WhatsApp is about to stop working on older phone models like Apple, Samsung, and Huawei.
The world’s most popular messaging service will end support for 49 different smartphone models on December 31.
“Devices and software change often, so we regularly review the operating systems we support and make updates,” WhatsApp said.
“These devices may also lack the latest security updates or lack the features required to run WhatsApp.”
“To choose what to stop supporting, every year, like other tech companies, we look at which devices and software are the oldest and have the fewest people still using them.”
That doesn’t mean WhatsApp will stop working entirely on those older phones — it just means the company won’t support them with updates. Thus, bugs and other issues may arise over time without a fix being available.
Likewise, you will not have access to any new WhatsApp features that will be released.
If you can, it may be possible to update the operating system on your old device and continue using WhatsApp as normal.
If your device cannot be updated to a recent version of the operating system, you will need to purchase a newer phone.
All WhatsApp smartphones will stop supporting on December 31, 2022
Here’s the full list of phones that won’t be able to run WhatsApp properly after next week:
- iPhone 5
- Phone 5c
- Archos 53 Platinum
- Grand S Flex ZTE
- Grand X Quad V987 ZTE
- HTC Desire 500
- Huawei Ascend D
- Huawei Ascend D1
- Huawei Ascend D2
- Huawei Ascend G740
- Huawei Ascend Mate
- Huawei Ascend P1
- Quad XL
- Lenovo A820
- LG Adopt
- LG Lucid 2
- LG Optimus 4X HD
- LG Optimus F3
- LG Optimus F3Q
- LG Optimus F5
- LG Optimus F6
- LG Optimus F7
- LG Optimus L2II
- LG Optimus L3 II
- LG Optimus L3 II Dual
- LG Optimus L4 II
- LG Optimus L4 II Dual
- LG Optimus L5
- LG Optimus L5 Dual
- LG Optimus L5II
- LG Optimus L7
- LG Optimus L7II
- LG Optimus L7 II Dual
- LG Optimus Nitro HD
- ZTE V956 Memo
- Samsung Galaxy Ace 2
- Samsung Galaxy Core
- Galaxy S2
- mini samsung galaxy
- Samsung Galaxy Trend II
- Samsung Galaxy Trend Lite
- Samsung Galaxy Xcover 2
- Sony Xperia Arc S
- Sony Xperia miro
- Sony Xperia Neo L
- Wiko Cink Five
- Wiko Darknight ZT
WhatsApp recommends Apple’s iOS 9 and above, and Android v4.3 and above, for continued support.
Any phone running Android 4.3 or lower, and iOS 9 or lower, will not run WhatsApp reliably after December 31, 2022. The platform has already ended support for smartphones running Android 2.3.7 and iOS 8 in February this year.
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