WhatsApp to drop support for older Android versions
Published On 28 Apr, 2026
According to a statement issued by the Meta-owned platform, from 8 September 2026 all devices running Android 5.0 and 5.1 operating systems will no longer support WhatsApp. The company has made Android 6.0 the minimum requirement for continued use of the application.
Reports indicate that the decision is intended to give users sufficient time to update their mobile devices or back up their chats in order to prevent any loss of data.
WhatsApp Beta Info reported that after September 2026, the service will only remain available on Android 6.0 or newer versions, while older systems will fall completely out of support.
An alert screenshot has also emerged in the report, warning users that WhatsApp will cease to function on affected devices by the end of the year.
Furthermore, according to the technology platform Beebom, users who continue to operate outdated Android versions will neither be able to send nor receive messages after 8 September.
