- WhatsApp will stop working on older smartphones from 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 lack some functionality.
- Users who still use older hardware such as the iPhone 4 and Galaxy S2 should, if possible, upgrade their operating system or consider upgrading to a newer smartphone.
WhatsApp is Facebook’s most popular chat platform and possibly the most popular chat app in the world. It works on phones, tablets and PCs, and has end-to-end encryption support. It offers several handy features that make it a must-have app on your phone, regardless of operating system, including cross-platform support, 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 app from next year. Come Friday 1
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iPhones that do not run at least iOS 9 and Android phones that are not on a software version newer than Android 4.0.3, do not run WhatsApp or can offer the full WhatsApp experience at the beginning of next year, pr. News 18. Last year, the same thing happened when Facebook ended support for devices running iOS 8 and Android 2.3.7.
To avoid losing access to WhatsApp, be sure to upgrade to the latest available software version your iPhone or Android supports. It should be a simple process for most iPhone users, since Apple has always been much better than Google in ensuring that all their devices are supported with software updates years after their launch. Still, iPhone 4 and older devices do not run newer iOS versions. However, if you are still using a 10 year old phone, you may want to consider moving on to a new device anyway.
For Android users, it is more complicated. Some of the old Android handsets that may still be in use may not be running the required Android version because smartphone vendors stopped updating them. Still, you still need to use a phone that is almost 10 years old. Some of the affected devices include Galaxy S2 and Droid Razr.
If you are unsure of which operating system you have installed on your old device, go to the Settings app on iPhone or Android and look for software information. Pulls towards Settings > General > Software update on iPhone, or Settings > About the phone on Android to find out if a new version of the operating system is available.
If this is not possible, the only solution is to get a new phone. You will be able to transfer all WhatsApp chats to the new device so that you do not have to worry about losing data in the process of upgrading.
Chris Smith began writing about gadgets as a hobby, and before he knew it, he was sharing his views on technical matters with readers around the world. Every time he does not write about gadgets, he fails to stay away from them, even though he desperately tries. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
