WhatsApp, the popular instant messaging app from Meta, has been working on a lot of new features recently. However, at the same time, the platform has been gearing up to release an update that will drop support for some older iPhone models.
WhatsApp to stop working on older iPhones
As noted by WABetaInfo, the latest beta version of WhatsApp for iPhone introduces a message alert for some older iPhone models. More specifically, an update to be released in May 2025 will drop support for operating system versions prior to iOS 15.1. Currently, WhatsApp works with iOS 12 and later.
“Update to the latest version of iOS to continue using WhatsApp. WhatsApp will stop supporting this version of iOS after 5 May 2025. Please go to Settings > General, then tap Software Update to get the latest iOS version,” the message reads.
In other words, this means that WhatsApp will stop working on the following iPhones:
iPhone 5s
iPhone 6
iPhone 6 Plus
WhatsApp still doesn’t have an official iPad app, except for a beta version that is available to a few users on TestFlight. In this case, next year’s update will drop support for the first generation iPad Air, as well as the iPad mini 2 and 3. The current beta for iPad also requires iPadOS 12 or later.
Developers usually drop support for older versions of iOS so that they can focus on supporting the latest versions with new and improved technologies. Furthermore, according to Apple, only 9% of all iPhones are still running a version prior to iOS 16.
If you have a newer iPhone or iPad that for some reason still runs old software, make sure you update its software to keep using WhatsApp. However, if you have one of the devices listed above, you’ll probably have to buy a new phone.
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