Overview
- WhatsApp, which updated its Help Center Monday, set Sept. 8, 2026 as the cutoff for Android versions below 6.0.
- Phones stuck on Android 5.0 or 5.1 will lose access to both WhatsApp Messenger and WhatsApp Business, a change likely to hit users in Brazil, parts of Southeast Asia and Africa, India and Pakistan.
- Users are urged to check the phone’s Settings for the Android version, update if possible, back up chats, and migrate the account to a newer device when no update is available.
- Requirements for iPhone are unchanged, with WhatsApp continuing to support iOS 15.1 and later.
- Meta conducts annual reviews of supported systems and publishes minimum OS versions rather than model lists because many older phones no longer receive security updates or support new features.