If your phone is a few years old, you might just be enjoying your last days on WhatsApp instant messaging. As of December 31, the app will no longer support older operating systems.
“To keep pace with the latest technological advances, we regularly stop supporting older operating systems to devote our resources to supporting the most recent systems”, thus justifies the application in its help page. 49 devices are concerned.
Which devices are affected?
WhatsApp specifies that to choose the operating systems to no longer support, the application takes into account those which “have the fewest users under their belt”.
For Iphones, it will now be necessary to have at least IOS 12.1 to be able to use the application. But WhatsApp recommends that users “use the latest version available”. The phone must also be “capable of receiving text messages or calls during the verification process”. According to phoneandroidit is the iPhones 5 and 5C which should no longer be able to use Whatsapp at the start of 2023.
Phones using the Android system will require a version later than Android 4.1, launched in 2012. Again, it is necessary to be able to receive SMS or calls during the verification process in order to benefit from the application. According to Phonandroid, the Samsung Galaxy S2, the Samsung Galaxy S3 mini or the Sony Xperia Neo L are concerned.
How to know?
WhatsApp states that “if we stop supporting your operating system, you will be notified and you will be repeatedly reminded to upgrade your device to continue using WhatsApp”.