WhatsApp to Discontinue Support for Older Smartphones Starting January 1, 2025
WhatsApp, the widely-used messaging platform owned by Meta, has announced that it will stop working on a variety of smartphones beginning January 1, 2025.
This decision is part of WhatsApp’s effort to adapt to the latest technological developments and improve services for its users worldwide, including in Pakistan. Devices running outdated operating systems that no longer receive updates will no longer be compatible with the app.
Consequently, these older Android smartphones will be unable to install future WhatsApp updates, making the app inaccessible to users.
List of Phones That Will Lose WhatsApp Support in 2025:
Samsung:
- Galaxy S3
- Galaxy Note 2
- Galaxy Ace 3
- Galaxy S4 Mini
Motorola:
- Moto G (1st Gen)
- Razr HD
- Moto E 2014
HTC:
- One X
- One X+
- Desire 500
- Desire 601
LG:
- Optimus G
- Nexus 4
- G2 Mini
- L90
Sony:
- Xperia Z
- Xperia SP
- Xperia T
- Xperia V
iPhone:
- iPhone 5s
- iPhone 6
- iPhone 6 Plus
WABetaInfo reported that WhatsApp will stop supporting iOS versions earlier than 15.1 starting May 5, 2025. Currently, the app is compatible with devices running iOS 12 and newer. After this update, users will need at least iOS 15.1 to continue using the app. iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus, which can only be updated to iOS 12.5.7, will no longer be able to use WhatsApp after the given date.
Reasons Behind the Move
This change aligns with WhatsApp’s strategy to utilize updated APIs and technologies found in newer operating systems. These advancements allow the platform to enhance performance, introduce new features, and offer a smoother user experience.
Older iOS versions, which lack the necessary APIs for these improvements, have prompted WhatsApp to focus its resources on devices running more recent operating systems. Additionally, WhatsApp’s analysis reveals that only a small portion of its user base is still on outdated iOS versions, enabling the platform to allocate resources more efficiently to enhance the app for the majority of users.