Meta has announced that its messaging platform WhatsApp will cease to function on devices running Android 5, with the application now requiring Android 6 or later as of September 8. The company will also raise the minimum iPhone requirement to iOS 15.5 on November 30. Users of older devices are advised to check their installed operating system version and any available updates.
The transition will occur in two stages. From September 8, the application will only be compatible with devices running Android 6 or later.
On November 30, it will be the turn of iPhone users: the minimum requirement will move from iOS 15.1 to iOS 15.5, though this change will not render any entire generation of iPhone models incompatible. Users of the iPhone 6s and iPhone 7 will simply need to update their devices.
According to WhatsApp, the periodic revision of supported operating systems is intended to allow the application to keep pace with technological and security advances. The company states that it sends warnings to affected users before discontinuing support and recommends updating devices where possible.
Android
From September 8, devices remaining on Android 5.0 or 5.1 will no longer be able to use WhatsApp. Android 6 was launched in 2015. WhatsApp does not publish an official list of affected models, but notes that compatibility depends on the minimum system version, ‘which means the same model may or may not be affected, depending on the version of Android installed and the updates made available by the manufacturer.’
Among the older devices associated with Android 5 that may be affected are the following:
Google: Nexus 4, Nexus 7 (2012), Nexus 10.
Motorola: Moto G (1st generation), Moto G 4G, Moto X (1st generation), Moto E (1st generation), Moto E (2nd generation, in some versions).
Samsung: Galaxy S4 and variants, Galaxy Note 3 and Note 3 Neo, Galaxy S5 Mini, Galaxy Grand Prime.
Sony: Xperia Z, Xperia Z1, Xperia Z1 Compact, Xperia Z Ultra, Xperia E3, Xperia M2, Xperia T3.
LG: LG G2 and G2 Mini, LG G3 Stylus, LG L Prime, LG L Fino.
What about iPhones?
For Apple devices, the change will be different. WhatsApp currently requires iOS 15.1 or later, but from November 30 it will require iOS 15.5 or later.
‘This means some users will only need to update their system. There is currently no new generation of iPhone models that will be permanently left without WhatsApp as a result of this change,’ Meta stated, adding that ‘devices capable of running iOS 15.1 are also capable of receiving iOS 15.5. iOS 15.5 is compatible with the iPhone 6s and later models.’
Among the models that may be affected if they have not been updated are: iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone SE (1st generation), iPhone 7, and iPhone 7 Plus.
These devices continue to receive updates within the iOS 15 line. Apple, for example, made iOS 15.8.8 available for the iPhone 6s, iPhone 7, and first-generation iPhone SE in May 2026. Older models such as the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, and iPhone 5s cannot be updated to iOS 15.5. However, they are already outside WhatsApp’s current requirements, which have required iOS 15.1 or later since the previous change.
These models will therefore not be affected by a new interruption in November, as they are already incompatible with the application.
How to check whether your device will be affected
On Android: Open ‘Settings’ and look for ‘About phone’ or ‘About device’. Depending on the manufacturer, you may need to access ‘Software information’. Check the Android version. If the device is running Android 5.0 or 5.1, confirm whether an update is available. If no update is available, you will need to replace the device in order to continue using WhatsApp from today.
On iPhone: Open ‘Settings’ > ‘General’ > ‘About’ and look for the iOS version. If the device is running between iOS 15.1 and iOS 15.4, it may be possible to update to a later version, provided an update is available for that model. Apple keeps the iPhone 6s and later models among those compatible with the iOS 15 line.
To check for an update, go to ‘Settings’ > ‘General’ > ‘Software Update’. Before replacing a device or updating the operating system, users should back up their conversations so that their chat history can be restored on a compatible device, provided the backup is available and the transfer process is completed correctly.
WhatsApp states that it typically notifies users before discontinuing support for a given operating system version.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/?p=537836
