WhatsApp will soon drop support for another round of older versions of iOS and Android. As described in the recent update of WhatsApp System requirements, you must have a device running at least iOS 9 or Android 4.0.3 to access WhatsApp after January 1, 2021.
Notable devices that lose WhatsApp support next year include iPhone 4, Samsung Galaxy S2 and Droid Razr.
Moving WhatsApp is not at all surprising. All the technology lags behind at one point, and now it seems to be an annual tradition for WhatsApp. Last year, the company removed Android devices, iPhones and all older Windows phones from the list of supported devices, and we suspect there will be another round of discounts in twelve months.
These changes are probably due to Facebook’s recent integration of WhatsApp, Messenger and Instagram direct messages into a single cross-platform service that doesn’t play well with older operating systems.
G / O Media may receive a commission
That being said, most of the affected devices are about ten years old and are no longer supported with operating system updates. So if you still have an old iPhone, it could be another sign that it’s time to upgrade.
If your device is still eligible, but its operating system isn’t, make sure you update your smartphone to meet the new WhatsApp requirements. You can also check your Android version for updates Settings> About phone. IPhone users can do the same in Settings> General> Software Update.
If your device’s operating system is too low and no updates are available, you may want to look into WhatsApp alternatives if you’re not in the mood to buy a new phone. We can’t guarantee that other chat apps will support your very old smartphone, but it’s worth exploring if WhatsApp interrupts you.
This article was originally published in December 2019 and updated on December 30, 2020 with new WhatsApp requirements.
[BGR]