- WhatsApp will stop working on older smartphones as of January 1, including some iPhone and Android devices.
- iPhones running iOS 9 or older and Android devices running Android 4.0.3 will not be able to run WhatsApp, or the app experience may not have some functionality.
- Users who still use older hardware like the iPhone 4 and Galaxy S2 will have to update the operating system, if possible, or consider upgrading to a newer smartphone.
WhatsApp is Facebook’s most popular instant messaging platform and possibly the most popular chat app in the world. Works on phones, tablets and PCs and supports end-to-end encryption. It offers several useful features that make it an indispensable application on your phone, regardless of the operating system, including support for multiple platforms, which allows iPhone users to chat with their Android friends who do not have access to iMessage.
Unfortunately, some devices will no longer be able to run the application from next year. On Friday, January 1, WhatsApp will stop working on some smartphones, including certain Android and iPhone devices.
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iPhones that do not run at least iOS 9 and Android phones that are not on a newer software version than Android 4.0.3 will not run WhatsApp or be able to offer the full WhatsApp experience early next year, per News 18. Last year, the same thing happened when Facebook ended support for iOS 8 and Android 2.3.7 devices.
To avoid losing access to WhatsApp, be sure to update to the latest software version available that your iPhone or Android supports. This should be a simple process for most iPhone users, as Apple has always been much better than Google when it comes to ensuring that all of your devices are supported with software updates years after launch. Even so, iPhone 4 and older devices do not run the latest iOS versions. But if you still operate a 10-year-old phone, you may want to switch to a new device anyway.
For Android users, it’s more complicated. Some of the old Android devices that may still be in use may not run the required version of Android because smartphone vendors have stopped updating them. Even so, you would still have to use a phone that is almost 10 years old. Some of the affected devices include the Galaxy S2 and the Droid Razr.
If you are not sure which operating system you have installed on your old device, you should access the Settings app on your iPhone or Android and look for the software information. Direct the settings > General > Software update on iPhone or settings > About phone on Android to find out if a new version of the operating system is available.
If that is not possible, the only solution is to buy a new phone. You will be able to transfer all your WhatsApp chats to the new device, so you don’t have to worry about losing data in the update process.
Chris Smith started writing about gadgets as a hobby and, before he knew it, was sharing his views on technology with readers around the world. Whenever he’s not writing about gadgets, he fails miserably to stay away from them, although he tries desperately. But this is not necessarily a bad thing.