If you own an old iPhone and haven’t upgraded in a while, then you might want to consider switching to something new. WhatsApp has just confirmed that it is ending all support for devices running on older Apple operating systems and that’s bad news for owners of three popular devices.
Right now, WhatsApp will load quite happily on any iPhone with iOS 12 or later installed. However, from May 5 that will change with the Meta-owned chat service saying it’s app will only work on call makers with iOS versions 15.1 and newer installed.
“Currently, we provide support for and recommend using the following devices: iPhone running iOS 12 and newer,” WhatsApp explained.
“Starting May 5, 2025, only iOS versions 15.1 and newer will be supported.”
So, what devices will this actually affect?
Luckily, this change only targets those with very old iPhones in their pockets. Devices that can’t upgrade to iOS 15.1 include the iPhone 5s, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.
As long as you own an iPhone 6s or later you should be fine to carry on using WhatsApp – just make sure it’s operating system is fully updated.
Why is WhatsApp making the change?
As time moves on, older devices may struggle to keep up with new features and updates. Rather than allowing the app to perform badly and not get upgrades, WhatsApp would rather people stopped using it.
“Devices and software change often, so we regularly review what operating systems we support and make updates,” WhatsApp added.
“Every year we look at which devices and software are the oldest and have the fewest users. These devices also might not have the latest security updates, or might lack the functionality required to run WhatsApp.”
If you are due an upgrade, then don’t forget that it’s also only the new iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 range that can access Apple Intelligence. This smart feature lets users edit emails and retouch photos automatically. It can also create unique emojis, help organise email inboxes and even tell you what or where something is by pointing the camera at it.
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