In recent months, there have been reports from a wide range of publications claiming that WhatsApp – the most popular chat program on the planet, with more than two billion users – will drop support for millions devices from the beginning of 2021. This has happened before, because WhatsApp has tried to balance exciting new features to the vast majority of its users by supporting older platforms, such as BlackBerry, to help a minority stay the service use. to keep in touch with friends and family.
According to these worrying new reports, WhatsApp will arrive on January 1, 2021 only supports smartphones running at least iOS 9 on iPhone and Android 4.0.3 or later for Android devices such as the Google Pixel, OnePlus, Samsung Galaxy series and more. Devices that will be affected by such a change in the list of supported devices include the Apple iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S, which are too old to be upgraded to iOS 9 or later.
However, there is one important thing that WhatsApp fans on iOS and Android need to know about this recently released warning. It is not true. Or rather, this is true – but the change that people are so concerned about has already taken place. As the BBC, The Independent and Android Police (to name a few) have already reported, WhatsApp has dropped support for iOS 8 and Android 2.3.7 by the beginning of 2020. As such, users have been living with this for months change.
As of February 1, 2020, WhatsApp has announced that it will only be used on smartphones powered by iOS 9 and Android 4.0.3 or later.
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WhatsApp users will be blocked from the chat program unless they accept new rules
Express.co.uk reported earlier in October 2019 that WhatsApp’s support page has been updated to alert users about these upcoming changes. The WhatsApp support page for iOS said earlier: “WhatsApp for iPhone requires iOS 9 or later. On iOS 8, you can no longer create new accounts or confirm existing accounts. If WhatsApp is currently running on your iOS 8 device, you can use it until 1 February 2020.
“For the best experience, we recommend that you use the latest version of iOS available on your phone.”
So while WhatsApp do requires iOS 9 or Android 4.0.3 – this change is not imminent, it has already happened. Speaking of these changes before it was introduced to billions of users worldwide, WhatsApp said support for a number of devices would be dropped to expand the app’s functionality in the future.
In a previous statement, WhatsApp said: “While these mobile devices have been an important part of our story, they do not provide the capabilities we need to expand the features of our app in the future. It was for us a difficult decision to make, but the right one to give people better ways to keep in touch with friends, family and loved ones using WhatsApp. ‘
So if you have seen an article claiming that your smartphone will lose WhatsApp. Please do not panic. If you can open WhatsApp today on your iPhone or Android phone, you are guaranteed to still be able to open it when the fireworks start on January 1, 2021. This is because the change you were warned about occurred months ago.
In other WhatsApp news, Express.co.uk recently reported that WhatsApp users will have to agree to new terms and conditions that will take effect next February. If WhatsApp users do not agree to these new terms and conditions, they can no longer use the leading chat application. The WhatsApp notice reads: ‘By tapping Agree, you accept the new terms that will take effect on February 8, 2021. After this date, you must accept the new terms and conditions to continue using WhatsApp, or you can always delete your account. . “
It is unclear what the changes mean exactly for users with WhatsApp who previously told Express.co.uk that they do not currently have a statement. However, WhatsApp has confirmed that all users must agree to the new terms by February 8, 2021 if they want to continue using the chat program. A spokesman also told Express.co.uk: “We will update our terms of service and privacy policy as we work to make WhatsApp a great way to get answers or help from a business.”