WhatsApp ends support for older Android devices

WhatsApp has officially ended support for smartphones running Android 5.0 Lollipop and Android 5.1 Lollipop. The change, which took effect following a September 8 deadline, affects both the standard WhatsApp Messenger and WhatsApp Business applications.

To continue using the service, users must now have a device running Android 6.0 Marshmallow or a more recent version. Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, stated that maintaining support for older operating systems makes it increasingly difficult to implement new features and essential security measures. Older versions often lack the technical capabilities required for modern app functions.

While Android 6.0 is currently the minimum requirement, users on that version are also cautioned that the operating system is aging and may no longer receive regular security updates. Users unable to upgrade their software may need to transition to newer hardware to maintain access to the messaging service. WhatsApp recommends that users back up their chats to Google Drive or internal storage before switching devices.