WhatsApp no longer works on phones running Android 5.0 or 5.1, and some iPhones face a similar cutoff on November 30, 2026. Check your phone now.
WhatsApp has ended support for phones running Android 5.0 and Android 5.1. If you open the app on one of them, a pop-up says WhatsApp will no longer work on this device. Some older iPhones are next in line, with a cutoff on November 30, 2026.
WhatsApp now requires Android 6.0 or higher. Phones below that line are locked out until the software is updated. WhatsApp had already shown in-app warnings about the change, which the site WABetaInfo first pointed out.
The software involved is old. Android 5.0 came out in November 2014 and Android 5.1 in March 2015. The current version is Android 17. Systems this old no longer get modern security updates. Keeping the app working on them also makes it harder for WhatsApp to build new features that older hardware cannot handle.
The rule depends on the Android version, not on the brand or model of your phone. Statcounter reported that Android 5.0 held 0.69% of the global market in March 2026. Out of 4.5 billion Android users, that is roughly 3 million people.
On iPhone, WhatsApp will raise its minimum from iOS 15.1 to iOS 15.5 on November 30, 2026. People on iOS 15.1 to 15.4 are the ones at risk. Examples include the iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, first-generation iPhone SE, iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.
Most iPhone owners with those older models can avoid trouble. In May 2026, Apple released iOS 15.8.8 for older hardware, which is newer than the version WhatsApp will require. If your phone has installed it, you are not automatically shut out. Anyone on Android 6.0 or newer is also not affected by this change.
The alert box above lists the steps. In short, check your software version, install an update if one is offered, and back up your chats before anything else. A backup matters most if you may need a new phone, since local Android backups can be moved to a compatible device.
An update will not always be an option. If the maker never released anything newer than Android 5.1 for your phone, the only way to keep using WhatsApp is to buy a newer smartphone.
On Android, the lockout is already in effect. On iPhone, the deadline is November 30, 2026, so there is still time to update. The material does not say whether WhatsApp plans further minimum-version increases after this one.
Check your phone's software version today and back up your WhatsApp chats before you lose access or replace the phone.
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