Meta-owned (formerly Facebook) WhatsApp is one of the most popular instant messaging apps in the world, and the company often adds new features to the app. Older operating systems may not support new functionalities, therefore newer versions will not work on older platforms.
It also costs money to support older operating systems, and this makes no sense if only a small percentage of people work on older platforms.
WhatsApp has started warning iPhone users on iOS 10 and iOS 11 to upgrade to iOS 12 or later to continue using the app. Otherwise, the app will stop working on their phones after October 24.
In case you’re wondering, the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5c are the two phones running iOS 10 and iOS 11 and are not eligible for another OS upgrade. Since these devices came out about ten years ago, it’s safe to assume that not many people use them anymore. According to a January report, 72 percent of compatible iPhone models released in the past four years run on iOS 15.
Consumers who have the iPhone 5S, iPhone 6 or iPhone 6S can continue to use the app for now. If you are an Android user, your phone must be on OS 4.1 or newer.
It’s best to upgrade if your phone is no longer supported by security updates or you’ll be at risk. If your budget is tight, there are plenty of cheap options nearby. Check out our list of the best budget phones of 2022 to learn more.
Otherwise, you can always look for WhatsApp alternatives or make do with simple text messages.