WhatsApp has stopped supporting smartphones running Android 4.4 KitKat and older and iOS 10 and iOS 11 from October 24, 2023. This means that WhatsApp no longer works on older Android phones and iPhones running these older OS versions. WhatsApp said that they have stopped supporting older operating systems to focus on the latest operating systems.
“To choose what to stop supporting, every year we, like other technology companies, look at which devices and software are the oldest and have the fewest number of people still using them. These devices also might not have the latest security updates, or might lack the functionality required to run WhatsApp,” reads the official blog post of WhatsApp.
Meta regularly updates WhatsApp to make it better for current operating systems, adding new features like multi-account switching and additional security measures. Meta encourages users to regularly update WhatsApp to receive these new features and security improvements. Users who do not update WhatsApp run the risk of facing online threats and missing out on new features.
WhatsApp is not working on these phones
The following phones will no longer support WhatsApp:
- Samsung Galaxy S2
- Samsung Galaxy S
- Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1
- Samsung Galaxy Nexus
- Nexus 7
- iPhone 5
- iPhone 5c
- Archos 53 Platinum
- Grand S Flex ZTE
- Grand X Quad V987 ZTE
- Huawei Ascend D
- Huawei Ascend D1
- HTC One
- HTC Desire 500
- HTC Desire HD
- HTC Sensation
- Sony Xperia Z
- Sony Experia Arc 3
- Sony Xperia S2
- LG Optimus G Pro
- LG Optimus 2X
- Motorola Droid Razr
- Motorola Xoom
- Asus Eee Pad Transformer
- Acer Iconia Tab A5003
Specifically, if your device is no longer supported by WhatsApp, you’ll need to update your operating system or get a new device running a newer OS to continue using the app. Otherwise, you won’t be able to send or receive messages, make or receive calls, or use any other WhatsApp features. Additionally, the WhatsApp version installed on the affected devices will not receive any updates including new features and security enhancements.
Meanwhile, WhatsApp has been introducing a number of new features to Android users in recent weeks. The biggest update is the ability to use multiple WhatsApp accounts on a single device instead of installing multiple copies of the app. Additionally, according to WABetaInfo, WhatsApp developers are also testing new features like hiding locked chats along with voice messages and stickers.