Starting October 24, 2023, some older smartphones will no longer be able to use WhatsApp. What should those affected do now?
Can you no longer use WhatsApp as of October?
The vast majority of users can continue to use WhatsApp as usual after October 2023. Only a very small number of mobile phone owners will need to take action soon. WhatsApp has announced that starting from October 24, 2023, support for smartphones running Android versions older than 5.0 will be discontinued. This means that anyone with a smartphone that does not have at least Android 5.0 will not be able to use WhatsApp from October 24. A message will then appear in the app stating that you need to update to continue using WhatsApp. But what if that is not possible?
Should you buy a new mobile phone?
If the smartphone cannot be updated to Android 5.0 or higher, the only option is to switch to a newer mobile phone model if you still want to use WhatsApp after October 24. The new device must meet the following requirements:
- Android devices from Android 5.0 version
- iPhones running at least iOS 12
- KaiOS phones from KaiOS 2.5.0, including JioPhone and JioPhone 2
Read also: How to update WhatsApp
Why did support stop?
WhatsApp and other software developers stop supporting older devices for several reasons:
Technical limitations: Older devices often don’t have the hardware needed to support newer software features. As applications evolve, they may require more resources that simply aren’t available on older devices.
Security considerations: Older operating systems often no longer receive security updates from the manufacturer. This can make them vulnerable to security vulnerabilities. By discontinuing support for these systems, developers reduce the risk of their applications being affected by vulnerabilities.
Costs and resources: Testing and customizing software for a variety of devices and operating system versions is a resource-intensive process. Companies need to decide where to best allocate development resources, and it is often more economical to focus on newer hardware and operating systems.
Improve user experience: As developers try to keep their apps compatible with both newer and older devices, they may have to compromise on functionality or performance. Ending support for older devices allows a better experience for the majority of users.
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