WhatsApp Ends Support for Older iPhones From June 1

WhatsApp stopped supporting several iPhone models on June 1 after raising its minimum iOS requirement to version 15.1, according to WABetaInfo. Devices unable to install iOS 15.1 can no longer use the messaging app.

The update, first scheduled for May 5 and delayed by nearly a month, is part of a broader overhaul of WhatsApp’s system requirements. iPhone users must now run iOS 15.1 or later to log in and send messages. Users on older iPhone models that remain on iOS 12.5.7 are affected immediately.

WhatsApp will also block Android devices running versions below Android 5.0. Any Android phone on Lollipop or earlier will lose access to the app after the cutoff. Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, said dropping support for outdated operating systems allows it to streamline performance and roll out new features that require more recent software.

WABetaInfo cites a five-month notice period for affected users to upgrade or switch devices. Without a compatible iOS or Android version, users must migrate to a supported phone or risk losing access to messages and calls.

Below are the iPhone models no longer compatible with WhatsApp because they cannot run iOS 15.1:

* iPhone 5s

* iPhone 6

* iPhone 6 Plus

Additional reports from 9to5 indicate that iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus and the first-generation iPhone SE will remain functional only if updated to iOS 15.8.4. Owners of those models should install the latest iOS iteration to maintain access.

To verify your iPhone’s software version, open Settings, tap General and select About. If the version listed is lower than 15.1, WhatsApp will cease to function after June 1. Users still on older iPhones must either upgrade their device or uninstall the app.

Meta routinely phases out support for legacy operating systems to maintain security and introduce enhancements. The company warned that continuing to support devices stuck on older software limits its ability to add features such as improved encryption protocols, new status options and advanced group controls.

Android users should check their system version by opening Settings > About Phone and confirming that Android 5.0 or higher is installed. Any device running a version below Lollipop will be blocked from logging in to WhatsApp.

The five-month notice period began January 1, when WhatsApp first updated its help pages to list iOS 15.1 and Android 5.0 as the minimum system requirements. Users on older hardware have been urged to back up chat histories and migrate to newer devices before June 1 to avoid service interruptions.

For those unable to upgrade, WhatsApp recommends considering alternative messaging platforms or switching to a supported device. Failure to comply will result in loss of WhatsApp functions, including text messaging, voice calls, video calls and status updates.

Meta’s latest cutoff follows its policy of ending support for outdated operating systems roughly every two years. The company said similar changes are likely to occur in 2027, when even more devices fall below required software thresholds.