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WhatsApp ends support for outdated iPhones and Android devices on June 1

The change is part of WhatsApp’s maintenance cycle to shore up security on unpatched older devices.

Jammu and Kashmir Bans WhatsApp, Gmail for Sensitive Official Communication to Prevent Data Breaches | Image: Unsplash
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WhatsApp photo and photo quality | iPhone with messaging apps folder
WhatsApp

Overview

  • Starting June 1, WhatsApp will only run on iPhones updated to iOS 15.1 or newer and Android devices running Android 5.1 or newer.
  • Affected Apple devices include iPhone 5s, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, while legacy Android handsets such as the Samsung Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 will no longer support the app.
  • Users should back up their chat history before the cutoff to ensure conversations transfer seamlessly to a new device.
  • Meta says the update cycle is needed to protect users from vulnerabilities on hardware and software that no longer receive security patches.
  • WhatsApp has also rolled out a chat lock feature and improved disappearing messages in its latest privacy-focused enhancements.