WhatsApp is planning to phase out support for few older Android devices as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance performance and security while introducing newer features. The change is expected to take effect later in 2026.
It is reported that the app will stop functioning on smartphones running versions earlier than Android 6.0 from September 8, 2026. This means devices operating on Android 5.0 and 5.1 will no longer meet the minimum system requirements needed to run the platform.
By discontinuing support for older versions, WhatsApp aims to focus on improving overall functionality. Many of these older devices no longer receive software updates, making it increasingly difficult to support modern app requirements.
This move will affect relatively small yet notable segment of users, particularly regions like India, Brazil, Pakistan, and across parts of Southeast Asia and Africa, where older smartphones are still widely used. India remains WhatsApp’s largest market, with over 500 million active users.
To continue using WhatsApp, users will need to upgrade to devices running Android 6.0 or newer. This requirement will apply to both WhatsApp Messenger and WhatsApp Business, affecting all users on unsupported versions.
However, this update is not applicable for Apple devices. iPhones running on iOS 15.1 or later, and iPads on iPadOS 15.1 or newer, will continue to support WhatsApp without disruption.
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