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WhatsApp to end support for millions of older Android phones

07:15
By: Azzat Manal
WhatsApp to end support for millions of older Android phones

WhatsApp is preparing to discontinue support for Android smartphones running versions of Google’s operating system older than Android 6.0, with the change scheduled to take effect on September 8, 2026.

The messaging platform, owned by Meta, currently supports Android 5.0 and later. However, the upcoming update will raise the minimum operating system requirement to Android 6.0, meaning devices running Android 5.0 or Android 5.1 will no longer be able to use the application once the new policy takes effect.

According to WABetaInfo, a website that closely follows WhatsApp updates, users will need both a supported version of the application and Android 6.0 or a newer operating system to continue accessing the service.

WhatsApp has been warning affected users about the change since April. A notification displayed when opening the application informs users that WhatsApp will no longer be available on certain older Android versions from September 8.

The decision is expected to affect around 3 million users worldwide, or slightly more, although that represents only a small share of the global Android user base. The move is part of the broader practice among major technology companies of gradually ending support for outdated operating systems as security requirements and software capabilities evolve.

Older smartphones can become increasingly difficult to support because they may lack the technical capabilities required for newer features and security protections. Ending compatibility also allows developers to focus resources on operating systems that remain widely used.

Users with affected devices have been advised to back up their WhatsApp conversations before the deadline. Creating a backup can help protect important messages and other data before access to the application is potentially lost.

Anyone still using an Android 5.0 or 5.1 device should therefore check their operating system version and consider upgrading to a supported smartphone or Android version if possible.

The change illustrates the continuing shift in mobile technology, as messaging and social media platforms increasingly require newer operating systems to maintain security, reliability and compatibility with their latest features.

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