WhatsApp will stop working on smartphones and tablets running Android 5.0 or 5.1 starting September 8, 2026. Users with older devices will receive a pop-up message alerting them about this change and requesting to back up their chats and other WhatsApp data. Only devices running Android 6.0 and above will be supported. However, this change does not impact iOS users.
WhatsApp to Drop Support for Versions Older Than Android 6.0
This detail comes from the latest report by WABetaInfo, which shared an image showing the alert message that users will get who still use WhatsApp on older devices running on Android 5.0 or 5.1. The alert clearly states that, "Later this year, WhatsApp won't work on this device", and further explains the reason for it.
Users who continue to use the outdated version won't be able to send or receive messages after September 8th. This shift is necessary as the platform continues to add new features that might not be properly supported on older Android versions.
It is also worth noting that Android 5.0 (codename: Lollipop) launched back in 2014, and it is already over 11 years old by now, and we are heading towards the stable release of Android 17 already.
So, if users want to continue using WhatsApp, then it is highly suggested that they update their devices to a newer version (if supported) or move to another phone. That said, this update will not have an impact on Apple users since WhatsApp continues to support iOS 15.1 and later smartphones.
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