CALIFORNIA (Kashmir English): Millions of WhatsApp users will lose the service for the popular messaging platform as Meta starts discontinuing support for older phones from June 1, 2025.
The move comes after WhatsApp‘s compatibility policy was updated, attributing this to security issues and the necessity for newer operating system features.
Originally scheduled for May, the updates took effect from June 1, 2025. WhatsApp will be discontinued on phones that cannot be upgraded to a minimum of iOS 15.1 or Android OS 5.0.
This will affect several older smartphone models, such as iPhones that have been released before 2014 and Android phones that are unable to upgrade beyond the 2014 OS version.
Affected handsets are the iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus, which cannot run iOS 18. Android devices such as Samsung Galaxy S III, HTC One X, and Sony Xperia Z are also being deprived of access.
Meta states that older devices without the newest security patches or required functionality will no longer work on WhatsApp, which is defined on the app‘s official FAQ website.
Notifications Issued Ahead of Lockout
WhatsApp started sending notifications to users running old software, compelling them to switch to newer iOS or Android versions to use the service.
Users who cannot update because of hardware restrictions will no longer be able to access chats and calls through the app.
Apple had earlier labeled the iPhone 6 as “obsolete,” in the sense that it is no longer eligible for official repair or service assistance, and even third-party suppliers are not allowed to source parts.
