WhatsApp will stop on these phones permanently!
As of May 5, 2025, WhatsApp will stop supporting older smartphones that do not run at least iOS 15.1 or Android 5.0 (Lollipop).
This decision includes both the regular app and the WhatsApp Business version, and is related to the launch of new features such as 'Meta AI', which require modern operating systems.
If you are using a phone with an old operating system, you will not be able to send or receive messages after this date. However, WhatsApp assures that users will receive a prior notification before the service is discontinued. The company stated: "We review annually the devices and software that are no longer widely used or do not support the necessary security updates to run WhatsApp properly."
To protect your conversations from being lost, it is recommended to back up your data via iCloud for iPhone devices or Google Drive for Android devices. If your phone cannot be updated to a higher version, upgrading to a newer phone may be the only solution. Currently, there are many affordable phone options available that support the new requirements for the WhatsApp application.
Affected phones from this update: iPhone devices: WhatsApp will no longer work on iPhone devices running iOS 15.1 or later. The following devices will be excluded from support due to being stuck on iOS 12.5.7: iPhone 5s iPhone 5c iPhone 6 iPhone 6 Plus Android devices: As of January 1, 2025, WhatsApp will no longer support Android devices running versions lower than 5.0. The following devices from major companies are no longer compatible: Samsung: Galaxy S3 Galaxy Note 2 Galaxy Ace 3 Galaxy S4 Mini Motorola: Moto G (1st generation) Moto E (2014 version) Razr HD HTC: One X One X+ Desire 500 Desire 601 LG: Optimus G Nexus 4 G2 Mini L90 Sony: Xperia Z Xperia SP Xperia T Xperia V
If you have one of these devices, you won't be able to use WhatsApp unless you can update the system to Android 5.0 or newer. To check your operating system version: iPhone: Settings → General → About → iOS Version Android: Settings → About phone → Android Version