WhatsApp has again updated its device support guidelines. The Meta-owned messaging platform has limited its software compatibility to devices running iOS 10 or newer version and Android 4.1 or newer versions.
WhatsApp, is an internationally available American freeware, cross-platform centralized instant messaging and voice-over-IP service owned by Meta Platforms. It allows users to send text messages and voice messages, make voice and video calls, and share images, documents, user locations, and other content.
This is not the first time that WhatsApp is cutting a small bunch of aging devices off the support channel, and has actually been doing so on an annual basis for some time now.
The messaging platform usually does this when it wants to introduce functionality on the app that may not work on older phone versions.
This time, iOS 10, iOS 11, iPhone 5, and iPhone 5C will be catching the axe.
The new device support guideline takes effect on 24 October 2022.
WhatsApp’s Reason For Dropping Support
The messaging platform says that their criteria when choosing devices to drop include looking at older devices that have fewer people using them and do not have the latest security updates and are therefore vulnerable to attacks.
WhatsApp says that it will notify users directly on WhatsApp if their device doesn’t have the required operating system. Users will also be reminded a few times to upgrade their operating systems.
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These rejected IOS and OS devices do not have the latest technology to run certain functions on the updated version of WhatsApp.
Additionally, most of these old devices have ‘ancient’ hardware that either doesn’t support the advanced features of an app or offers a poor experience. In either case, the end result is not desirable, which is why developers periodically raise the software and/or hardware requirements to ensure that their apps offer the best user experience possible at the time.
WhatsApp Supported Operating Systems
The Meta-owned platform said the following operating systems are supported for both iOS and Android.
Android running OS 4.1 and newer version
iPhone running iOS 12 and newer version
IPhone users can still continue using the messaging app on iPhone 5S, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6S, but they will need to update their iOS version to iOS 12.