If you have an older iPhone or Android phone, you could completely lose access to WhatsApp or some features in the messaging app from January 1, 2021.
The makers of the messaging app have confirmed that support for older devices will stop in the new year, and for some it may mean that the app will stop working completely. You will only be affected if you do not have iOS 9 or higher on your iPhone or Android 4.0.3 or higher on your Android device.
This means that those with an iPhone 4 or less will not be able to upgrade to the latest software, and some older Android phones will also be affected, such as the Samsung Galaxy S2 released in 2011.
Some WhatsApp users may upgrade their software to higher than iOS 9 or Android 4.0.3 to make sure it is not affected. Therefore, we would recommend looking at what software you have if you are afraid of losing access.
You can do this on an iPhone by checking Settings> General> Software Update to see what software you are using. If you have an Android phone, you can have it in your Institutions, and it will probably be under a section Over the phone.
If you have a higher version of the software than iOS 9 or Android 4.0.3, there are no issues in the new year.
Some with much older devices may not be able to upgrade their software at all, and if it is you, it could mean that you lose access to certain WhatsApp features on January 1st.
If this is the case, or if you completely lose access to the app, you may need to upgrade your phone to get the most out of the app.
Via News 18