WhatsApp is set to stop supporting some smartphones in the period from September 8, 2026, which caused panic among users of older devices. However, this decision is not a surprise since they want to update the requirements on a regular basis.

WhatsApp Raises Android Requirement

WhatsApp announced that they will stop supporting Android 5.0 or 5.1 from September 8 in the company’s Help Center. However, it won’t affect the users at first as they received a notification of the transition before. WhatsApp notified their users that they will stop providing updates to such devices that run on Android 5.0 or 5.1 and request them to upgrade their system to 6.0 or newer.

The company stated that the devices and software update frequently, but it is a normal evaluation of the operating systems it supports. iPhone users don’t have to worry about the updates in September as the requirements for iOS remain at 15.1 but will have to update their software up to 15.5 and above from November 30, 2026, so that owners of iPhones using iOS in between 15.1 to 15.4 will have some time to prepare for the changes.

Why WhatsApp Is Dropping Older Phones?

As mentioned above, WhatsApp is getting an astronomical number of support requests for smartphones that operate on their system they do not support already. The company responded to this deluge of requests by updating their support policy as mentioned on their website. WhatsApp claimed that they stopped supporting older systems with low market share and fewer security updates it receives. Besides, some of these devices do not provide the necessary features to run newer software versions, making it impossible.

What Should The Affected Users Do?

The main advice for those that use older smartphones is that they have to update their operating systems to higher Android 6.0 or new if possible. Therefore, they will not experience a disruptive transition and additional stress.

Business Fortune concludes that, if a person’s device doesn’t have the ability to run updated software, they may have to get a smartphone that is compatible with WhatsApp.

FAQs

Will WhatsApp stop working on Android 5.1?

Yes, the update will also affect Android 5.0 and 5.1 and the company will stop supporting such an update.

Does the update impact all Android phones?

No, the update depends on the operating system, not phone brand. Therefore, people should check what OS versions their devices use.

What Android version will WhatsApp stop supporting?

Android 5.0 and 5.1 will not be supported starting from September 8, 2026.

When will WhatsApp update its requirements for iPhones?

The requirements for iPhones will change with November 30, 2026.

What can I do if my phone cannot be updated? 

You will have to buy a smartphone that is compatible with WhatsApp.