WhatsApp is rolling out updates that will make the messaging app incompatible with some older smartphones, and Nigerian users are being urged to check if their devices will be affected.
In 2025, WhatsApp will stop working on phones that run outdated operating systems, particularly those that are more than 10 years old. This will affect both the regular WhatsApp app and WhatsApp Business.
The first major update will take effect on January 1, 2025, which will end support for Android phones running KitKat OS and earlier versions. However, not everyone with KitKat will be impacted – if your device can be updated to a newer OS, you’ll still be able to use WhatsApp. The problem arises for phones that can’t receive OS updates, leaving users unable to download the latest software.
While this change will initially affect a limited number of Android phones, by mid-2025, WhatsApp will also stop working on older iPhones. From May 5, 2025, WhatsApp will no longer support iOS versions earlier than 15.1. If your iPhone is running a version older than that, such as iOS 12.5.7, you’ll need to upgrade your device to keep using WhatsApp.
Phones that won’t support WhatsApp from May 5 include:
- iPhone 5s iPhone 6
- iPhone 6 Plus
So, is your phone on the list? If so, it might be time to think about upgrading before the new year hits!
