[REVISION HISTORY]

WhatsApp minimum operating system requirement updates

Updated 7 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-24 14:01 UTC → 2026-10-07 10:53 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Meta has implemented new minimum technical and security requirements for WhatsApp, resulting in the service becoming unavailable on several older smartphone models. The company stated these updates are necessary to implement “advanced privacy tools, data encryption, and artificial intelligence features” and to keep pace with security protocols. As of September 8, 2026, support for older Android devices has officially ended. Users running Android 5.0 or 5.1 (Lollipop) can no longer send or receive messages, nor can they make voice or video calls. The platform now requires at least Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) to maintain service. This affects both WhatsApp Messenger and WhatsApp Business, impacting older hardware such as the Samsung Galaxy S3, S4 Mini, and Note 2, alongside various Motorola, LG, Huawei, and Sony Xperia models. For Apple users, the transition to higher operating system requirements is set to begin on November 30, 2026. WhatsApp will require iOS 15.5 or later to function, raising the threshold from the previous minimum of iOS 15.1. This change specifically impacts the iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone SE (1st generation), iPhone 7, and iPhone 7 Plus. Older hardware, such as the iPhone 5, 5c, 5s, 6, and 6 Plus, may lose access if they are unable to run the required iOS 15.5 software. ~~Following social media reports regarding a potential mass loss of access on September 30,~~ Meta ~~clarified that no such general compatibility change~~ is ~~scheduled for that date. Meta noted that compatibility depends on~~ rolling out these restrictions via server-side updates, meaning users may encounter login restrictions even without downloading a new version of the ~~installed~~ application. When an outdated operating system ~~version rather than the specific phone model alone.~~ is detected, users will receive a notification directing them to their device settings to install available software updates. This measure aims to enhance security, as older operating systems that no longer receive official patches are more vulnerable to cyberattacks and malware.

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