Oops! WhatsApp Waves Goodbye to Old Smartphones from June 1, 2025: Who's Caught in the Sweep and How to Cope?
Thousands of devices experienced WhatsApp ceased functioning as of June 1.
Brace yourselves, folks! The messaging app WhatsApp is slicing the cord with a host of outdated smartphones starting June 1, 2025. According to RBK and sources like 9to5Mac, this is all due to security concerns, improved app performance, and the addition of new features. The move will knock out users worldwide, including you, Russian chatter-boxes, and quite a few others.
Devices Frozen Out
- iPhones: The axe falls on devices sporting iOS 15.1 or lower. That means poor ol' iPhone 5s, 6, and 6 Plus will find themselves in the digital stone age, unable to send or receive cat photos or unwanted chain letters on WhatsApp.
- First-generation iPhone 6s, 6s Plus, and iPhone SE don't have to worry just yet, as long as their iOS version crests 15.8.4.
- Android: Devices dragging their feet with Android 5.0 or earlier are in for a great big ol' bricked app on June 1, 2025. These sad souls include the once-great Samsung Galaxy S4 and Sony Xperia Z1.
Key Takeaways
- WhatsApp plans to only remain playful on devices boasting Android 5.1+ or iOS 16+, although some ancient iPhones might still juggle newer iOS versions.
- On May 5, 2025, WhatsApp had already issued a heads-up about the death sentence for iPhones with iOS versions below 15.1.
The Ticking Time Bomb of Discontinuation
- The stark grim reaper of an unlaunchable app will render sending and receiving messages a lost cause.
- No new versions or security updates will grace your presence.
- Your data might refute the laws of physics by uncoupling from the cloud, and some features could evaporate in thin air.
Fun Fact:
In the past, ankle-biting hackers and tech zealots alike have attempted to evade WhatsApp death-dates through third-party wranglings. However, these shenanigans often court trouble, with threats ranging from data breaches to no-recovery nightmares.
So, What's a Buddy to Do with an Outdated Device?
- Verify your OS version.
- If an upgrade is an option, give it some chomps and nibbles.
- If you're wrestling with an anaconda of age, consider embracing the future and switching to a modern morsel.
- Before boarding the upgrade express, back up your WhatsApp chats and media files to safeguard your memories and cherished conversations.
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- As WhatsApp eliminates support for older smartphones from June 1, 2025, many users worldwide, including those with iPhones like the iPhone 5s, 6, and 6 Plus, and Android devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S4 and Sony Xperia Z1, will be unable to use the app.
- To continue using WhatsApp, users with outdated smartphones may need to upgrade their operating systems or consider buying a newer device, while backing up their chats and media files before the upgrade.
