{"id":27971,"date":"2025-09-09T12:57:26","date_gmt":"2025-09-09T10:57:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/?p=27971"},"modified":"2026-03-12T09:53:16","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T07:53:16","slug":"whatsapp-stops-working-older-smartphones","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/whatsapp-stops-working-older-smartphones\/","title":{"rendered":"WhatsApp to Stop Working on Older Smartphones"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>WhatsApp, one of the world\u2019s most popular messaging apps, will stop working on several older smartphones starting June 1, 2025. This change is part of WhatsApp\u2019s regular updates to improve app security, performance, and add new features. However, it means that users with certain older phone models will no longer be able to send messages, make calls, or access the app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><h2>Table of contents<\/h2><ul><li><a href=\"#why-is-whatsapp-ending-support-for-some-phones\" data-level=\"2\">Why Is WhatsApp Ending Support for Some Phones?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#which-phones-are-affected\" data-level=\"2\">Which Phones Are Affected?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#how-to-check-your-phones-operating-system-version\" data-level=\"2\">How to Check Your Phone\u2019s Operating System Version<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#preparing-for-the-change\" data-level=\"2\">Preparing for the Change<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#why-security-and-features-matter\" data-level=\"2\">Why Security and Features Matter<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#what-happens-if-you-dont-upgrade\" data-level=\"2\">What Happens If You Don\u2019t Upgrade?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#summary\" data-level=\"2\">Summary<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#alternatives-and-other-messaging-apps\" data-level=\"2\">Alternatives and Other Messaging Apps<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#the-broader-impact\" data-level=\"2\">The Broader Impact<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"why-is-whatsapp-ending-support-for-some-phones\">Why Is WhatsApp Ending Support for Some Phones?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>WhatsApp regularly reviews the software requirements for its app. As new security measures and features are developed, they require more advanced operating systems and hardware. Older smartphones often cannot support these updates because their systems are outdated or no longer receive manufacturer updates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By ending support for these older models, WhatsApp can focus on enhancing the user experience on newer devices, ensuring better security and smoother app performance for the billions of users worldwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-2455359037\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"which-phones-are-affected\">Which Phones Are Affected?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The minimum operating system requirements for WhatsApp starting from June 1, 2025, are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>iPhones running iOS 15.1 or later<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Android phones running Android 5.1 (Lollipop) or later<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Phones that do not meet these requirements will lose WhatsApp functionality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>READ MORE:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/iphone-vs-samsung-which-smartphone-reigns\/\">iPhone vs. Samsung: Which Smartphone Reigns Supreme for You in 2025?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Affected iPhone Models<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>iPhone 5s<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>iPhone 6<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>iPhone 6 Plus<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These models support only up to iOS 12.5.7 or similar and cannot update to iOS 15.1 or above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-2474879006\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Affected Android Models<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Samsung Galaxy S4<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Samsung Galaxy Note 3<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sony Xperia Z1<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>LG G2<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Huawei Ascend P6<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Motorola Moto G (1st Gen)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Motorola Moto E (2014)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Motorola Razr HD<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>HTC One X and some other older HTC models<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Any phone running Android 5.0 (Lollipop) or earlier is not supported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-to-check-your-phones-operating-system-version\">How to Check Your Phone\u2019s Operating System Version<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>For iPhone users:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Go to Settings > General > About > Software Version<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>For Android users:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Go to Settings > About Phone > Android Version<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Knowing your current operating system is important to check if your device supports WhatsApp after June 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-2184750274\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"preparing-for-the-change\">Preparing for the Change<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If your phone is on the list or running an unsupported operating system, here are steps to take:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Upgrade your phone:<\/strong> Consider purchasing a newer smartphone that supports iOS 15.1+ or Android 5.1+.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Backup your chats:<\/strong> Open WhatsApp, go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup, and back up your messages to iCloud for iPhones or Google Drive for Android phones.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Restore on new device:<\/strong> After switching phones, you can restore your chat history from the cloud backup on the new device.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>This preparation helps avoid losing important messages and media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"why-security-and-features-matter\">Why Security and Features Matter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>WhatsApp emphasises security features like end-to-end encryption to keep messages safe. Older phones <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ewn.co.za\/2025\/06\/02\/whatsapp-stops-working-on-several-iphone-and-android-devices\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cannot securely<\/a> support these features due to limitations in their software and hardware. Also, new app capabilities such as video calling improvements, multi-device support, and artificial intelligence features are only compatible with newer systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Removing support for outdated devices also reduces risks of cyber threats and allows WhatsApp to maintain a consistent, reliable experience for its users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-899948348\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-happens-if-you-dont-upgrade\">What Happens If You Don\u2019t Upgrade?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If the app is not supported on your current phone:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>WhatsApp will stop working<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You will not be able to send or receive messages or calls<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your chat history won\u2019t be accessible through the app (unless backed up earlier)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Users are strongly encouraged to upgrade or switch to alternative messaging apps if upgrading is not possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"summary\">Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>WhatsApp is ending support for older smartphones <a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/technology\/tech-news\/whatsapp-will-not-work-on-these-iphones-and-android-smartphones-after-may-31-check-if-yours-is-in-the-list\/articleshow\/121539133.cms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">from<\/a> June 1, 2025, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ndtv.com\/offbeat\/whatsapp-will-stop-working-on-these-phones-is-yours-on-the-list-8820488\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">to enhance<\/a> security and user experience. Devices running iOS below 15.1 and Android below 5.1 will no longer work with the app. Users should check their phone\u2019s operating system version, back up chats, and plan to upgrade devices to avoid losing access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-1739578411\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"alternatives-and-other-messaging-apps\">Alternatives and Other Messaging Apps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If upgrading a phone is not an immediate option, messaging apps like Telegram may still support older devices but usually with fewer users. It is important to check the compatibility of these apps on your phone\u2019s app store.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>ALSO READ: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/whatsapp-to-evolve-a-workplace-comms\/\">WhatsApp to Evolve into a Workplace Communication Powerhouse, Competing with Teams and Zoom<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-broader-impact\">The Broader Impact<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>WhatsApp has over 3.5 billion users globally. In South Africa and <a href=\"https:\/\/economictimes.indiatimes.com\/magazines\/panache\/whatsapp-shutting-down-permanently-on-these-iphones-and-android-devices-is-your-phone-on-the-list\/articleshow\/121546687.cms?from=mdr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">many other<\/a> countries, older smartphones are still common due to budget constraints or long device lifespans. This change may require many users to update their technology to continue enjoying WhatsApp\u2019s services without interruption.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>WhatsApp ends support for iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, Galaxy S4 and other older phones from June 1, 2025. Learn how to prepare and back up chats today.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":27983,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_focus_keyword":"","rank_math_title":"","rank_math_description":"WhatsApp ends support for iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, Galaxy S4 and other older phones from June 1, 2025. Learn how to prepare and back up chats today.","footnotes":""},"categories":[3298],"tags":[2948,9736,9922,891],"class_list":{"0":"post-27971","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-technology","8":"tag-cybersecurity","9":"tag-smartphone","10":"tag-tech-news-2","11":"tag-whatsapp"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27971","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27971"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27971\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28010,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27971\/revisions\/28010"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27983"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27971"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27971"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27971"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}