Over the years, WhatsApp has made consistent efforts to support older iOS versions. This ensured that millions of people could use the platform without upgrading to a new iPhone. Well, the baseline requirements for WhatsApp support on iOS are changing, and WhatsApp will soon stop working on older iOS versions.
WhatsApp Will Stop Working on Older iPhones
Reported first by WABetaInfo, WhatsApp is sending a notification to Apple iPhones running iOS 15.4 or older, asking them to update their iOS version to continue using WhatsApp. The message contains a Learn more button, which takes users to a support page which states that WhatsApp for iOS will stop working on iOS 15.4 and lower starting from November 30, 2026.
The platform is raising its minimum requirements to iOS 15.5 and iPadOS 15.5. For those unaware, iOS 15.5 is a minor update that's fully compatible with any iPhone that already runs iOS 15.
This means that users seeing this message can easily upgrade through their iPhone's settings to continue using WhatsApp without being forced to purchase a completely new phone. The same cutoff also applies to WhatsApp Business and WhatsApp Messenger apps.
The announcement arrives as Apple announces iOS 27, with huge strides in AI features with Siri AI, more customisable Liquid Glass UI and AI tools. Coming back to WhatsApp, those who own an iPhone running iOS 15.4 or lower can go to Settings > General > Software update and update their iPhone to the latest version to avoid any disruptions, and enjoy the upcoming dedicated Contacts Hub WhatsApp features.
That said, Meta will soon start charging for WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram. The premium version will be rebranded to WhatsApp Plus. According to a recent WhatsApp Plus features leak, the premium version could bring more themes, the ability to PIN more chats and add more ringtones to the mix.
