WhatsApp will stop supporting Android smartphones running Android OS 5.0 or below and iPhones running iOS 12 and below starting October 24, 2023. This means that these devices will no longer receive updates from WhatsApp, including features and security patches.
To find out if your smartphone will be affected, you can check the operating system version in your phone settings. For Android, go to Settings > About phone > Software information. For iOS, go to Settings > General > About.
Here are the supported operating systems for WhatsApp:
- Android 5.1 and above
- iPhone running iOS 12 and later
- Phones with KaiOS 2.5.0 and above, including JioPhone and JioPhone 2
If you are unable to update your device, you will need to switch to a newer device in order to continue using WhatsApp.
WhatsApp regularly reviews the operating systems it supports to ensure that it can continue to provide the best possible experience for its users. When it stops supporting an operating system, it is typically because the operating system is no longer being widely used or is no longer able to meet WhatsApp’s security requirements.
Related:
- WhatsApp now lets you use two accounts on the same Android phone
- WhatsApp rolls out self-destructing audio messages in Beta
- WhatsApp rolls out password-less Passkey feature for Android users
- WhatsApp is working on Quick Reply Bar for faster replies to images, videos, GIFs
- WhatsApp Introduces New ‘Flows’ Feature for In-App Shopping
