WhatsApp will soon drop support for another round of older versions of iOS and Android. As described in WhatsApp’s recently updated System requirements, you must have a device using at least iOS 9 or Android 4.0.3 to access WhatsApp after January 1, 2021.
Well-known devices that will lose WhatsApp support next year include the iPhone 4, Samsung Galaxy S2 and the Droid Razr.
WhatsApp’s move is hardly surprising. All the technology is being left behind at some point, and it now seems to be an annual tradition for WhatsApp. Last year, the company removed even older Android devices, iPhones, and all Windows phones from its list of supported devices, and we suspect there will be another round of cuts in twelve months.
These changes are likely due to Facebook’s recent integration of WhatsApp, Messenger and Instagram instant messaging into a single platform platform service that does not play nicely with older operating systems.
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That said, most affected devices are about ten years old and are no longer self-supported with OS updates. So if you’re still grabbing an old iPhone, it might be another sign that it’s time to upgrade.
If your device is still eligible but the operating system is not, you will need to update your smartphone to meet the new WhatsApp requirements. You can check your Android version and see if there are any updates available under Settings> About Phone. iPhone users can do the same in Settings> General> Software Update.
If the operating system of your device is too low and no update is available, it may also be worthwhile to explore WhatsApp alternatives if you do not feel like buying a new phone. We can not guarantee that other chat apps will also support your super-old smartphone, but it’s worth investigating if WhatsApp shuts you down.
This article was originally published in December 2019 and updated on December 30, 2020 with new WhatsApp requirements.
[BGR]