WhatsApp ends support for older Android smartphones

WhatsApp, one of the most popular instant messaging apps in the world, announces its decision to stop supporting millions of smartphones running the Android operating system. Starting October 24, 2023, WhatsApp will require a smartphone running Android 5.0 or higher.

This means that users whose devices do not meet these requirements will have to decide whether to update their smartphone's operating system or purchase a new one that supports the new version of Android. Otherwise, they will lose the ability to send and receive messages, including voice messages, make video calls, and use other WhatsApp features.

Currently, WhatsApp is still available for owners of Android smartphones with operating system version 4.1 and higher. This means that users of several generations of Android, including versions 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and 4.4, will lose access to the messenger, which amounts to more than a million users. Among the devices affected by this decision are the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, Samsung Galaxy S2, HTC One and many others.

Nothing will change for iPhone owners - they will still need a smartphone running iOS 12 or newer to use WhatsApp. This means that iPhone users will be able to continue using WhatsApp without any restrictions.