If you’re using an Android phone that’s running an operating system older than Android 5.0, you’ll need to upgrade by October 24, 2023, or you’ll lose access to WhatsApp.
The popular messaging app will no longer support older operating systems in order to focus on supporting newer ones with the latest features and security updates.
If you’re not sure which version of Android you’re running, go to Settings > About Phone > Check for system updates. If nothing shows up, you’re already running the latest version.
If you need to upgrade your Android phone, you may be able to do so by downloading the latest software update from your phone’s manufacturer. However, if your phone is too old, you’ll need to buy a new one in order to continue using WhatsApp.
Affected devices
Some of the devices that will be affected by the change include:
- Samsung Galaxy S2
- Samsung Galaxy Note 3
- HTC Desire 500
- Huawei Ascend D
- Huawei Ascend D1
- Huawei Ascend D2
- Archos 53 Platinum
- Grand S Flex ZTE
If you’re not sure whether your device is affected, you can check the list of supported devices on the WhatsApp website.
What to do if you need to upgrade
If you need to upgrade your Android phone, you can check with your phone’s manufacturer to see if there are any software updates available. If not, you’ll need to buy a new phone.
When choosing a new phone, make sure that it’s running Android 5.0 or newer. You can check this by looking at the phone’s specifications on the manufacturer’s website.
Once you have a new phone, you can download WhatsApp from the Google Play Store and sign in with your account. You’ll then be able to access all of your chats and group messages.
