WhatsApp reportedly stopped supporting Android versions older than Android 6 in September 2026. If your phone cannot run Android 6 or later, it may no longer be compatible with the messaging app. The change affects the operating system installed on the phone, not every Android device.
Phones running Android 5.0 or Android 5.1 are below the reported minimum. Many devices in this age group are more than 10 years old and no longer receive regular security updates from their manufacturers.
Which phones may lose WhatsApp?
The practical rule is simple: a phone that cannot be upgraded to Android 6 or a newer version falls outside the reported supported range. The operating-system version matters more than the brand name or model family.
The reported reasons for the change include security, compatibility with newer tools and the higher processing demands of newer features. That is why a phone can still turn on and run other apps while losing access to WhatsApp.
Check your Android version and updates
Open Settings and look for the section named About phone, System, or a similar option. The exact wording varies by manufacturer. Find the Android version, then return to the system-update section and check whether an update is available.
If the phone can install Android 6 or later, updating may keep it within the reported minimum. If no compatible update is offered, back up your WhatsApp chats before moving to another device.
What happens to your chats?
A cloud backup can be restored on a new phone during WhatsApp setup. Before migrating, create a current chat backup and make sure you can access the account and cloud storage associated with it. A backup is the bridge between the old handset and the new one—so do not leave that step until after the phone stops working with WhatsApp.
If Android 6 cannot be installed, the supported path is to move WhatsApp to a phone that runs Android 6 or later and restore the available backup there.
