WhatsApp to end support for older iPhones – check if yours is affected

If you’re using an older iPhone, you may find that WhatsApp will not work on your device much longer. According to WABetaInfo, a warning message has started appearing for some users, letting them know their device will soon lose access to the popular chat app.

The message reads: “WhatsApp will no longer support versions prior to iOS 15.1. This change applies to both the standard WhatsApp app and WhatsApp Business, as both apps share the same underlying code and system requirements.”

This affects three specific iPhones including the iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6s. These models are all at least 10 years old—the 5s launched in 2013, while the 6 and 6s came out in 2014. Unfortunately, these devices can’t run the iOS 18 software that WhatsApp will soon require. So, when next May rolls around, WhatsApp will stop working on these iPhones.

In a statement, WABetaInfo adds: “Currently, WhatsApp supports iOS 12 and later, but with a future update, the app will require iOS 15.1 or newer to work properly. To help affected users adapt to this change, WhatsApp is providing a five-month notice period, giving them ample time to update their devices if possible or consider alternatives if their hardware does not support newer iOS versions.”

It’s not just iPhones that will be impacted. As 9to5Mac points out, WhatsApp still doesn’t have a proper iPad app—there’s only a beta version available through Apple’s TestFlight. With this upcoming update, the first-gen iPad Air, iPad mini 2, and iPad mini 3 will also lose support. These older tablets can’t run iOS versions beyond 15.1, so they’ll be left behind as well.

Some social media users have already noticed the issue, and have taken to X to air their grievances. One person said: “Is WhatsApp trying to force us to buy/upgrade iPhones or what???,” while another added that it was forcing off the platform.

Is WhatsApp trying to force us to buy/upgrade iPhones or what