WhatsApp bids farewell to older Android versions: usage ending on millions of devices
As of September 8, 2026, WhatsApp will no longer work on phones running Android 5.0 and 5.1 operating systems. A backup warning has been issued to ensure users do not lose access to their data.
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Popular instant messaging service WhatsApp has announced that it will end support for older Android operating systems as part of a new decision. According to the information provided by the company, users of smartphones based on Android 5.0 and Android 5.1 will not be able to access WhatsApp starting from September 8, 2026.
This change covers both the classic WhatsApp application and the WhatsApp Business version preferred by enterprises. To continue using the messaging app after September 8, devices will need to have at least Android 6.0 installed.
Company officials recommend that users perform a backup to ensure their messaging history is not lost. It is advised to use Google Drive or the device's local backup function to prevent existing chats from disappearing. Continuing to use WhatsApp on phones with these versions will only be possible if the operating system is updated or if the user switches to a newer device.
There have been no changes for users with Apple devices. The platform will continue to operate seamlessly on all iPhone and iPad models running iOS 15.1 and iPadOS 15.1 or higher.
The reason behind this discontinuation of support is that WhatsApp's new technical functions are incompatible with older generation systems. In particular, new features currently being developed, such as "notification bubbles" and interface improvements, have made changes to minimum system requirements inevitable.
WhatsApp emphasized that technological innovations require next-generation operating systems to improve user experience and increase the security of the application. For this reason, support for devices with older operating systems will officially come to an end.