- WhatsApp ends support for older iOS and Android smartphones in an annual purge
- This year the messaging platform will reportedly stop working on smartphones that are not running at least iOS 9 or Android 4.0.3
- To continue using WhatsApp, you’ll have to upgrade to these operating systems
WhatsApp will stop working on smartphones running operating systems older than iOS 9 and Android 4.0.3 in 2021. The messaging platform will become incompatible with older phones soon. That means you’ll have to upgrade to a newer operating system to continue using WhatsApp. This is part of the company’s drive to remove older devices that boot dated operating systems and do not comply with the latest security and updates of the messaging platform. Last year, WhatsApp became incompatible with smartphones running iOS 8 or older and Android phones with 2.3.7 version or older. Here’s a list of smartphones that will not support WhatsApp by the end of this year.
Also read: WhatsApp OTP scam: what is it, how it affects you, and how to protect yourself
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iPhones that’ll lose WhatsApp access in 2021
iPhones older than iPhone 4 will not run WhatsApp starting next year. You’ll need at least iOS 9 or later to continue using the social messaging app. If you’re wondering which devices they will be, the list includes iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPhone 5S, iPhone 5C, iPhone 6, iPhone 6S, iPhone 7 series, iPhone 8 series, iPhone X, iPhone XS series, iPhone XR, iPhone SE 2020, iPhone 11 series, and the latest iPhone 12 lineup.
These Android phones will run out WhatsApp
Phones that do not have Android 4.0.3 will lose access to WhatsApp. These include models like HTC Desire, LG Optimus Black, Motorola Droid Razr, and Samsung Galaxy S2, among others that were launched around 2012.
Some users may still continue to use WhatsApp on their older smartphones as their operating systems may have received a patch with an update. However, for others, the only option is to dump the old phone and buy a new smartphone altogether provided their handset cannot be upgraded to a newer OS version.
If you don’t know which operating system your Android or iOS smartphone is running, you can head to settings and perform these actions:
- Android Users: Settings > About System or About Device
- iPhone users: Go to Settings > General > Information
