WhatsApp Will No Longer Work on These Phones! Is Your Device on the List?

Meta has ended support for older Android and iPhone models. Service stopped on several devices starting September 8; check the list immediately and learn how to keep your phone active.

Meta recently clarified that WhatsApp will stop working on phones running versions older than Android 6.0 starting September 8, 2026. This means phones running Android 5.0 and 5.1 will not be able to send or receive WhatsApp messages after this date. The company stated that while iPhone users will not be affected by this specific change, it will impact many older phones. If you are using an older phone, this news is important for you, as your device might be on the list.

Which phones will lose WhatsApp support?

WhatsApp has announced that the app will stop working on phones running Android 5.0 or older versions, as well as iPhones running iOS 15.1 or older software. The company explains that these older devices can no longer support security updates and new features, which is why they are being removed from the supported list.

This change will affect older models such as the iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus. Additionally, the list includes many older phones from Samsung, LG, Motorola, Sony, Huawei, and HTC—devices launched years ago that no longer receive updates.

Why was this decision made?

Meta (WhatsApp's parent company) evaluates annually which devices and software are the oldest and how few users still utilize them. The company states that older phones often lack essential security patches, potentially putting user data at risk. Furthermore, these phones often lack the processing power to run new WhatsApp features effectively. For these reasons, certain older models are removed from the support list each year.

When will the new rule come into effect?

According to reports, the company has set January 1, 2026, as the cut-off date. This means that after December 31, WhatsApp may stop functioning normally on these older phones. While the app will not be deleted abruptly, users will start experiencing issues.

What should you do if your phone is on this list?

If your phone is on this list, first check whether your device can be updated to a newer software version. Often, simply updating the software via the settings resolves the issue. If the phone cannot be updated, WhatsApp recommends that users switch to a newer, supported device.