WhatsApp will stop working on some iPhone and Android handsets as we head into the new year.
Starting January 1, 2023, 49 different devices will no longer receive software updates from the Meta-owned company.
They may not be able to access certain features, or the chat application may not work at all.
It started in late October, when support for iOS 10 and 11 ended – specifically affecting the iPhone 5 and 5c – now a list of affected Android phones has surfaced online.
If your device is on it, then you may have limited or no access to WhatsApp from New Year’s Day.
For iPhone users, iOS 12 and 13 are currently the minimum requirements to use WhatsApp.
The chat service also now claims that it only supports Android 4.1 and up. You can find a list of affected phones below:
List Of Devices On Which Whatsapp Will Stop Working
- iphone 5
- iphone 5c
- Archos 53 platinum
- Grand S Flex ZTE
- Grand X Quad V987 ZTE
- HTC wants 500
- Huawei AscendD
- HuaweiAscend D1
- HuaweiAscend D2
- Huawei Ascend G740
- Huawei AscendMate
- Huawei Ascend P1
- QuadXL
- lenovo a820
- LG applies
- LG Lucid 2
- LG Optimus 4X HD
- LG Optimus F3
- LG Optimus F3Q
- LG Optimus F5
- LG Optimus F6
- LG Optimus F7
- LG Optimus L2II
- LG Optimus L3 II
- LG Optimus L3 II Dual
- LG Optimus L4 II
- LG Optimus L4 II Dual
- LG Optimus L5
- LG Optimus L5 Dual
- LG Optimus L5II
- LG Optimus L7
- LG Optimus L7II
- LG Optimus L7 II Dual
- LG Optimus Nitro HD
- ZTE memo V956
- Samsung galaxy ace 2
- Samsung galaxy core
- Galaxy s2
- small samsung galaxy
- Samsung Galaxy Trend II
- Samsung Galaxy Trend Lite
- Samsung Galaxy Xcover 2
- Sony Xperia Arc WILL
- sony xperia
- Sony Xperia Neo
- Wiko Cink 5
- Wiko Dark Night ZT
As WhatsApp’s support states, this is actually normal as the app is developed for newer systems.
“Devices and software change frequently, so we regularly review the operating systems we support and make updates,” it said on the support website.
“To choose what to stop supporting, every year, like other tech companies, we look at which devices and software are the oldest and have the fewest users.
These devices may also not have the latest security updates or may not have the necessary features to run WhatsApp.