Overview
- WhatsApp began testing a server-side login block that shows affected users a full-screen notice and denies access until the device installs a system update.
- The change is enforced from the server so users do not need to update the WhatsApp app itself for the block to take effect.
- Meta’s stated reason is security: known vulnerabilities in old Android or iOS releases can let attackers compromise a phone and read data before end-to-end encryption is effective.
- Because WhatsApp has not published exact version thresholds the block targets, owners of phones that can no longer receive OS updates may be permanently cut off and may need to replace their devices.
- The measure is rolling out in waves across Apple and Google platforms and follows WhatsApp’s broader push on account safety that also includes warnings about unofficial clients, fraud protections, and passkey support.