A new alert has been issued to WhatsApp users, warning that failing to act could result in sudden loss of access to the popular messaging app later this year. According to WABetaInfo, a reliable source for upcoming changes, WhatsApp may cease to function on older Android devices.
End of Support for Older Android Versions
Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, is expected to discontinue support for ageing versions of the Android operating system. This decision could leave millions unable to use the app overnight. Specifically, any device running Android 6 (Marshmallow) or older will be blocked starting September 8, 2026.
Android 6 was released in 2015, and the current version is Android 16. While most users are likely unaffected, data from Statcounter indicates that approximately 0.69% of Android devices globally still run Android 5 (Lollipop). Although this percentage seems small, it could represent around 3 million devices out of more than 4 billion Android users worldwide.
What Users Should Do
If you are using a phone from around a decade ago, it may still work for now, but after September 8, WhatsApp could suddenly stop functioning. The only solution is to upgrade to a newer Android device. This is advisable anyway, as older phones lack security updates and may struggle with modern apps.
WABetaInfo also shared an image from a future WhatsApp version showing a warning message: “Later this year, WhatsApp won’t work on this device.” Users are encouraged to check their Android phone’s software version and consider upgrading if affected. With a few months remaining, now is the time to act.
