Most apps have stopped supporting older phone models. It will no longer be possible to use WhatsApp if you are using a phone older than Android 4.1 or Jelly Bean.
If you are using an Apple-branded device, WhatsApp will no longer be available for iOS 12.1. From January 1, 2023, WhatsApp will no longer support nearly 49 phone models. These are phones released more than 10 years ago.
Full list of devices
It’s sure its help page that WhatsApp explained the reason for this decision.n. The platform wants to stay “in the race for the latest technological advances”. Discontinuing support for older operating systems allows resources to be used to support newer systems.
Most smartphone users are already on Android version 4.1. According to an Android count from February 2021, only 0.2% of current smartphones work with a later version. Otherwise, Apple’s iOS is at version 16.2.
Here is the list of devices which will no longer be supported:
- Archos 53 Platinum
- Grand S Flex ZTE
- Grand X Quad V987 ZTE
- HTC Desire 500
- Huawei Ascend D
- Huawei Ascend D1
- Huawei Ascend D2
- Huawei Ascend G740
- Huawei Ascend Mate
- Huawei Ascend P1
- iPhone 5
- iPhone 5c
- Lenovo A820
- LG Enact
- LG Lucid 2
- LG Optimus 4X HD
- LG Optimus F3
- LG Optimus F3Q
- LG Optimus F5
- LG Optimus F6
- LG Optimus F7
- LG Optimus L2 II
- LG Optimus L3 II
- LG Optimus L3 II Dual
- LG Optimus L4 II
- LG Optimus L4 II Dual
- LG Optimus L5
- LG Optimus L5 Dual
- LG Optimus L5 II
- LG Optimus L7
- LG Optimus L7 II
- LG Optimus L7 II Dual
- LG Optimus Nitro HD
- Memo ZTE V956
- Quad XL
- Samsung Galaxy Ace 2
- Samsung Galaxy Core
- Samsung Galaxy S2
- Samsung Galaxy S3 mini
- Samsung Galaxy Trend II
- Samsung Galaxy Trend Lite
- Samsung Galaxy Xcover 2
- Sony Xperia Arc S
- sony xperia miro
- Sony Xperia Neo L
- Wiko Cink Five
- Wiko Darknight ZT
Operating system update
If you have one of these devices, it will still be possible to continue using WhatsApp. Provided that your smartphone can update your operating system to a more compatible version.
Indeed, some of the affected devices can be updated to the next version. To continue using the app, the phone must be at least an Android 4.1 or iOS 12. To update the operating system of the device, you have to go to the settings.
You must then download the available update. For the download to start, first you need to connect the device to internet. Once your operating system has been updated, you will be able to use WhatsApp once more.
The latest WhatsApp update regarding operating systems was as of October 24, 2022. The latter included discontinuing support for iOS 10 and 11.
WhatsApp one-time messages
WhatsApp wants to make texts sent through the app disappear as soon as they are read. This option was already available since November 2020the message would not disappear for a certain amount of time.
This functionality is in the program of version 2.22.25.20 of the application for Android. It is of the same principle as the option « view once » which is symbolized by the logo « 1 ». This feature allows a photo or video to disappear following the recipient has opened it.
By applying this option to messages, the messaging app expands the functionality of ephemeral conversations. This parameter allows you to clear the message history that are older than 7 days automatically.
Users can configure the app to automatically delete messages following 24 hours or 90 days. One-time messages are still in the trial version of the Android version of WhatsApp.
For the time being, WhatsApp has not yet indicated the deployment of this new feature. Besides, it has not yet announced if this option is compatible with the iOS versions of the messaging application.
Source : BFM TV
