 billion monthly active users. The recent announcement will impact both iPhone and Android users.

According to WhatsApp, the app support will stop for any smartphone that is unable to meet the new software requirements.

System Requirements for WhatsApp

For Android Devices –

• Android phones with Android 5.0 and newer.
• Android phones that can receive SMS messages or calls.

For iPhones –

• iPhones with iOS 12 and newer.
• iPhones that can receive SMS messages or calls.

For the best experience using WhatsApp on iOS, users are advised to update their devices to the latest iOS version available.

WhatsApp also advises not to use jailbroken or unlocked devices. Moreover, the app doesn’t support modified versions of the iPhone operating system.

Smartphones to Lose WhatsApp Support

iPhones

The latest WhatsApp system requirements now cause many older iPhone models to lose the app support. This basically means if you have one of these models, you will no longer be able to run WhatsApp starting 1st October 2024.

Here’s a list of iPhones that won’t be able to run the WhatsApp mobile app –

• iPhone 5
• iPhone SE
• iPhone 5C
• iPhone 6
• iPhone 6 Plus

Android Phones

Several Android users will also be impacted after the latest announcements.

Older Android phones from popular brands such as Samsung, Huawei, Lenovo, Sony, and Motorola will also lose WhatsApp support.

The following are the impacted Android smartphones –

• Samsung’s Galaxy Ace Plus
• Galaxy Core
• Galaxy Express 2
• Huawei’s Ascend P6 S
• Ascend Y625
• Lenovo’s A820
• Sony’s Xperia Z1
• Motorola’s Moto G

What Can Users Do?

With new technological advancements, it often becomes difficult for older hardware to keep up.

If you are using any of the smartphones mentioned above, your WhatsApp will not work from October 1st.

Users facing this issue can either update their phones’ operating systems if possible or else,  upgrade to a newer smartphone model would be the only alternative.

To be able to run WhatsApp smoothly, all you have to do is make sure your device is compatible with WhatsApp’s latest requirements.

FAQs

Which smartphones will lose WhatsApp support starting October 2024?

WhatsApp will stop working on older iPhone models such as iPhone 5, SE, 5C, 6, and 6 Plus, as well as older Android phones from brands like Samsung (Galaxy Ace Plus, Core, Express 2), Huawei (Ascend P6 S, Y625), Lenovo (A820), Sony (Xperia Z1), and Motorola (Moto G).

What can users do if their smartphones are losing WhatsApp support?

Users can either update their phone’s operating system if possible or upgrade to a newer smartphone model to continue using WhatsApp. Ensuring the device meets WhatsApp’s latest system requirements is essential for smooth functionality.

 How to check your software/Android version?

Follow these steps:

• iPhone: Go to Settings > General > About iPhone
• Android: Go to Settings > About phone > Software version

If your phone is on the list, try upgrading to a newer model to maintain security and access to new features.

What are the affected devices with Meta’s new minimum requirements?

The affected devices include:

• Samsung:
  Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy S3 Mini, Galaxy S4 Mini, Galaxy Ace Plus, Galaxy Core, Galaxy Express 2, Galaxy Grand, Galaxy Note 3, and Galaxy S4 Zoom
• Apple:
  iPhone 5, iPhone 6, iPhone SE, iPhone 6S, and iPhone 6S Plus
• Motorola:
  Moto G and Moto X
• Huawei:
  Ascend P6 S, Ascend G525, Huawei C199, Huawei GX1s, and Huawei Y625
• Lenovo:
  Lenovo 46600, Lenovo A858T, Lenovo P70, and Lenovo S890
• Sony:
  Xperia Z1 and Xperia E3
• LG:
  Optimus 4X HD, Optimus G, Optimus G Pro, and Optimus L7

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