Since February 2026, WhatsApp will only work on cell phones with iOS 15.1 or Android 5.0 and later
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Starting in February 2026, WhatsApp will no longer be compatible with several iPhone and Android phones. The change will affect devices with older operating systems.
The decision was confirmed by Meta, the company that owns the app, as part of its periodic compatibility and security review.
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Which versions of iOS and Android will remain compatible
In the case of Apple devices, WhatsApp will only work on devices with iOS 15.1 or higher. Models that can't be updated to that version will be left out.
For Android, the minimum requirement will be Android 5.0 (Lollipop). Any phone with earlier versions will lose access to the application.
Which iPhone models will lose WhatsApp
By raising the requirement to iOS 15.1, several classic Apple models will no longer be compatible. These are devices that no longer receive official updates. Among those affected are iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, and earlier models.
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Which Android phones will no longer be able to use WhatsApp
Phones with Android 4.4 KitKat or earlier versions will be left without support. These are devices released, for the most part, before 2014.
Some common examples are:
Samsung Galaxy S3 and S4 mini.
Sony Xperia M.
LG Optimus L7 II.
Huawei Ascend G510.
HTC Desire 500.
Motorola Moto E (first generation).
These devices can't be officially updated to Android 5.0, so the only alternative will be to change phones.
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What to do if your phone is no longer compatible
Before the final cutoff, WhatsApp will send notifications within the app. The goal is for the user to have time to act.
The main recommendation is to create a backup and update the operating system or migrate to a newer device.
Why WhatsApp stops working on old phones
According to Meta, the measure is due to reasons of security, privacy, and technological evolution. Older systems do not support current features.
WhatsApp dejará de funcionar en varios celulares a partir del 1 de enero de 2026
In addition, many of these devices no longer receive security patches, which represents a risk for personal data.
More security: "strict account settings" are coming
Meanwhile, WhatsApp has begun to implement strict account settings, a new advanced protection feature.
This option blocks files from unknown senders, mutes suspicious calls, limits group invitations, and strengthens two-step verification.
