Check Your Phone Now: WhatsApp Ends Support for Older iPhones and Androids
WhatsApp, the messaging powerhouse, will cease to operate on older smartphones starting today. As technology swiftly marches forward, not all devices can keep up. This shift affects iPhones released in 2014 or earlier, eliminating compatibility with versions unable to update to iOS 15.1. In parallel, Android users might recall the turmoil from January when the app stopped supporting devices running on the antique KitKat OS—this too applies to phones unable to upgrade to Android OS 5.0.
Is Your iPhone Affected?
For iPhone loyalists clutching onto their vintage devices, the time has come to check whether their models are on the endangered list. The unlucky models? iPhone 5s, 6, and 6 Plus top them. If you happen to own these classics, without the ability to upgrade, they remain vulnerable to glitches and security risks. The writing on the wall: consider an upgrade.
Android Phones: Check Your Models
Meanwhile, Android users are no strangers to redundancy. January 1 of this year first saw the app’s detachment from Android’s KitKat OS. Iconic models like Samsung Galaxy S3 and the original Moto G could no longer host WhatsApp. Moreover, devices such as HTC One X and Sony Xperia Z endure a similar fate. Without newer software, security patches remain out of reach, leaving nostalgic users in the lurch.
Why Withdraw Support?
Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, strategizes these exclusionary moves to streamline support and fortify security. The aim: refocus resources on active technologies to ensure app reliability and safety. Devices can become outdated swiftly, lacking ability to integrate necessary security features and run sophisticated applications.
What Can Users Do?
Unsure if your device is endangered? Easy checks can confirm your system version—on iPhones, delve into ‘Settings’, discover ‘General’, then pinpoint ‘iOS Version’. Android adherents, you’ll find your ‘Android Version’ nestled within ‘About Phone’.
To preserve beloved chats and ensure continuity, migration to modern devices is recommended. Backup tools enable seamless chat and data transfer, with WhatsApp providing guidance through its intuitive ‘Chat Backup’ located in ‘Settings’. Changes, while unwelcome to some, are driven by the necessity for security and functionality.
Alas, the era for some beloved devices draws to a close. According to Metro.co.uk, these changes ensure innovation prevails in our hands. Keep those connections clear by embracing newer models and staying updated with WhatsApp’s evolution.
