WhatsApp users are in for a major shock. In fact, the instant messaging platform will cease to function on several phones starting this September. Find out here if your phone happens to be included in this list.
WhatsApp frequently introduces new features to enhance the user experience on its platform. However, to access WhatsApp’s latest features, it is essential that your app is updated to the most recent version. According to the latest reports, WhatsApp is soon going to discontinue support for older versions of the Android operating system. Yes, if you use WhatsApp on an older Android phone, your device might be included in this list, and WhatsApp could stop working on your phone in the coming months. Let’s look at all the details regarding this matter.
According to a recent report by WABetaInfo, WhatsApp has started issuing in-app alerts to accounts operating on older OS versions. These alerts state that, starting September 8, 2026, WhatsApp will no longer be available on various devices running on older operating systems. Users who wish to continue using WhatsApp are advised to update their application to the latest version.
WhatsApp Will Not Work on These Devices
According to the in-app alert, starting this September, WhatsApp will cease to function on Android devices running on Android 6.0 or any older version. Until now, WhatsApp has supported Android 5.0 and newer versions; however, this will no longer be the case starting in September. WhatsApp will not work on devices running on Android versions older than 6.0.
Which WhatsApp Version Are You Running? Here’s How to Check
Why Did WhatsApp Decide to End Support for Older Versions?
It is worth noting that this is not the first time WhatsApp has announced that it is discontinuing support for older versions of the Android operating system. The company has previously ceased support for older OS versions as well. Manufacturers often stop providing security patch updates for older Android smartphones, thereby exposing the devices’ security and user privacy to risk. Such devices can be easily hacked by cybercriminals. WhatsApp is no longer limited merely to chatting.
WhatsApp also stores a significant amount of sensitive information. If the devices running the application are not secure, the user’s WhatsApp account itself could be compromised, and the likelihood of data leaks increases. For this very reason, WhatsApp now extends its support only to those devices that meet the latest security standards.
